Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium

DKR is at 2139 San Jacinto Boulevard, east of the central campus. I-35 runs just east of the stadium; Dean Keeton Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Red River Street, Manor Road and San Jacinto serve the district. On game days, closures and one-way controls make the parking destination more important than the stadium address.

Driving & Parking

• Driving
  I-35 is the obvious regional approach but often the slowest final mile. Use the route assigned to the pass, watch Austin’s live traffic information and expect police to prevent turns that a navigation app recommends.
• Parking
  University garages and surface lots near DKR are largely permit-controlled and many passes are season inventory. Buy through Texas Athletics, UT Parking and Transportation or the authorized single-game platform rather than an unverified street seller.
• Parking
  Public inventory may be offered in campus garages farther from the stadium. Manor, Trinity, San Jacinto and East Campus facilities have different access rules, and not every garage sells drive-up spaces for every game.
• Parking
  Downtown garages can be a useful alternative for fans prepared to walk 20–35 minutes or connect by bus. Verify weekend hours and avoid a facility whose exit feeds directly into the postgame closure.
• Parking
  Accessible spaces require the appropriate Texas or out-of-state placard or plate and the relevant parking credential. An ADA golf-cart network serves designated mobility-assistance stops, not every parking row.
• Parking
  Surface lots open early; a published night-game schedule has opened parking at 7 a.m. Tailgating and fan-festival start times are later and vary with kickoff.
• Parking
  Austin aggressively enforces residential permits, tow-away zones and temporary no-parking signs. Never block a bike lane, driveway or emergency access route.

Public Transit

• CapMetro bus routes serve the university, downtown, Dean Keeton, Red River and the Capitol area. Stops near the stadium may be relocated for street closures, so use the agency trip planner on game day.
• MetroRail does not stop at DKR. Downtown Station can connect with a bus or a long walk, but it should not be mistaken for door-to-door stadium service.
• Walking from downtown is practical for many visitors and avoids the postgame garage queue. The route rises toward campus and can be punishing in September heat, so carry permitted water and allow recovery time.
• Bicycle and scooter share can help before streets close, but geofenced no-ride and no-parking zones expand around major events. Park only in a designated corral and do not count on finding a vehicle afterward.
• Mobility-assistance golf carts operate along published routes before and after the game. They are not an on-demand rideshare service; save the official stop map and expect a queue.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Texas designates rideshare areas outside the immediate stadium closure. The exact zone can move with construction and security plans, so use the current football map in the Texas Longhorns app.
• On arrival, select a named campus edge or official drop point rather than placing the pin at DKR. San Jacinto and roads beside the stadium close well before kickoff.
• After the game, walk toward downtown, the Capitol complex or another area beyond controlled traffic before requesting. Choose a well-lit landmark and remain out of bike lanes.
• Demand and prices spike immediately after the final whistle. Waiting through the first traffic wave at a restaurant or tailgate is often more comfortable than chasing a driver through a moving closure.

Texas turns the blocks around DKR into a public festival. Bevo Boulevard, Smokey’s Midway, Hook ’Em Hangout and Longhorn City Limits generally open hours before kickoff. For a night game they may begin in early afternoon; the official weekly schedule, not a fixed formula, controls. Stadium gates commonly open two hours before kickoff.

