Spectator Sports
The name of the game in Albuquerque is college sports, with the UNM Lobos football and basketball teams at the top of the list, followed by baseball. However, Albuquerque also has professional NBA basketball in the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and pro baseball in the Albuquerque Isotopes. Ticket prices for these professional teams start at under 10 bucks and are exceptionally good value for the quality of play and the venues. Efforts to start an Albuquerque pro football team have not yet borne fruit, partly because of the lack of a suitable downtown arena, although an Albuquerque Arena Football franchise is rumored to be in the works, and conversations among investors continue.
Rodeo, marathons, and motor sports all add to the mix, and top women tennis players come to town every year to compete in the United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit ColemanVision Championships.
Much of the team game action centers around the University of New Mexico South Campus trio of Isotopes Park (baseball), University Stadium (football) and University Arena/The Pit (basketball). These are all near the intersection of Avenida Cesar Chavez SE and University Boulevard SE. From I-25 exit at Avenida Cesar Chavez and head east. The Pit will be on the right as you come to University Boulevard. Isotopes Park is on the left, northeast corner of University Boulevard. University Stadium will be to your right, after you cross University Boulevard.
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 100 Speedway Park Boulevard
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
4. UNM LOBOS BASEBALL
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
Description: The University of New Mexico boasts a nationally ranked Lobos baseball team, from which an unprecedented six graduating players were drafted in 2009 into the Major Leagues. Sharing Isotopes Park with the pro ’Topes, the UNM Lobos help make Albuquerque a great city for baseball. The Lobos baseball season lasts from February to May, meaning that between the two teams there are only four months in which Duke City baseball junkies have to suffer withdrawals. The first Lobos baseball team took to the field in 1899.
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 300 San Pedro NE
6. UNM LOBOS BASKETBALL
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 1111 University SE
Description: Lobos basketball season runs from November to March, and both men’s and women’s basketball inspire fervent enthusiasm among fans. The Lady Lobos rank in the top 25 in the nation in home attendance, while the men’s team ranks in the top 20. Usually, when men’s basketball is playing away, women’s basketball is at home and vice versa. One of the major claims to fame of Lobos basketball is their home venue, “‘The Pit” (University Arena). This is one of the most instantly recognizable arenas in college basketball, infamous for striking fear in the hearts of visiting Lobos competitors (see The Pit Close-up).
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
8. THE DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE RACETRACK & CASINO
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (505) 266-5555
Address: 201 California Street NE
Description: You can watch and wager on simulcast horse racing every day on over 500 TV monitors. There is live racing at the track from August to October. Stakes include the Albuquerque Derby, New Mexico Breeders’ Quarter Horse Championship, and the New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Breeders’ Derby. The casino has 330 slot machines and video poker gaming. The Downs Racetrack & Casino is on the grounds of EXPO New Mexico, Home of the New Mexico State Fair. For parking, enter at Gate 1 from Central Avenue, between Louisiana and San Pedro. In 2008 the New Mexico Racing Commission gave the Downs permission to move to Moriarty, 40 miles east of Albuquerque on I-40. At the time of writing, the move is on indefinite hold, but call before setting off.
9. DUKE CITY MARATHON
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Telephone: (505) 880-1414
Description: With as many as 4,000 registrants and 10,000 in attendance, the Duke City Marathon is a top event for regional runners. It’s been established for more than a quarter of a century. Events include the marathon, half marathon and 5k runs, plus half marathon and 5k walks, and a Miracle Mile event to benefit the New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation. The course is described as flat and fast. The marathon is held on a Sunday in October, with opening ceremonies at 6:30 a.m. The course starts and ends at the Downtown Civic Plaza and covers a good portion of the Paseo del Bosque trail. There is a postrace festival once the runners have departed at Civic Plaza, and events awards are announced there, too.
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 300 San Pedro NE
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 1111 University SE
City: Albuquerque, NM
Category: Spectator Sports
Address: 10801 Academy Road NE