Sun Bowl

Sun Bowl is at 2701 Sun Bowl Drive on the northwest edge of the UTEP campus, immediately east of Interstate 10. Downtown El Paso is only a few miles southeast, while the Don Haskins Center and Glory Field sit above the stadium on the campus side.

Driving & Parking

• Interstate 10 approach
  Drivers coming from downtown or the airport generally use I-10 west and the Schuster Avenue/UTEP exits; west-side arrivals use I-10 east. Follow event signs because police may meter turns onto Schuster, Sun Bowl Drive and Mesa Street.
• Paid game-day inventory
  UTEP currently sells $25 single-game spaces on arrival in DA1, SB2, SB3, SB7, SB8 and the Sun Bowl Garage. Sales occur only on game day, by credit card at the lot entrance, and availability is not guaranteed.
• Free lots
  SC1, SC2, SC3, SC4, RI4 and the Schuster Garage on the south side are current free options; SB10 off Sun Bowl Drive is the north-side alternative. The tradeoff is a longer, hillier walk.
• Opening times
  Outer lots open at 8 a.m. and inner-campus lots at noon under the current Saturday plan. Weeknight games receive adjusted hours, so read the game-specific advisory.
• Accessible parking
  GR3, GR5 and DA1 are designated ADA lots and require a government placard or plate. UTEP lists paid assistance from those areas and season accommodation options; contact the Miner Athletic Club before traveling because inventory can fill.
• RV parking
  The current 2026 page lists reserved RV parking in SC1, purchased in advance through the ticket office. Do not assume the broader group of lots used in older seasons remains available.
• Exit strategy
  Sun Bowl Drive empties slowly after close games. If schedule matters, choose a remote campus garage and walk, or wait for the first traffic wave to clear rather than attempting an immediate cross-campus shortcut.

Public Transit

• Sun Metro network
  City buses serve the UTEP and downtown corridors, but the old Union Plaza football shuttle described in archived fan guides should not be assumed active. Build the trip in Sun Metro's live planner for the actual Saturday.
• El Paso Streetcar
  The streetcar connects downtown and the UTEP district and can reduce the driving burden, though its closest useful stop still requires a campus walk and service hours may not cover a late finish.
• Last-trip check
  Night kickoffs regularly end after normal daytime frequencies. Confirm the return departure before entering and keep a rideshare fallback.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• Use the 2026 map
  Request the designated event drop-off shown by UTEP for that game; temporary closures can prevent a driver from reaching the stadium rim.
• Campus fallback
  The Don Haskins Center and Glory Road area can provide a recognizable meeting district when permitted, but Miner Walk and pregame operations may restrict curbs there.
• Postgame walk-out
  Moving toward Mesa Street or a legal downtown-edge pickup often helps a driver avoid the Sun Bowl basin. Stay on lighted campus routes and do not wait on I-10 ramps.

UTEP's pregame concentrates above and north of the bowl, where orange tents, music and the team arrival turn Glory Road into the day's spine. For 2026, Paydirt Pete's organized party has moved to Glory Field and the Miner Walk passes that gathering on its way to the Larry K. Durham Center.

Tailgating

• Paydirt Pete's Pregame Party Zone
  The turnkey area on Glory Field opens three hours before kickoff. Packages include a tent, tables, chairs, catering choices and one VIP parking pass, with season and single-game options sold through UTEP.
• Miner Walk timing
  Be near the Don Haskins Center and Glory Field roughly two hours before kickoff. Players walk from the arena past the tailgates to the Durham Center with the band and spirit groups nearby.
• Campus lots
  Tailgating follows the assigned lot and space. Keep grills, tents and chairs out of driving aisles, protect pavement, and obey the current fan guide's fuel, alcohol and cleanup rules.
• Early arrival
  Outer lots opening at 8 a.m. permit a long Saturday setup; inner-campus access begins later. A parking credential does not authorize entry before the listed time.
• Sun protection
  Shade canopies, sunscreen and more water than seems necessary are essential. Secure tents carefully because winds channel through the mountain pass.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• DeadBeach Brewery
  The El Paso brewery has been an athletics partner and created Miner Brew. Its taproom atmosphere makes it a natural local stop, but use a designated driver or rideshare.
• L&J Cafe
  This long-running El Paso institution near Concordia Cemetery is known for enchiladas, chile-forward plates and an unmistakably local setting. Expect a crowd on football weekends.
• Rib Hut
  Close to UTEP on Mesa Street, Rib Hut is a practical barbecue stop for groups that want table service without going deep into downtown.
• The Hoppy Monk
  Farther west on Mesa, this gastropub offers an extensive beer list and substantial food. It works best before committing to stadium traffic.
• Glory Field party
  Visitors who prize certainty can reserve UTEP's catered setup and avoid moving a group between a restaurant, vehicle and stadium.