Tailgating

• Bevo Boulevard
  San Jacinto beside the west stadium facade becomes a free fan promenade with food, drinks, merchandise, television sets, sponsor activities and the live Bevo Parade.
• Longhorn City Limits
  The LBJ Lawn hosts a free concert series featuring national and Texas artists. Headliner and set times are announced by game, and the lawn reaches capacity for major acts.
• Smokey’s Midway
  The north-side carnival zone offers rides, games, food and family activities near the stadium’s namesake cannon.
• Hook ’Em Hangout
  This fan area adds food trucks, drinks and screens, providing a less formal alternative to a reserved vehicle tailgate.
• Campus tailgates
  University surface lots permit tailgating within assigned spaces under UT rules. Keep tents and equipment inside the footprint and preserve fire lanes, sidewalks and accessible routes.
• Open flames, generators, alcohol and amplified sound are governed by lot and university policies. Secure tents against wind and dispose of coals and grease only in designated containers.
• Public festival areas are easier for a first-time visitor than hauling equipment. Bring only what can pass the stadium’s clear-bag policy, because there is no convenient place to store a cooler at kickoff.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Scholz Garten
  Operating since 1866, this German-Texan beer garden south of campus is a Longhorn gathering place with sausages, schnitzel, beer and a large courtyard.
• Crown & Anchor Pub
  A relaxed campus-area bar north of DKR known for burgers, fries and a broad beer list. It fills early but avoids some of the spectacle on Bevo Boulevard.
• Posse East
  Across from the east campus area, this longtime sports bar serves burgers, sandwiches and cold beer close enough for a manageable walk.
• Dirty Martin’s Place
  A Guadalupe Street institution dating to 1926, famous for griddled burgers and a casual Texas atmosphere. It sits west of campus rather than beside the stadium.
• Texas Chili Parlor
  A downtown-adjacent landmark for bowls of chile, Tex-Mex plates and drinks. Its old Austin character makes it a strong Friday or postgame stop.
• Terry Black’s Barbecue
  Brisket, ribs and sides south of the river. Lines can be substantial, and it requires transportation, so treat it as a weekend meal rather than a quick pregame bite.
• Franklin Barbecue
  The world-famous East Austin counter rewards those willing to dedicate hours to the line. It is best planned for Friday or Sunday, not squeezed between tailgates and kickoff.
• Kerbey Lane Cafe
  An Austin staple for pancakes, queso and all-day comfort food, with multiple locations. Choose the branch that fits lodging and verify its current hours.

• Bevo Parade
  Bevo XV, accompanied by the Silver Spurs, travels down Bevo Boulevard through a corridor of fans. The parade is often about three hours before kickoff, with lineup shortly beforehand.
• Stadium Stampede
  The team walks from its bus into DKR through a band-and-cheerleader-lined path. A typical schedule places arrival around two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff.
• Longhorn Band march
  The Showband of the Southwest marches to the stadium about an hour before kickoff, bringing Big Bertha and the familiar strains of “Texas Fight.”
• Big Bertha
  Texas’s enormous bass drum appears in the pregame show and at major moments. The current Big Bertha II debuted in 2022 as an even larger successor to the original.
• Smokey the Cannon
  Operated by the Texas Cowboys, Smokey fires before kickoff and after Longhorn scores. It is startling even when expected, especially from seats in the north half.
• Bevo
  A live Texas longhorn has represented the university since 1916. The Silver Spurs manage his appearances; admire him from outside the barriers and never attempt to touch him.
• “The Eyes of Texas”
  Players and fans raise the Hook ’em sign and sing the alma mater after the game. The team gathers near the band regardless of the result.
• Hook ’em Horns
  The hand sign created by cheerleader Harley Clark in 1955 appears everywhere. Rival fans turn it upside down; in Austin, keep the horns upright.
• Tower lighting
  The UT Tower glows burnt orange after varsity victories, with special configurations for conference and national championships. Look west from the stadium after a win.

• Veterans Memorial Plaza
  The stadium was built as a memorial to Texans who served in World War I and was rededicated in 1977 to honor veterans of all American wars. Memorial tablets and displays give the venue a purpose beyond football.
• Longhorn-shaped balcony
  The south end’s burnt-orange cutout frames a field-level terrace and has become DKR’s defining modern image. It is architecture, premium space and team-entrance backdrop at once.
• Campbell-Williams Field
  The playing surface honors Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, Texas’s Heisman Trophy-winning running backs. Their names were added in 2020.
• Heisman statues
  Bronze monuments to Texas Heisman winners, including Campbell and Williams, stand around the stadium precinct and are popular pregame photo locations.
• Red McCombs Red Zone
  The north end-zone complex recognizes the businessman and major university benefactor and contains club, seating and football spaces.
• Bevo Boulevard and Big Beertha
  The fan boulevard’s enormous mobile beer tap riffs on Big Bertha and turns a closed city street into one of the sport’s liveliest public tailgates.
• State Capitol and UT Tower views
  Upper levels place the stadium within Austin’s civic skyline. The location makes DKR feel urban without separating it from campus.

