And just like that, we’ve arrived. After buzzer-beaters in Brooklyn. After overtime in Omaha. And after all the madness in March—from wild upsets to viral moments to star-making performances—we’re finally down to four. Auburn. Duke. Florida. Houston. Four No. 1 seeds. One massive stage.

And now, college basketball takes over San Antonio. This weekend, the Final Four returns to the Alamodome, and the vibes? They’re straight out of 2008. That was the last time all four top seeds made it to this stage. Back then, it was Kansas, Memphis, UCLA, and UNC lighting up the Riverwalk. And just like now, it all went down inside this same dome.

Seventeen years later, history’s repeating itself—but with a twist.

In 2008, the heavyweights were mostly blue bloods. This time, only Duke fits that label. Auburn, Florida, and Houston are part of a newer wave—some folks call them “New Bloods”—but they’re just as dangerous. In fact, KenPom’s stats say this 2025 group is even better than the 2008 bunch, with all four teams ranking among the top 10 all-time in adjusted metrics.

But there’s something else different this time too—and it might matter more than people think. That is Location.

San Antonio is a long haul from Durham, Gainesville, and Auburn. But not from Houston. The Cougars are just 196 miles down the highway, a straight shot on I-10. Their home arena—the Fertitta Center—is literally 199 miles from the Alamodome. That’s a short enough drive to load up the buses, pack the cars, and take over the stands.

And that’s exactly what’s happening.

One bus alone is hauling 700 Houston students from campus to the game. Cougar Nation is expected to show out in big numbers—and while Duke is the betting favorite (-4.5 per DraftKings), Houston might feel more like the home team.

Head coach Kelvin Sampson isn’t reading too much into it, though. After all, last week Tennessee fans dominated the crowd in Indianapolis, and Knoxville’s five hours away. “Tennessee’s fans were awesome today,” Sampson said. “That’s what we’ll do next week. We’ll jump on the interstate and head down to San Antonio.”

So while Duke comes in with the higher seed, Houston just might come in with the louder crowd.

Big brands, big matchups, and one big Texas dome ready to make more history.

Let’s dive into what makes the Alamodome a Final Four favorite—why the NCAA keeps coming back, how it compares to NBA arenas like the Target Center, and what kind of impact it has on San Antonio’s economy and basketball culture.

But one thing’s already clear: When it comes to the “home team,” Houston might have more of an edge than you think.

Why is it called the Alamodome?

Ever wonder why they call it the Alamodome? It goes way back—before basketball games, before monster trucks, before this big dome even existed. It all starts with the Alamo. Yeah, that Alamo. The old mission in downtown San Antonio where a small group of Texans made their last stand back in 1836 during the Texas Revolution. They held out for nearly two weeks against the Mexican army. They didn’t survive, but their story did. “Remember the Alamo” became more than a battle cry—it became part of Texas’ identity.

Fast forward to the early 1990s. San Antonio wanted a new stadium. Something big. Something bold. And something that could host football, concerts, basketball, rodeos—you name it. So they started building it just a few blocks from the actual Alamo.

And when it came time to name this massive new building, the city did what cities usually do—they asked the public. They launched a “Name the Dome” contest. Some of the ideas? “Fiesta Dome.” “Megadome.” Even “Texadome.” But nothing really stuck.

That’s when a guy named Robert Marbut Jr., who was involved with the project, threw out a simple idea: the Alamodome. It was clean. Local. Made sense. Mayor Henry Cisneros agreed, and just like that, the name was set.

It opened in 1993, and it’s been part of San Antonio’s skyline—and identity—ever since.

In 2023, the Alamodome turned 30. It’s seen Final Fours, college football games, concerts, boxing, even WWE. There’s always something going on. But through all the events and changes, one thing’s stayed the same: the name.

Because it’s not just a building. It’s a little piece of Texas history—with a giant roof.

What major sports and events has the Alamodome hosted?

Since opening its doors in 1993, the Alamodome has been the go-to spot for just about everything big in San Antonio. Sports, concerts, graduations, monster trucks—you name it, it’s happened here. Ask anyone in the city, and chances are they’ve got a memory tied to this place.

