Elliott T. Bowers Stadium

The stadium is at 620 Bowers Boulevard, Huntsville, Texas 77340, beside the Ron Mafrige Field House and Don Sanders Stadium. Huntsville lies on Interstate 45, approximately 70 miles north of central Houston. Bowers Boulevard and Bearkat Boulevard form the final campus approach.

Driving & Parking

• From Houston
  Take Interstate 45 north, use Exit 113 toward Riverside/Crockett/Lake Livingston, continue onto Texas 19 and take the Bearkat Boulevard ramp. Turn left, cross Sycamore Avenue and look for the stadium on the left.
• From Dallas–Fort Worth
  Take Interstate 45 south to Exit 112, cross the interstate, follow Texas 75/Sam Houston Avenue to Texas 19 and use the Bearkat Boulevard exit.
• General public parking
  Sam Houston's standing football plan makes most campus surface parking free, with the principal public supply between the intramural fields and Johnson Coliseum. The campus garage is excluded from that general free-parking statement.
• Reserved stadium lots
  The main Bowers lot is pass-only, and spaces immediately at the Ron Mafrige Field House and Don Sanders Stadium have traditionally closed on game day. Bearkat Champions Fund permits control the priority inventory.
• Accessible parking
  State-placarded parking has been provided beside the west stand. Because the west side was completely rebuilt, contact the ticket office before the 2026 reopening so the parking entrance and accessible seat match.
• Towing risk
  Do not park along campus streets or in the Bearkat Boulevard median. Both are specifically identified as tow-away locations.

Public Transit

• Huntsville does not offer a dependable citywide football shuttle comparable to a large metropolitan transit system. Most visitors should plan to drive, use a hotel ride or arrange a rideshare.
• Campus transportation primarily serves university users and should not be treated as guaranteed visitor service on a Saturday without a game-specific announcement.
• If staying near Sam Houston Avenue or downtown, the stadium is only a short drive away, but the hills, heat and postgame darkness make a casual walk less attractive than the mileage suggests.
• Groups coming from Houston should consider a designated driver or charter vehicle; do not build a return plan around finding an intercity departure after a night game.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Sam Houston has not yet published a permanent rideshare zone for the renovated stadium. Choose a legal campus-edge curb and follow the 2026 traffic map rather than asking a driver to enter the pass-only Bowers lot.
• Johnson Coliseum is a useful general landmark, but its nearby lots may be serving public parking and pedestrian traffic. Never load in a travel lane.
• After the game, walk away from the immediate Bowers Boulevard crowd before requesting. Sam Houston Avenue or another open perimeter street may be easier for a driver to reach.
• Huntsville's driver supply is smaller than Houston's. Schedule extra pickup time, confirm the plate in a lighted area and keep a backup taxi or sober-driver plan.

Bearkat Alley is the center of the public pregame. Sam Houston describes it as a spirited gathering outside Bowers Stadium with free food, games and giveaways hosted by student organizations and university departments. The alumni association also schedules a home-game tailgate beginning two hours before kickoff. Exact footprints may move around the renovated west side, so use the current map.

Tailgating

• Bearkat Alley
  The standing plan locates it in the north parking area behind the scoreboard and opens it two hours before kickoff. Visitors can sample the atmosphere without owning a parking setup.
• Public parking lots
  Tailgating is encouraged in public surface lots. Keep tents, grills and games within the space you control and preserve driving, pedestrian and emergency lanes.
• Glass-free setup
  Glass beverage containers are prohibited. Bring cans or plastic and clean the entire footprint before departure.
• Charcoal safety
  Dispose of coals in the proper receptacle; never put hot material in trash cans, beneath trees or loose on pavement.
• No unauthorized sales
  Food, drinks, product samples and promotional materials may not be distributed to the public without university approval. Solicitation and leafleting vehicles are also prohibited.
• Reopening check
  The old north-lot custom is useful context, not proof of the final 2026 footprint. Confirm Bearkat Alley location and opening time for the Tulsa game and subsequent dates.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Humphrey's Bar & Grill
  A longstanding Huntsville gathering place on Sam Houston Avenue with burgers, steaks, pub food and live music. It is a natural casual stop between downtown and campus.
• City Hall Cafe & Pie Bar
  At 1421 Sam Houston Avenue, this local restaurant serves chicken-fried steak, burgers, sandwiches and scratch-made pies. It works especially well for an early lunch.
• Farmhouse Cafe & Bakery
  The 14th Street favorite offers home-style plates and baked desserts in a calmer, family-oriented setting. Weekend waits reward an early arrival.
• Farmhouse Coffee & Cream
  A useful coffee, ice-cream and light-food stop when a full sit-down meal would interfere with tailgate time.
• C.A.T. Cafe
  This downtown bakery and coffee shop provides a quick local option before heading east to the athletics complex.