History & Notable Moments

• Texas Memorial Stadium opened in 1924 after students, alumni and citizens financed a $275,000 concrete venue. Texas defeated Baylor 28–10 in the first game on November 8.
• The formal dedication followed on November 27, when Texas beat rival Texas A&M 7–0. Its memorial designation honored Texans who served in the First World War.
• Temporary lights hosted the first night game in 1955. Permanent lighting, upper decks and end-zone expansions followed as Texas grew into a national program.
• The venue became Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in 1996, honoring the coach who won three national championships while retaining the memorial name.
• The track was removed and the field lowered after the 1998 season, moving football seats closer to play and setting up later north-end expansion.
• Texas recorded the program’s 900th victory by beating USC 37–14 in 2018, avenging the previous year’s overtime loss in Los Angeles.
• The 2021 south end-zone project enclosed the stadium, installed FieldTurf, added premium and student areas and created the Longhorn-shaped balcony.
• A record 105,213 attended the 20–19 loss to Alabama in 2022, a crowd larger than the venue’s listed permanent capacity.
• DKR hosted a College Football Playoff game for the first time in December 2024, when Texas defeated Clemson 38–24 in a first-round matchup.

DKR is a tall, fully enclosed stadium with multiple decks on the sidelines and a more complex south end. West-side seats receive shade first; the east side can bake through an afternoon kickoff. Upper levels offer excellent city and formation views but require long ramps, escalators or elevator waits.

• Lower sidelines
  Rows above field level offer the best balance of proximity and perspective. The Texas bench is on the west side, where late-day shade arrives earlier.
• North end zone
  Seats beneath and around the main videoboard feel close to Smokey and the band. Prepare for the cannon’s report and limited depth perception.
• South end zone
  The newest structure includes student and premium areas surrounding the Longhorn balcony. Sightlines and access differ sharply by level.
• Student section
  Students occupy a large south-end presence and stand for most of the game. It is energetic, dense and less suitable for visitors seeking an unobstructed seated view.
• Visitor seating
  Visiting allotments generally include upper-deck sections and limited lower seating. Exact assignments change, so consult the current official chart before buying resale tickets.
• Premium seating
  Centennial, Touchdown, Texas, Terrace, Longhorn and Founders-style club products vary in indoor access, food, beverages, chairbacks and private entrances.
• Accessibility
  Wheelchair and companion platforms are distributed around DKR. Arrange exchanges early and study the accessible route, because the closest visual entrance may not reach the correct level.

All DKR concession transactions are cashless and contactless. Credit cards, debit cards and supported mobile wallets are accepted; fans carrying currency should locate a cash-to-card machine before ordering. Renovated west-side stands, self-checkout and grab-and-go markets reduce some lines.

• Fan First pricing
  Texas has offered about 15 value items priced roughly 30 percent below prior levels, including selected $5 or $6 12-ounce beers. Products and locations are marked on the current concessions map.
• Stadium standards
  Hot dogs, burgers, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, pizza, chicken and bottled drinks are available across levels.
• Larger dishes
  Recent menus have included macaroni-and-cheese bowls, turkey legs and creatively topped hot dogs at specialty stands.
• Austin and Texas flavor
  Barbecue, tacos, sausage, local restaurants and regional brands rotate through selected locations. Do not assume a featured item is sold on every concourse.
• Alcohol
  Beer, wine and craft cocktails are available to guests 21 and older with valid identification. Purchase limits and a sales cutoff apply.
• Dietary needs
  Vegetarian and allergen-aware choices are location-specific. Contact guest services before game day for medically necessary arrangements and ask about cross-contact at the stand.

• Each guest may carry one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear resealable freezer bag.
• One small non-clear clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may accompany the approved clear bag. All items remain subject to inspection.
• Medically necessary bags and equipment are allowed after a separate screening. Contact Texas Athletics before game day if supplies require special handling.
• Diaper items should be placed in an approved clear bag when possible; a conventional diaper bag is not automatically exempt merely because a child is present.
• Backpacks, large purses, coolers, camera cases, umbrellas, outside food and drink, artificial noisemakers and weapons are prohibited unless an official exception applies.
• Security uses walk-through screening and may open any permitted bag. DKR does not provide a reliable general bag check, so return prohibited items to the vehicle before joining the gate line.