Let’s start with basketball. The Alamodome has hosted the Men’s Final Four five times—1998, 2004, 2008, 2018, and now again in 2025. And 2008? That one still stands out. It was the last time all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four. That doesn’t happen often. Not many places get to say they were the stage for something that rare.

Before the Spurs had the AT&T Center, they actually played in the ‘Dome. From 1993 to 2002, that was their home court. And in 1999, right there in the Alamodome, they won their first-ever NBA championship. It was loud. It was packed. And it was unforgettable. That run helped turn San Antonio into a basketball town.

College football? The dome’s been just as important. The UTSA Roadrunners made it their home in 2011, and fans showed up in droves. In fact, they set a record for attendance by a first-year FBS team. Not bad for a program just getting started.

And it doesn’t stop there. The Alamodome has seen Big 12 title games, NFL preseason, Cowboys training camp, international soccer, the NBA All-Star Weekend back in 1996—you name it. It’s even hosted the Women’s Final Four, Volleyball Final Four, and Olympic-style events.

But it’s not just about sports.

Over the years, this place has turned into a concert powerhouse. Paul McCartney, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears—they’ve all performed under that roof. Music groups from all over the country still show up for Drum Corps International, Bands of America, and UIL State Marching Band contests. For a lot of high schoolers, performing here is a dream come true.

It’s also the spot for major community moments—graduations, WWE Royal Rumble, faith gatherings like the Billy Graham Crusade and the ELCA Youth Gathering. If you’ve ever been inside when the dome is full, you know the kind of energy it can create.

So yeah, the Alamodome’s been through a lot. But it’s not done yet. With another Final Four this year, and who knows what coming next, the story’s still being written. The ‘Dome’s still got plenty more chapters left.

How has the Alamodome impacted San Antonio economically?

San Antonio didn’t just build a stadium back in 1993—it made a long-term investment in itself. With seating for up to 64,000 people, the Alamodome was designed to bring in big crowds, big events, and even bigger dreams. And three decades later, it’s still delivering.

The city opened the Dome in May of that year, pouring in $186 million to get it done. But here’s the twist—it was built debt-free, thanks to a smartly planned VIA sales tax collected before construction even began. That move let San Antonio pocket the profits almost immediately. Just the first few NCAA Men’s Final Fours hosted inside the Dome covered the entire cost.

And speaking of the NCAA, there’s a reason they keep coming back to places like the Alamodome for their biggest basketball event. It really boils down to one word: seating. A traditional basketball arena, like the NBA’s Target Center in Minneapolis, holds around 19,000 fans. But a football stadium like U.S. Bank Stadium? That one fits over 66,000. It’s the same story in San Antonio—more seats mean more tickets, more fans, and way more revenue.

That’s exactly why the NCAA loves football stadiums for the Final Four. It’s about maximizing profits, plain and simple. Men’s basketball is one of the NCAA’s biggest moneymakers—sometimes even rivaling football at certain Division I schools. And while the athletes generating that revenue don’t get a share of the earnings, the NCAA sure does, choosing how to slice up that very big pie.

So don’t expect them to scale back to smaller arenas anytime soon. The backdrop concerns about players struggling to shoot in football stadiums? That’s mostly gone. These days, athletes adjust just fine, and the event still delivers. Final Four venues are already locked in through 2026, and yep—they’re all in football stadiums.

Back in San Antonio, over 34 million fans have walked through the Dome’s gates, and by early 2023, more than 54 million people had either attended or watched something happening inside. And this wasn’t just good for sports lovers—it’s been great for the city’s wallet too. The Dome has pulled in over $3.9 billion for the local economy.

It’s hosted everyone from Paul McCartney and Bad Bunny to the WWE and the Rock ‘N Roll Marathon. And through events managed by San Antonio Sports—like NCAA Final Fours and volleyball championships—another $400 million was added to the city’s books.

Even more, the Dome has created over 33,000 jobs and continues to pump in around $130 million every year. With its massive capacity and nonstop lineup of events, it hasn’t just become a part of the city—it’s helped build it. The Alamodome isn’t just a stadium.

It’s a moneymaker, a job creator, and a home for memories that have kept San Antonio moving for 30 years and counting.