Hoop Dreams

7 slam-dunk Final Four events for Houston Cougar fans in San Antonio

Fans don't need tickets to join in San Antonio's Final Four fun.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team will shoot for history as it takes on Duke in an NCAA Final Four showdown in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5. A win could send the Coogs to their first national championship game in four decades.

UH fans headed to San Antonio for the game will have to wait patiently until 7:49 pm Saturday for tip-off at the Alamodome. How to fill the rest of the weekend? Much of the thrilling Final Four action will be off the courts, including concerts from Grammy-winning artists, meet-and-greets with San Antonio Spurs legends, and tailgating fun.

Downtown San Antonio will explode with can't-miss events from April 4-7 — and many of them are free. Read below for our guide to the essential events during San Antonio's slam-dunk Final Four weekend.

Fan Fest
April 4 & 7, noon-6 pm; April 5-6, 10 am-6 pm at Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Make a full-court press to this celebrity-filled party packed with interactive games, exhibits, demonstrations, autograph signings, and appearances from greats like David Robinson and Avery Johnson. Event sponsor Capital One Bank will welcome cardholders with early entry and free swag.

March Madness Music Festival
April 4, 4:30-10 pm; April 5, 3-9 pm; April 6, 2:20-10 pm at Hemisfair Tower Park.
Top athletes won't be the only VIPs gracing San Antonio during the Final Four. This electrifying music festival includes three days of free outdoor performances from musical heavyweights like Pitbull, Doechii, Jelly Roll, T-Pain, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Chris Stapleton.

Men's Final Four Friday
April 4, 10 am-6 pm at Alamodome.
Basketball fans of all ages can hoop it up during this complimentary day of interactive activities featuring each Final Four team squeezing in one last practice. Guests can also preview future NBA draft picks as top senior student-athletes compete in the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game.

Tip-Off Tailgate
April 4 and 7, 3-10 pm; April 5, 1:30-11 pm; April 6, noon-5 pm at Civic Park.
These free watch parties for the men's and women's Final Four games include giveaways, basketball-themed activities, and a curated selection of food and drinks. There are also meet-and-greet sessions with Spurs icons David Robinson and Manu Ginobili, former Duke Blue Devils star Christian Laettner, and Los Angeles Lakers legend James Worthy.

River Rally
April 5, 11 am-noon at the Lagoon at Shops at Rivercenter, 849 E. Commerce St.
Show your team spirit by watching free performances by bands and spirit squads from each of the four participating schools floating along the River Walk.

Final Four Dribble
April 6, 10 -11 am at Travis Park.
While there are no more participatory spots, guests can cheer on more than 3,000 local kids and teenagers dribbling a basketball through a one-mile course downtown. Each participant will move the ball freestyle while wearing a specially designed branded shirt.

Championship River Parade
April 7, after the title game at La Villita.
Fans of the newly crowned national champion can hoot and holler as players and coaches celebrate on barges drifting down the San Antonio River. The victorious team will show off their trophy and hold a final rally at the Arneson River Theater at 418 Villita St.

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an architect's dream

This stunning steel house is the No. 1 most 'wishlisted' Airbnb in Texas

Robert Bruno Steel House Airbnb in Ransom Canyon, Texas

Photo courtesy of Airbnb

Have you ever wanted to stay the night inside an art sculpture?

A stunning architectural paradise just minutes outside of Lubbock is drawing attention as the most sought-after Airbnb property in Texas.

The vacation rental platform's 2026 list of the most "wishlisted" listings in the U.S. surveyed over 2,000 people to find which properties "offer a unique experience for every type of adventurer across all 50 states." More than half of all respondents said uniquely designed listings would attract them to previously overlooked destinations.

The Lone Star State's most desirable — and most fascinating — Airbnb listing is Architectural Marvel: Robert Bruno Steel House, a futuristic 2,200-square-foot three-story piece of art. Last year, the most wishlisted property was a shipping container treehouse in North Texas.

The structure was built and designed by sculptor and Texas Tech University professor Robert Bruno in 1973, but it wasn't quite finished by the time Bruno died in 2008 at the age of 63. The famous building and its history was extensively documented by Texas Monthly in 2022.

"The Robert Bruno Steel House is a one of a kind house and you will never see anything like it," the listing says. "Enjoy the beautiful sunrise on the balcony and the stunning sunset from the large windows."

Robert Bruno Steel House living room Experience the views from the comfort of the living room.Photo courtesy of Airbnb

The Steel House is a 20-minute drive east from Lubbock and about eight hours from Houston, located near Lake Ransom Canyon and offering beautiful views of the water.

The listing says it can accommodate up to eight guests across three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a spacious living room, and it offers in-unit washer and dryers for extended stays. Guests might become awestruck at the home's organic and unconventional design, the flood of natural light coming through stained glass windows, the sweeping staircases, and more.

"I first discovered this house in the mid[-]90s from an old 80s art magazine," one reviewer said. "This is truly a very rare sculptural an[d] architecture marvel to be able to stay in. The new interiors artfully compliment the design and are comfy. The view in the canyon is splendid through the windows. It was a true treasure and I’m glad it’s open to the public to be shared."

Robert Bruno Steel House bedroom Two of the Steel House bedrooms have queen size beds, while the third bedroom has a king.Photo courtesy of Airbnb

The property also boasts an abundance of local wildlife, such as deer and two great horned owls — which also means drones are prohibited on the premises for their protection.

Two-night minimum stays at the Robert Bruno Steel House in May 2026 start at about $585 per night, according to the listing.

From big cities to small towns, places in West Texas and the Panhandle are becoming popular under-the-radar destinations among travelers this year. Vacationers are also exploring the region's newly opened and expanding state parks to avoid visiting tourist traps during their adventures.

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