(tentative schedule as of 11/29/23, all times CST)
Media guides (teams, conferences and bowl), flip card, game program and team game notes will be linked on our Valero Alamo Bowl Bowl’s Dropbox with logos, photos, audio, video, guides, and transcripts as they become available.
For any issues accessing the Dropbox or requests for other assets, please can reach out to Colin Spaulding (colins@alamobowl.com, 832-797-1430).
Sunday, December 3
Valero Alamo Bowl Team Announcement Party and Head Coaches Welcome
4:00 p.m. – Press release of matchup and head coaches from both teams anticipated to call in for brief remarks. Remote media viewing opportunity via YouTube but not questions of coaches. In-person media availability for Valero Alamo Bowl President/CEO Derrick Fox.
Thursday, December 7
Valero Alamo Bowl Head Coaches Press Conference
10:30 a.m. – Both head coaches will be in San Antonio for a press conference streamed on YouTube with availability for offsite media questions via Zoom at The Club at Sonterra.
Wednesday, December 14
H-E-B Scholarship Awards Luncheon
Noon – Valero Alamo Bowl to award $690,000 in scholarships split between 93 area high school seniors at the Security Service Event Center. The Valero Alamo Bowl is #1 in local scholarship giving among all 42 bowl games.
Thursday, December 21
Valero Alamo Bowl Field Painting and Stadium Reveal
2 – 3 p.m. – Alamodome
Saturday, December 23 or Sunday, December 24
Team Arrivals in San Antonio
Head coach and two players available will be available for brief comments. Pac-12 Team Arrival at Marriott Rivercenter Hotel (101 Bowie). Big 12 Team Arrival at Hyatt Regency Hotel (123 Losoya). Media can reach out to Colin Spaulding (colins@alamobowl.com, 832-797-1430) to confirm exact timing an hour prior.
Team practice availability to be determined.
Monday, December 25
Team practice availability to be determined.
4:15 p.m. – SeaWorld San Antonio Media Day (10500 SeaWorld Drive). Both schools will be enjoying the park. Media wishing to cover their visit should meet in the entrance plaza as the teams arrive. Media must arrive promptly so they can be escorted to the Sea Lion & Otter Spotlight show at the Pacific Point Preserve Theater where media will have the opportunity to capture players from both teams interacting with the sea lions at 4:40 p.m.
Another visual will be players riding the Texas Stingray, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the state of Texas, with speeds of up to 55 miles per hour and a 100 foot drop.
SeaWorld’s Chuck Cureau (210-842-4825) and the Valero Alamo Bowl’s Colin Spaulding (832-797-1430) will be the onsite media contacts.
Tuesday, December 26
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Media Center Open (Alamodome Gate 4, East Entrance at 50 yard line, Park in Lot A). Credential pickup and all press conferences at the Alamodome.
Pac-12 practice at Trinity University. Media are allowed to shoot photo and video for the first 15-minutes, after stretching begins. Team communications staff will advise photographers on start and end of media availability portion. Interview availability to be determined. Directions from downtown: Take Highway 281 North and exit St. Mary’s/Mulberry. Turn left onto Mulberry and then take a right onto Shook. The entrance to campus and the football stadium is 3 blocks on the right. After turning into campus, the football stadium parking lot is straight ahead.
Big 12 practice at UTSA.
1:30 p.m. – Big 12 Press Conference with select Coordinators and Players.
2:30 p.m. – Pac-12 Press Conference with select Coordinators and Players.
5 p.m. – Ricos River Rally at the Arneson River Theatre on the Riverwalk (418 Villita Street) Team captains and head coaches will lead a one-of-kind pep rally from the stage, while the other players and pep bands arrive via river cruisers.
***Spots to shoot are on a space available basis in the back left corner of the theatre as well as “the balcony.”
10 p.m. – 1 a.m. Media Hospitality in Marriott Riverwalk (30th Floor, Suite 3004)
Wednesday, December 27
No practice availability for either team.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Media Center Open (Alamodome Gate 4, East Entrance at the 50-yard line)
11 a.m. – Head Coaches from both participating universities will hold a joint press conference
Noon – Kickoff Luncheon presented by USAA at the Marriott Rivercenter Ballroom (third floor). ESPN talent will emcee this luncheon where head coaches and players at the head table will speak while their teammates enjoy the event from the audience.
One table of 10 is held for media. Availability is noted at Media Check-In. All media can watch from the back and have access to mult-box to capture sound.
10 p.m. – 1 a.m. Media Hospitality in Marriott Riverwalk (30th Floor, Suite 3004)
Thursday, December 28
9 a.m. – “Fill The Bowl” Community Project presented by Texas Mutual Insurance at the San Antonio Food Bank. The Valero Alamo Bowl will continue its annual ticket program where donated items on the Food Bank’s Top 30 most wanted list will earn complimentary tickets to the 2023 Valero Alamo Bowl as supplies last.
31st Annual Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome
Media headquarters available by phone only: 413-526-7623
4:30 p.m. – Media shuttle to the Alamodome begins from the Convention Center main entrance which is located across the street from the Marriott Riverwalk. The golf carts run on a loop. To confirm timing or arrange a pickup as well ask any game day questions, please call the Media Headquarters number at 413-526-7623 or Colin Spaulding at 832-797-1430.
4:45 p.m. – Gate #4 (50-yard line on East side of the dome by train tracks) opens for Media Will Call. The press box and photo workroom are also accessible to credentialed media beginning at this time. For media picking up credentials on game day, credential distribution will be located here. Media access to the Alamodome is through Gate 4.
8:15 p.m. kickoff
Postgame – Head coaches and 2-3 select players in the Alamodome interview room with runner-up first followed by the winning team.
