Southwest University Park - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Meg Minard
- Apr 22
- 6 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Southwest University Park 1 Ballpark Plaza El Paso, TX 79901
Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 9,500
Chihuahua Fun
The El Paso Chihuahuas (the San Diego Padres AAA affiliate) moved to El Paso, TX, in 2014. Prior to that, they played their baseball games as the Tucson Padres at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, AZ.
Southwest University Park sits on the site of the former El Paso City Hall, which the city demolished in 2013 in preparation for the ballpark construction. Its architecture has a brick facade similar to the style of El Paso’s Union Depot.
Fans can see indications of FC Locomotive (soccer) on the diamond as the USL C team shares the facility.
The Chihuahuas won the Pacific Coast League championship in 2016 and have won two conference titles and five division titles. Current MLB players Josh Naylor (Cleveland Guardians) and Andres Munoz (Seattle Mariners) were El Paso Chihuahuas.
Food & Beverage 5
Southwest University Park has an outstanding choice of nourishment and drinks, much focused on Mexican fare. Concession stands line the inner concourse from foul pole to foul pole.
Examples (but certainly not all) include:
Peter Piper Pizza - pizza slices, chicken tenders, baskets, and sandwiches ($11.50 - $16), hot dogs, corn dogs, cheeseburgers ($5.50 - $14), and a Flauta bucket costs $14.
Chico’s Eats and Treats - hot dogs, nachos, and Frito pies run $5.50 - $11.99, and ice cream cones, sundaes, and floats cost $4.50 - $15.
Chihuarrrines (pineapples dunked in hot sauce), a colossal 3-pound burrito drenched in queso, and a bacon-wrapped “Juarez” hot dog are specialties.
Island Noodles (just inside the Santa Fe St entrance) is always a good selection.
Dog Bowl Nachos, loaded nachos served in a souvenir dog bowl, is a popular and unique ballpark food item.
Most concession stands serve traditional snacks like popcorn, chips, peanuts, French fries, etc. Fans will find a Dippin’ Dots and a Gozo’s ice cream stand on the concourse. Pepsi is the soda brand of choice ($5/$8), and bottled water is $5.
Beer choices include traditional domestic beers ($8.75/can) and premium beers ($9.75 and $11.25/can).
Clamato beverages run $12.25 - $18.25, while cocktail and mason jar cocktails cost $15.50 - $18.50. A premium draft beer is $12.25, and a souvenir baseball bat beer costs $25.
The Tequila Gazadores Cantina, a bar in a brick building just behind the right field fence, is open to the public. It’s a good place for fans to visit during the hot summer as it is pleasantly air-conditioned.
Rehydration stations called the Quench Zones, where you can fill and refill your bottles, are near some restrooms.
Atmosphere 4
Southwest University Park is a delightful place to catch an El Paso Chihuahuas ballgame, especially if your focus is not solely on the game.
The game day staff entice fans with activities like dance cam, quizzes, commercials, and the dizzy bat race. Chico, the mascot, throws t-shirts into the stands during play, which is great for fans who don’t care about the game but is not beneficial to those trying to watch it.
The stadium has Chico’s playground beyond center field and includes a splash pad for those hot Texas days. Kids enjoy this area of the park.
During night games, the outfield lights strobe and flash when a Chihuahua player hits a home run or pulls off an outstanding play.
Southwest University Park has two levels of seats (many in the shade), with suites behind home plate on the second level. Green stadium fold-down seats have average width and decent legroom. Drink rails run along the top of a good portion of the concourse, but many of those are ticketed seats, so fans walking the concourse can’t stop and watch the game.
The seating has several corporate-named sections, most of which are premium suites or hospitality sections: Dugout Club, Peter Piper Porch, Budweiser Bullpen Patio, West Star Club (Suites), Pepsi Party Deck, Wooftop Deck, Sun Kings Saloon, Santa Fe Pavilion, GECU Green Seats (lawn), etc.
The music is excessively loud, making it difficult to enjoy. Fans struggle to hear the announcer, even during key moments like announcing the starting lineups. The music person needs to let the announcer speak and not overpower him with music. Annoyingly, that person plays noise and music between pitches, not just between batters.
The PA announcer does not always announce pitching; however, whoever updates the scoreboard does an absolutely fantastic, timely job. Kudos to that person. The scoreboard in right-center field is easy to read.
