Key facts
- Finals venue
- Alamodome, 100 Montana St, San Antonio, TX 78203
- 2027 finals
- Girls: March 4-6. Boys: March 11-13 (as announced by UIL and reported by SI)
- Semifinals
- Played at neutral sites around Texas, not in San Antonio
- Title games
- 12 per tournament: Classes 1A to 6A, Division I and II
- Contract
- Finals stay at the Alamodome through 2028
What is new for 2026-27
For the 2026-27 season, UIL announced semifinal sites for every class, and they are spread across the state: Fort Worth (Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center), Houston (Delmar Fieldhouse and the M. O. Campbell Center), Haltom City (W.G. Thomas Coliseum), Cypress (Berry Center), Katy (Leonard Merrell Center), Abilene (Moody Coliseum), Lubbock (Rip Griffin Center), Waco Midway, Wichita Falls Legacy, Austin Vandegrift, Melissa, Wolfforth Frenship and Little River Academy. Only the championship games are in San Antonio.
That means many teams make two trips in one week: a semifinal trip to a regional site, then a quick turnaround to San Antonio if they win. Plan both before the playoffs start.
Dates and 5 rooms prefilled. Change them in the booking card.
How to book San Antonio without wasting money
- Hold refundable rooms early. Downtown hotels fill with teams, bands and fans during both championship weeks. Book rooms with free cancellation as soon as your team is a realistic contender, and cancel if you are eliminated.
- Read the cancellation deadline, not just "free cancellation". Many hotels allow free cancellation only until 24 to 72 hours before arrival. Your semifinal result may come later than that, so pick rates whose deadline falls after your semifinal.
- Ask for a group rate once you have 9 or more rooms. A hotel sales manager can often hold a small block with one rate for the team. See how hotel room blocks work.
- Book parents separately. Let families book their own rooms near the team hotel so the school only pays for players and staff.
Where teams stay
| Area | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown and River Walk | Walking distance to the Alamodome for many hotels, easy team dinners | Highest rates during tournament weeks, paid parking, limited bus parking |
| East side and I-10 / I-35 corridor | Lower rates, free parking, more hotels with breakfast | Short drive to the arena; check that the lot fits a coach |
| Airport area (north) | Fly-in families, chain hotels with shuttles | Drive time to downtown at game time |
For a team traveling by bus, the most important question for the hotel is "Can a full-size coach park on site, and is there a fee?" Ask before you book.
Tickets and parking (2026 prices)
For the 2026 tournaments, an all-tournament pass cost $110 plus fees and a single-session ticket cost $20 plus fees, sold digitally through Ticketmaster. Alamodome parking was $25 per car, $50 per bus, or $60 for an all-tournament parking pass, paid on site by card. UIL sets new prices each year, so confirm before you budget.
A three-night sample plan
The GroupVoy planner opens with a sample state-tournament trip from Dallas to San Antonio for 18 travelers: travel and shoot-around on Thursday, games Friday and Saturday, home on Sunday. Change the dates and headcount to see rooms, vans and cost per person for your team.
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2027 UIL state basketball finals?
Girls championship games are scheduled for March 4-6, 2027 and boys for March 11-13, 2027, all at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Confirm on uiltexas.org before booking.
Are the UIL basketball semifinals at the Alamodome?
No. For 2026-27 the semifinals are at neutral sites across Texas, such as Fort Worth, Houston, Katy, Abilene and Lubbock. Only the finals are in San Antonio.
When should a team book San Antonio hotels?
Book refundable rooms as soon as your team is a contender, and choose rates whose free-cancellation deadline falls after your semifinal game.
Can parents stay at the team hotel?
Usually yes, but most schools keep players on their own floor. Many teams have parents book their own rooms at the same hotel or one nearby.
Sources
- SI: UIL announces basketball semifinal locations for 2026-27
- FOX 7 Austin: UIL state basketball tournament stays at Alamodome through 2028
- Austin Sports Journal: 2026 UIL girls basketball tickets and parking
- UIL Texas (official schedules and brackets)
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