SAN ANTONIO – Excitement is building as San Antonio prepares to host the 2025 Men’s NCAA Final Four this weekend.
The event will bring together the top four men’s college basketball teams in the nation to vie for the championship title.
The NCAA Men’s Final Four will take place on Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome, with Florida taking on Auburn at 5:09 p.m., and Houston playing Duke at 7:49 p.m.
The championship game is scheduled for Monday, April 7. This will mark the fifth time the men’s Final Four is held at the venue.
The men’s Final Four weekend will also bring other jam-packed events, including the free March Madness Music Festival in the Alamo City.
The event is expected to attract over 100,000 out-of-town visitors during the weekend.
Stay weather aware, though: Severe weather will be a possibility Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. The heaviest rainfall will fall north of the San Antonio area, but some places could pick up some more much-needed rain.
>> Final Four forecast: Storm chances and temperature swings add to the chaos of March Madness
If severe weather or lightning becomes a factor, officials will release updates on the Men’s Final Four App.
Umbrellas will be allowed inside the Alamodome and Tip-Off Tailgate in Civic Park. However, they will NOT be allowed at the March Madness Music Festival at Tower Park.
If you plan to attend, here’s a guide to everything you need to know before heading out:
Tickets
Tickets to the April 5 and April 7 games can be found on the NCAA’s website.
As of Monday, the cheapest ticket for the semifinals game via On Location is $950.
>> How to get tickets for Final Four games in San Antonio
Basketball fans who don’t have tickets to the semifinal games or championship can still watch the teams practice at the Reese’s Men’s Final Four on Friday at the Alamodome on April 4. The open practices are free to attend.
Men’s Final Four Fan Fest tickets
Tickets are required for the Men’s Final Four Fan Fest and are valid for one day between April 4-7. If you plan to attend multiple days, you will need to purchase additional tickets.
Children 12 and under get in for free into the event as well as active and non-active military personnel with a valid ID.
College students who show a valid university ID can get 50% off entry. The offer can be redeemed by showing the ID at the box office.
For more details on Fan Fest tickets, click here.
Final Four daily schedule
Friday, April 4
- 10 a.m.: Reese’s Men’s Final Four Friday, Alamodome. The event is free.
- 10 a.m.: Doors open, free parking in Alamodome Lot B (limited)
- 11 a.m.: Team 1 open practice
- Noon: Team 2 open practice
- 1 p.m.: Team 3 open practice
- 2 p.m.: Team 4 open practice
- 3:35 p.m.: Reese’s NABC College All-Star Game
- Noon-6 p.m.: Men’s Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One, Henry B. González Convention Center.
- 3-11 p.m.: Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan, Civic Park.
- 4:30-10 p.m.: March Madness Music Festival: AT&T Block Party, Tower Park at Hemisfair.
- Performers: Pitbull, Doechii, Ravyn Lenae
Saturday, April 5
- 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Men’s Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One, Henry B. González Convention Center
- 11 a.m.: Men’s Final Four River Rally, Rivercenter Lagoon at River Walk
- 1:30-11 p.m.: Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan, Civic Park
- 3-8:30 p.m.: March Madness Music Festival: Coke Live, Tower Park at Hemisfair
- Performers: Jelly Roll, T-Pain, Willow Avalon
- 3 p.m.: Gates open for Semifinal Games, Alamodome
- 5:09 p.m.: Semifinal Game 1, Alamodome
- 7:49 p.m.: Semifinal Game 2, Alamodome
Sunday, April 6
- 8 a.m.: Men’s Final Four Dribble presented by Buick, Travis Park
- 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Men’s Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One, Henry B. González Convention Center
- Noon-5 p.m.: Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan, Civic Park
- 2:30-10:30 p.m.: March Madness Music Festival: Capital One JamFest, Tower Park at Hemisfair
- Performers: Chris Stapleton, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Benson Boone, Brothers Osborne
Monday, April 7
- Noon-6 p.m.: Men’s Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One, Henry B. González Convention Center
- 3-9 p.m.: Tip-Off Tailgate Presented by Nissan, Civic Park
- 5:30 p.m.: Gates open for national championship game, Alamodome
- 7:50 p.m. National championship tip-off
- Postgame: Championship river parade, Arneson River Theatre at River Walk
All Tip-Off Tailgate events are free and open to the public, according to the NCAA website.
What you can and can’t take inside the Alamodome during NCAA Final Four games
Before heading out to enjoy the games, be aware of which items are allowed inside the venue, and which items must be left at home.
All attendees and bags will be subject to search upon entry. Failure to comply with venue and event management will result in denial of entry, according to the NCAA.
Alamodome bag policy:
All NCAA Men’s Final Four events have a strict clear bag policy.
Coca-Cola, Powerade and Men’s Final Four-branded clear security bags will be available at select information center locations as well as at the Alamodome.