• Miner Walk
  Two hours before kickoff, the team leaves the Don Haskins Center and passes Glory Field en route to the Durham Center. Line the route early rather than chasing the procession downhill.
• Mine Shaft entrance
  UTEP asks fans to be seated ten minutes before kickoff. Players emerge through a mine-themed tunnel in a burst of smoke and noise that turns the program's mining identity into theater.
• Paydirt Pete
  The pickaxe-carrying prospector mascot moves through tailgates and the stadium, leading cheers in orange and blue.
• “UTEP Fight”
  The marching band supplies the fight song after scores and during the entrance sequence.
• Chrome pick
  Introduced as a modern fan symbol, the giant chrome pick is displayed around the north concourse and Durham Center area as a natural photo stop.
• Battle of I-10
  The New Mexico State rivalry brings the most locally charged crowd. The schools are separated by roughly 40 miles, so parking and ticket demand rise well above a normal date.

• Franklin Mountains setting
  Exposed rock walls form part of the visual enclosure, especially beyond the open south end. Late-afternoon sun and the lit slopes make upper rows particularly memorable.
• GECU Terrace
  The renovated west-side terrace creates an outdoor social platform with views into the bowl and across the surrounding landscape.
• Foster Tower
  The west structure contains the press box, suites, clubs and the Hunt Family Sky Lounge, substantially modernized in the 2020–21 project.
• Mining architecture
  Tunnel imagery, picks and UTEP's campus-wide Bhutanese design language make the walk to the stadium unlike a generic athletics district.
• Dual identity
  The building is both the Miners' home and the permanent site of the namesake Sun Bowl, one of college football's oldest bowl games.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening day (1963)
  Larry Durham scored on the stadium's first play from scrimmage, a 54-yard run that launched a 34–7 UTEP victory over North Texas State.
• Sun Bowl triumph (1967)
  UTEP rallied past Ole Miss 14–7 before a then-record sellout, the program's enduring bowl-era landmark.
• BYU upset (1997)
  The Miners stunned No. 25 BYU 14–3, and celebrating fans carried a goalpost over the rim of the stadium.
• WAC championship (2000)
  UTEP beat Rice 38–21 before 53,304 and clinched its first Western Athletic Conference title.
• Record UTEP crowd (2008)
  Texas drew 53,415, the stadium record for a Miners home date and a crowd larger than today's permanent capacity.
• Premium modernization (2021)
  UTEP unveiled the repaired Foster Tower, clubs, loges, first suites and GECU Terrace after a $16.25 million west-side project.

The 45,971-seat Sun Bowl is a traditional two-sided bowl with the west tower above the home side and the Durham Center closing the north end. Lower rows feel intimate but flatten the angle; upper rows demand more climbing while revealing the full mountain panorama. Check the 2026 map because gate assignments and premium boundaries matter on the steep site.

• West sideline
  Home-side seats sit beneath Foster Tower and gain afternoon shade earlier than much of the east side. Central sections carry the highest conventional demand.
• East sideline
  These sections look toward the tower and receive more direct sun. They often offer strong value if a visitor brings proper heat protection.
• North end
  Seating near the Durham Center is closest to the Mine Shaft entrance, band energy and chrome-pick area.
• South end and upper corners
  The open mountain-facing perspective is the signature visual. Wind exposure and long stair climbs are the tradeoffs.
• Student sections 17–20
  UTEP designates these general-admission sections for students using their Miner Gold Card. Expect standing and concentrated noise.
• Outdoor and indoor clubs
  The west project created 502 outdoor club seats and 104 indoor club seats with upgraded hospitality and private circulation.
• Loges and suites
  Twenty-six loge boxes and the stadium's first four suites provide the most private experience; confirm whether food, beverages and parking accompany a specific package.
• Accessible locations
  Obtain accessible and companion seating through UTEP. The terrain makes matching the seat, gate and parking area before game day especially important.

Sun Bowl concessions cover the familiar stadium core—hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, sweets and soft drinks—while specialty and alcohol offerings can rotate by season and game. Lines near the main concourses build rapidly at halftime, so purchase early or explore the opposite side.

• Miner Brew and local beer
  DeadBeach Brewery's UTEP connection has brought local flavor to athletics events. Verify the current stand location and bring identification for alcohol service.
• West-side service
  The renovated concourse, GECU Terrace and premium spaces offer expanded bars and hospitality compared with the older bowl circulation.
• North-end options
  The Party Patio and specialty concepts have operated near the north end in recent seasons, but access and menus may be ticket-specific.
• Classic fare
  Permanent stands sell the dependable football staples. Promotional combo prices and themed items are game-specific rather than standing guarantees.
• Payment
  Bring a card or mobile wallet; UTEP's parking operation is explicitly cashless, and stadium transaction practices can change without notice.

• UTEP enforces a clear-bag policy. Use one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches or a one-gallon clear freezer bag.
• A small non-clear clutch approximately 4.5 by 6.5 inches or smaller may be carried with or without a handle or strap.
• Medically necessary items receive a separate inspection. Contact UTEP before game day for accommodation rather than relying on a gate-side exception.
• Backpacks, camera bags, coolers, glass containers, umbrellas, weapons, fireworks, laser pointers, artificial noisemakers and other items listed on the current prohibited-items graphic are not admitted.
• Anyone arriving with a prohibited item must return it to a vehicle or dispose of it; the stadium does not promise storage. This is particularly costly when parking in a remote lot.
• Policies can be updated between seasons. Check the 2026 football-gameday page and its linked graphic before leaving, then choose the smallest possible bag.