Albuquerque - American Southwest - page 257

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Avenida Cesar Chavez and go east; the stadium is at the intersection of Avenida Cesar
Chavez and University Boulevard.

BASKETBALL
The University of New Mexico Lobos play an average of 16 home games from late
November to early March. Capacity crowds cheer the team at the 17,121-seat University
Arena (fondly called “the Pit”), at University and Stadium boulevards. For tickets and
information, call & 505/925-LOBO [5626] or visit www.golobos.com.
FOOTBALL
The UNM Lobos football team plays a September-to-November season, usually with
five home games, at the 30,000-seat University of New Mexico Stadium, opposite both
Albuquerque Sports Stadium and University Arena at University and Stadium boule-
vards. For tickets and information, call & 505/925-LOBO [5626] or visit www.golobos.
com.
HOCKEY
The New Mexico Scorpions play in the Western Professional Hockey League. Their
home is at the Rio Rancho Events Center, 3001 Civic Center, Rio Rancho ( & 505/
881-7825; www.scorpionshockey.com).

HORSE RACING
The Downs at Albuquerque Racetrack and Casino, New Mexico State Fairgrounds
( & 505/266-5555 for post times; www.abqdowns.com), is near Lomas and Louisiana
boulevards NE. Racing and betting—on thoroughbreds and quarter horses—take place
August 16 through November 16 (including the New Mexico State Fair, in Sept). The
Downs has a glass-enclosed grandstand and exclusive club seating. General admission is
free. Simulcast racing happens year-round daily, except Christmas. The 340-slot casino
is open daily 10am to 2am, with drinks and dining in the Jockey Club. Note: The Downs
is planning to move east of Albuquerque, so call before setting out.

9

9 SHOPPING

Visitors seeking regional specialties will find many local artists and galleries of interest
in Albuquerque, although not as many as in Santa Fe and Taos. The galleries and regional
fashion designers around the plaza in Old Town are a kind of a shopping center for
travelers, with more than 40 merchants represented. The Sandia Pueblo runs its own
crafts market at the reservation, off I-25 at Tramway Road, just beyond Albuquerque's
northern city limits.
Albuquerque has three of the largest shopping malls in New Mexico, two within 2
blocks of each other on Louisiana Boulevard just north of I-40—Coronado Center and
Winrock Center. The other is the Cottonwood Mall, on the west mesa, at 10000 Coors
Blvd. NW ( & 505/899-SHOP [7467]). But the city's best mall is the new ABQ
Uptown , at Louisiana Boulevard NE and Indian School Road NE ( & 505/883-
7676; www.abquptown.com), an outdoor mall with such anchors as Williams-Sonoma,
Pottery Barn, Sharper Image, Chicos, and Ann Taylor.