# URI Rams Sports Guide: Tickets, Schedule, and Game Day Tips
The University of Rhode Island competes in NCAA Division I, with athletics based on the Kingston campus in South Kingstown. Basketball is the flagship, but football, soccer, and other programs draw real crowds.
Men's basketball
The Rams play in the Atlantic 10 Conference and are the state's primary Division I basketball draw alongside Providence College.
Venue: The Ryan Center, an on-campus arena seating roughly 7,600, opened in 2002. It is a genuinely good place to watch a game — steep enough to feel loud, small enough that there are no truly bad seats.
Season: November through March, with the A-10 tournament in early-to-mid March.
Tickets: Single-game tickets are affordable by Division I standards. Season tickets and mini-plans are available. Big conference games and any matchup with in-state rival Providence College sell out or come close — buy in advance for those.
Football
Venue: Meade Stadium, on campus, roughly 6,500 seats.
URI football competes in the Colonial Athletic Association / Coastal Athletic Association at the FCS level. The season runs September through November. Homecoming is the biggest crowd of the year. Tickets are inexpensive and rarely sell out, making it an easy, low-cost fall Saturday.
Other programs
URI fields Division I teams across a range of sports, including women's basketball at the Ryan Center, soccer, baseball, softball, and track. Most non-revenue sports have free or very low-cost admission, which makes them an underrated cheap outing.
Getting there
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The Kingston campus is in South Kingstown, on Route 138.
- From Providence: about 35-40 minutes via Route 4 and Route 138
- From Newport: about 30 minutes
- From Narragansett beaches: about 10 minutes
Parking: On-campus lots serve the Ryan Center and Meade Stadium. Parking is generally available and inexpensive or free depending on the event; arrive 45-60 minutes early for a sellout basketball game.
Train: The Kingston Amtrak station is a few minutes from campus, served by Northeast Regional trains. This is a real option from Providence or Boston.
Game day tips
Buy early for the Providence College game and top A-10 opponents. Those are the two categories that actually sell out.
Arrive early for basketball. The student section and pregame atmosphere are the best part.
Eat before or after in Wakefield or Narragansett. Campus dining is limited on game nights, and Main Street Wakefield is 10 minutes away with better options.
Check the student schedule. Games during winter break have noticeably smaller student sections and a different atmosphere.
Combine with the beach. In September and early October, a football Saturday plus an afternoon at Narragansett Town Beach is a very good day.
Rivalries
- Providence College — the in-state rivalry, though the two schools are in different conferences and do not meet every year
- Atlantic 10 opponents — Dayton, VCU, Saint Joseph's, and Davidson tend to bring the most energy
- Brown University — the other Rhode Island Division I program, an occasional non-conference matchup
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where do the URI Rams play basketball?
A: The Ryan Center on the Kingston campus in South Kingstown, capacity roughly 7,600.
Q: What conference is URI in?
A: The Atlantic 10 for most sports, and the Coastal Athletic Association for football.
Q: How much are URI basketball tickets?
A: Prices vary by opponent and seat location but are affordable relative to most Division I programs. Check the official athletics site for current pricing.
Q: Can you take the train to a URI game?
A: Yes — Kingston station is served by Amtrak Northeast Regional and is a short ride from campus.
Q: Is URI football worth going to?
A: For a cheap, low-stress fall Saturday, yes. Homecoming is the best atmosphere of the season.
Sources
- University of Rhode Island Athletics
- Atlantic 10 Conference
- Amtrak — Kingston, RI station
- University of Rhode Island — campus parking and visitor information