• Bearkat Alley
  Free food, games, organizational tents and orange giveaways make the official pregame gathering the most accessible Sam Houston ritual for a first-time visitor.
• “Eat 'Em Up Kats”
  The university's familiar rallying phrase appears across campus and supplies the natural call of the day. Orange apparel is the easiest way for a visitor to join in.
• Sammy Bearkat
  The costumed mascot circulates through pregame activities and the stadium, reinforcing the Bearkat identity that Sam Houston has used since the early 1920s.
• Bearkat Marching Band
  The band drives the fight songs, pregame show and in-game responses. Arrive before kickoff rather than entering after the first possession.
• Homecoming
  The fall celebration includes a parade with the band and university president, student competitions, Bearkat Alley and the football game.
• Orange and white
  Theme games may call for a specific color treatment. Check the promotion calendar before choosing game-day clothing.

• New west-side building
  The five-level structure contains a two-story club lounge, outdoor balcony, 12 suites, press and coaching spaces, a control room, concessions and restrooms.
• Elliott T. Bowers identity
  The stadium honors the university president who served from 1970 through 1989 and oversaw substantial institutional growth.
• South-end video board
  The 32-foot-4-inch by 79-foot-6-inch display rises over the end of the bowl and is the visual anchor from the west and east stands.
• York Track
  The running oval preserves Bowers Stadium's dual role as Sam Houston's track-and-field venue and a host for regional meets.
• Tripod memorial
  On the hill near the former Old Main site, a monument remembers the three-legged dog who became the campus's beloved unofficial mascot from the 1940s through 1962.
• Sam Houston history nearby
  The Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Oakwood Cemetery gravesite and giant “A Tribute to Courage” statue make the city unusually rich in namesake context.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening victory (1986)
  Sam Houston defeated Montana State 23–6 on September 13 in the first game at Bowers Stadium.
• Steve McNair upset (1994)
  More than 16,000 fans watched the Bearkats beat nationally ranked Alcorn State and its future NFL MVP quarterback on regional ABC television.
• Facility growth (2004–09)
  A three-phase program converted press space into suites, expanded the president's box and improved team and fan facilities.
• First CUSA home win (2023)
  Sam Houston beat FIU 21–7 in its first Conference USA game at Bowers.
• Final preconstruction game (2024)
  The Bearkats edged Liberty 20–18 before vacating the stadium for the west-side rebuild.
• Reopening game (2026)
  Tulsa is scheduled to visit September 12 for the first football event in the transformed stadium.

Bowers is a traditional two-sideline stadium with the video board to the south and track separating the front row from the playing surface. The east side is the visitor/general-admission side in the established map; the rebuilt west side contains reserved and premium inventory. Final 2026 section and gate assignments should control.

• West reserved seating
  This is the home side and the best route to the new west amenities. Midfield seats offer the strongest overall view beyond the track.
• West club
  The new two-story lounge provides catered hospitality, beverage service and balcony access. Admission requires the appropriate premium credential.
• Luxury suites
  Twelve suites occupy the new structure with elevated sightlines and private service.
• East grandstand
  The established arrangement places visiting fans, students and general admission here. It faces the new west building and may receive afternoon sun differently by kickoff time.
• Accessible locations
  Reserved accessible positions have historically existed on both concourses. The old guide's steep west ramps and elevator instructions may no longer match the rebuilt side, so arrange seating directly with the ticket office.
• Gate timing
  Gates traditionally open 90 minutes before kickoff. Do not rely on old Gate 1–5 assignments until Sam Houston issues its post-renovation diagram.

Permanent stands have traditionally operated near midfield on both concourses, and the new west project adds expanded concession and restroom capacity. Sam Houston has not yet published a post-rebuild stand map or complete 2026 menu.

• East concourse
  The existing midfield service point should remain the practical choice for east-side patrons, subject to the reopening map.
• New west concourse
  Expanded counters are part of the completed building and should improve service for reserved-seat and premium guests.
• Club and suites
  Catering and beverage service are premium amenities, not general-admission concessions. The correct credential is required.
• Bearkat apparel shop
  A ground-level retail shop is included in the new west building, replacing reliance on the old northwest-ramp merchandise location.
• Outside food and drink
  Neither may enter the stadium. Check the opening-game page for cashless payment rules and any sealed-water exception before arriving.
• Alcohol
  Published materials conflict, with an old prohibited-items list banning alcohol while university reviews state that alcohol is sold at athletic events. Buy only from licensed stadium points and follow the 2026 event policy.

• Each guest may bring one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or one clear one-gallon resealable freezer bag.
• One small clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 by 1 inch may enter with or without a strap. Every bag is subject to inspection.
• Backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, chairback seats, strollers and ordinary opaque purses are prohibited under the published policy.
• Outside food and beverages, umbrellas, artificial noisemakers and professional camera equipment are also prohibited.
• Sam Houston's published clear-bag notice does not describe a broad medical or childcare exception. Contact the ticket office before game day if medically necessary supplies do not fit the permitted containers.
• Carry the smallest possible bag and recheck the Tulsa-game update, because the first football operation after a major rebuild can bring revised screening lanes or entrance assignments.