The following bags are allowed inside the Alamodome:
- Clear plastic bag 12 x 6 x 12 inches
- Clear fanny pack 12 x 6 x 12 inches
- A gallon-size clear plastic storage bag
- Clear backpack 12 x 6 x 12 inches
- Clutch purse 5.5 x 8.5 inches or 3 x 4 inches
The following bags are prohibited inside the Alamodome, unless they meet the requirements listed above:
- Backpack
- Purse
- Camera bag
- Binoculars case
- Fanny pack
- Seat cushion
- Printed pattern plastic bag
- Cooler
- Briefcase
- Luggage of any kind
- Computer bag
Items prohibited inside the Alamodome:
- Animals (except service animals to aid guests with disabilities)
- Artificial noisemakers or noisemaking devices of any kind
- Balls or any object that can be used as a projectile
- Cameras with professional lenses longer than 3 inches, GoPros, video records and mono/tripods on game days (Cameras, GoPros, etc. are only allowed on open practice day)
- Smoking, e-cigarettes and vapes
- Outside food and beverage and containers of any kind (except for guests with medical and dietary needs)
- Fireworks or weapons of any kind, including but not limited to firearms and knives
- Concealed and open carry (state laws apply to active Texas law enforcement)
- Folding chairs, stools or other seating devices
- Illegal substances
- Laser pointers
- Poles or sticks of any kind, including selfie sticks
- Signs, flags larger than 3 x 2 feet
- Unmanned aircraft systems/radio-controlled model aircraft
- Segways, skateboards and hoverboards
- Personal carts, wagons or other large rolling devices
- Obscene or indecent clothing or signs
- Any other items determined by event management to be dangerous or inappropriate
All attendants, regardless of age, must have a valid event ticket to enter the Alamodome on game days. Reentry into the Alamodome will not be allowed on game days.
Click here for more details.
Free entertainment
Several singers, including Pitbull, Jelly Roll and Doechii, are among those set to perform during the NCAA March Madness Music Festival.
The best part? The March Madness Music Festival is free and open to the public.
>> What you can and can’t bring to 2025 NCAA March Madness Music Festival in San Antonio
The following artists will perform during the Final Four weekend:
Friday, April 4 - AT&T Block Party
- Ravyn Lenae, 5:15 p.m.
- Doechii, 7 p.m.
- Pitbull, 8:45 p.m.
The event opens its doors at 4:30 p.m. and concludes at 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 5 - Coca-Cola Live!
- Willow Avalon, 4 p.m.
- T-Pain, 5:30 p.m.
- Jelly Roll, 7:15 p.m.
The event opens to the public at 3 p.m. and concludes at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 6 - Capital One JamFest
- Brothers Osborne, 3:15 p.m.
- Benson Boone, 5 p.m.
- Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, 6:45 p.m.
- Chris Stapleton, 8:45 p.m.
The event opens its doors at 2:30 p.m. and concludes at 10:30 p.m.
VIA Park & Ride
NCAA officials recommend public transportation, biking or utilizing a Rideshare app since the downtown parking garages will fill quickly.
VIA’s Park & Ride service will be available to basketball fans during the Final Four weekend.
Parking will be available at the following two locations:
- Crossroads Park & Ride, 151 N Crossroads Blvd
- Blossom Athletic Center, 12002 Jones Maltsberger Road
All buses will drop off riders at East Nueva Street and Jack White Way.
Park & Ride fares cost $2.60 roundtrip ($1.30 each way). Discounts are also available to students, seniors and other populations.
- April 4: Service to the events begins at 2:30 p.m., and return service to parking lots ends at midnight.
- April 5: Service starts at 1 p.m., with return service concluding at midnight.
- April 6: Service begins at 12:30 p.m., and return service ends at 11:30 p.m.
For more details, click here.
Road closures
The following streets will be closed 24 hours daily, with some street closures beginning on March 31, according to the NCAA website:
Wednesday, April 2 – Monday, April 7
- Montana Street
Friday, April 4 – Monday, April 7
- Nueva Street (South Alamo Street to Hemisfair Boulevard)
Friday, April 4, Saturday, April 5 & Monday, April 7
- Cesar Chavez exit at Interstate 37 access road to Montana Street, Gonzales Street, Hoefgen Avenue
Monday, March 31 – Tuesday, April 8 (6 a.m. - midnight)
- South Alamo Street from Commerce Street to Cesar Chavez Boulevard
The following closures are daily closures, according to the NCAA website:
Friday, April 4
- 2 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.: Nueva Street from St. Mary’s Street to Dwyer Avenue
- 8 p.m. to midnight: Northbound Dwyer at Old Guilbeau Street
Saturday, April 5
- 12:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.: Nueva Street from St. Mary’s Street to Dwyer Avenue
- 8 p.m. to midnight: Northbound Dwyer at Old Guilbeau Street
Sunday, April 6
- Noon to midnight: Nueva Street from St. Mary’s Street to Dwyer Avenue
- 8 p.m. to midnight: Northbound Dwyer at Old Guilbeau Street
Parking
Alamodome parking
On Friday, April 4, basketball fans heading to the Reese’s Men’s Final Four can find free public parking in Lot B, though space is limited. Free ADA parking will be offered in Lot A on a first-come, first-served basis, with both lots opening at 9 a.m.
During the semifinal games on Saturday, April 5, there will be no public parking available, with only ADA parking permitted. The lot will open at 1 p.m.
On Monday, April 7, only ADA parking will be available during the championship game. The lot will open at 3:30 p.m.
Public parking
Public parking is available at different downtown lots and garages.
According to the Alamodome’s website, the San Antonio Marriott RiverCenter, East Crockett Street and East Commerce Street garages are among some locations attendees can choose to park at.
For an additional list of other parking options, click here.
MFF Map - Road Closures 2.20.25 (1) by andreamoreno907 on Scribd
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