Neighborhood 4
Southwest University Park is adjacent to downtown El Paso, and with that comes lots of other activities and places to eat and stay.
The ballpark is next to the Convention Center (which also houses the El Paso Visitors Center), the El Paso Museum of History, the El Paso Museum of Art, La Nube STEAM Discovery Center, Cleveland Square Park, and three blocks from San Jacinto Plaza. When in El Paso, take the scenic drive, which goes up the mountain and provides delightful views of El Paso and Juarez.
Other sports in the area include the El Paso Rhinos (junior ice hockey) and UTEP Miners sports events. If you have a passport, head over to Mexico and visit Parque Público Federal El Chamizal. Then catch an FC Juárez (Liga MX) match at Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez.
Plenty of restaurants are within three or four blocks. Some recommended ones include Barrio Eats and Drinks, Park Tavern , and Rock Star Burger Bar. Check Visit El Paso for many more selections.
Several hotels are near the ballpark. The Courtyard El Paso, Hilton Doubletree, and Boxstel Hotel - Modern Stay are the closest. A Holiday Inn Express is a little further away, and it has free parking. We stayed at the Doubletree, and it was fine.
Fans 4
Fans are passionately vocal. They cheer at the appropriate times. There’s even an inoffensive heckler or two in the crowd. Many fans wear Chuco Town (an El Paso sobriquet) shirts and plenty of other baseball-labeled attire, though not a lot of San Diego Padres gear.
The Chihuahuas were one of the top 10 in attendance in minor league baseball in 2024 with an average of 6,551 fans per game.
Many fans don’t know to wait until a stoppage in play but instead head to and from their seats while a batter is still in the box. If you want to watch the game, we recommend sitting in the first row, in the center of a section, or along the drink rail to reduce the pedestrian traffic game blockage.
Most fans pick up their trash, a welcome sight.
Access 3
El Paso is in the western part of Texas on the Ciudad Juarez, Mexico border and a stone’s throw from New Mexico. The El Paso International Airport (ELP) is nine miles east of the ballpark. Southwest University Park is a half mile off I-10 in the downtown area of the city, next to the Convention Center.
Several parking garages are within a few blocks of the stadium, the closest probably the Convention Center garage, at 1 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901. Check here for more parking information. Fans can take SunMetro bus 50 to the Missouri/Oregon stop and walk three blocks to the stadium. Fans may even want to ride a vintage streetcar to the ballpark, something unique to El Paso.
The stadium has two entrances. Clear stadium-sized 12” x 6” 12” sports bags are allowed. Depending on the security rep you pass you may or may not have to take your baseball cap off.
Because of the crowds, the concourse gets seriously crowded. I did not find the stadium easily conducive for those with mobility issues.
Recommendation to the El Paso Chihuahuas: Open one gate between Franklin and Missouri on Santa Fe Ave for fans to exit after the game.
Bathrooms are plenty and are kept remarkably clean throughout the game.
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Return on Investment 4
Ticket prices vary greatly and can range from $8 - $100 depending on game, opponent, and day.
We recommend checking the promotion schedule, as the team has plenty.
Sunday Kids Day: Kids get to run the bases, and there is usually a toy giveaway.
Taco Tues and Brews: $3 Estrella 12 oz canned beer, $3 two rolled tacos, $5 Cazadores RTDs (ready to drink)
Mature Munchies Wednesdays: Receive a voucher for a regular hot dog, fries, and a regular fountain soda (24oz) for sixty and older fans.
Thrifty Thursdays: $2 Busch Light 12oz canned beer, $2 small popcorn, $3 small soda, $3 small hot dog, $5 NUTRL
On most days, active-duty military, veterans, and government employees can enjoy a 25% discount on ticket prices.
Then there’s Fireworks Night, Scout Night, Nurses Day, Bark in the Park, and plenty more, with most games offering some giveaway or deal.
Extras 3
Several other items are worth noting when visiting an El Paso Chihuahuas game at Southwest University Park:
The customer service is tremendously helpful and warm.
Be sure to pick up a roster and scorecard at the customer service desk. They also have 1st game pins.
The stadium's outfield has a unique cutout in center field, making it somewhat quirky.
Final Thoughts
If you savor the social aspect of visiting minor league ball games, the El Paso Chihuahuas have you covered. With plenty of activities and entertainment outside of the ballgame, a host of food and beverage choices, and a slew of promotion days, fans will enjoy themselves at the ballpark.
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