1:30 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. Media Hospitality in Marriott Riverwalk (30th Floor, Suite 3004): Grab and go drinks and snacks.
Media Accommodations
Media Hotel
San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk
889 E Market Street
San Antonio, TX, 78205
Hotel: 210-224-4555
All media rooms must be booked through the Bowl’s credential system on the bowl’s website. The Marriott Riverwalk will not accept room reservations directly from media members.
Please note: If you are approved for a credential and requested a hotel room, you WILL receive a room. The Bowl will not turn a rooming list to the Marriott Riverwalk until December 15, so the hotel will NOT have a record of your name until a few days after that date. Rest assured, everyone approved for a credential that asked for a hotel room will get one. The hotel will email you a confirmation once we give them the names.
Room rates for the Valero Alamo Bowl media are $148 per night plus tax, which includes Internet access in the sleeping rooms, lobby, and restaurants. This rate is only valid from December 24-29.
The Marriott Riverwalk is valet only. The Convention Center Garage is a relatively inexpensive parking option on the east side of the hotel. The daily rate is typically $10, but that does not include in and out or possible game day surcharges.
Game Day Information
Game Day Telephones/Internet Access
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available is the press box and Wi-Fi and ethernet is available in the photo workroom. Media outlets requiring telephone and/or internet services for exclusive use must order directly from the Alamodome at (210) 207-3629 at least two weeks prior to game day.
Frequency Coordination
Any media member with a camera or video camera must register with our frequency coordinator on game day. At the east entrance, you can enter and have your bag tagged and registered. Then you must check-in at the photo workroom, located on the Field Level, where you will receive a photo vest. You will not be allowed onto the field with a camera if you have not registered with the coordinator and aren’t wearing a photo vest.
Alamodome Bag Policy
With the Alamodome’s clear bag policy, all media need to have a credential or be on our pass list to enter with a bag or equipment (please scan through at NE and SE corners). Additionally, all media must enter at Gate #4 at Alamodome (the east entrance at the 50-yard line along the train tracks).
Valero Alamo Bowl Outstanding Players
The Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Players for the Valero Alamo Bowl will be named through online media voting through the Bowl’s stat display. During the fourth quarter, click on the link on the right-hand side on the Bowl’s stat broadcast feed to place your vote.
Alamodome Media Entrance
The Media Entrance (and Media Will Call) is located in the middle of the east side of Alamodome at the East Plaza Entrance at Gate #4. The stairs go up to the press box where there is a private internal set of stairs going to the broadcast and coaching booths. Take the stairs down to the field level and go right to get to the photo workroom.
While it is much quicker to take the stairs especially at the end of each half when elevators are held for coaches, the East Plaza Entrance also has an elevator that goes between field level, 100 level, press box level, 200 (broadcast booth) level, and 300 level.
Photo Credentials Access
Media members who are granted a “Photo” credential and wearing an assigned photo vest will be given access to the field in a limited capacity.
Post-Game Field Access
The quickest way to get to the field and locker rooms from the press box is via an internal stairwell that is adjacent to the East elevators. Directional signage will be posted. Media can also access the field and the postgame interview room by taking the Alamodome East elevators outside the press box to level 1 and making a left towards the locker rooms.
ESPN/Valero Alamo Bowl TV Station Policy
- The Valero Alamo Bowl’s contract with ESPN prohibits the use of game highlights on local newscasts prior to the completion of the game.
- Television stand-up reporters will not be permitted on the sideline at any point during the game this year and access to the Alamodome press box will be limited.
- Beginning a half-hour prior to kickoff until ESPN is off the air, there will be absolutely no live telecasts or transmissions from inside the Alamodome. Live shots can be originated at any time from outside the Alamodome.
- Microwave transmissions are not permitted within the Alamodome. All satellite dishes and/or ENG trucks must be positioned outside the Alamodome in the designated area located southwest of the building.
Parking and Media Shuttle
A limited number of Alamodome parking passes for media covering the Valero Alamo Bowl are available in Lot A.
Media, especially those staying in the media hotel, are urged to take the 10-minute walk to the Alamodome or utilize the golf cart shuttle service that will be available upon request by calling Colin Spaulding at 361-562-3332 on game day to book a time. The shuttle picks up at the Convention Center (900 East Market Street) and goes to the Alamodome. This shuttle can be booked for pickups starting at 4:45 p.m. and will be available until 2.5 hours after the end of the game.
Parking space for TV ENG trucks at the Alamodome, located in the southwest corner of the parking lot, is extremely limited. Please contact Jason Bippert of the Alamodome (210-207-3629 or jason.bippert@sanatonio.gov) as soon as possible concerning a parking location and specific needs.
Directions
San Antonio Airport to Marriott Riverwalk (Media Hotel)
889 E. Market Street • 11 minutes
Take Highway 281 South that will turn into Interstate Highway 37 South heading toward Corpus Christi. Exit at the Commerce Street/The Alamo exit and turn right on Commerce. Continue west on Commerce and turn left at Alamo and left onto Market which is a one way street. Hotel is valet only. There is a relatively inexpensive parking garage on the east side of the hotel.
San Antonio Airport to Alamodome
100 Montana Street • 14 minutes
Take Highway 281 South, which will turn into Interstate Highway 37 South heading toward Corpus Christi. Exit at the Cesar Chavez exit and take a left at the turnaround under the bridge and head back north on the Cesar Chavez access road. Turn right into Lot A, the southside entrance of the Alamodome just past the marquee.
Marriott Riverwalk (Media Hotel) to UTSA
4301 Broadway • 20 minutes
Take Highway 281 North toward the airport. Exit I-355 (left exit) and take I-10 W exit. Exit UTSA Blvd and turn left. Turn right on Barshop Blvd. Follow signs to RACE Facility.
