The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley announced last week that it has acquired H-E-B Park, designating the venue as the primary home for the upcoming Vaqueros football program.
The announcement came during a press conference at H-E-B Park, now to be referred to as UTRGV Stadium. Since 2017, the venue had served as the United Soccer League home of the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, who ceased operations in December.
UTRGV Stadium has a capacity of nearly 10,000 and boasts 20 acres of festival grounds, including an amphitheater that seats an additional 2,500. The Vaqueros also will play a home game each season in Brownsville at 10,000-seat Sams Memorial Stadium.
"UTRGV Stadium gives both our community and football program immediate access to a premier facility while also providing additional possibilities for our university," university president Guy Bailey said, according to a release on the Vaqueros website. "Its location off Expressway 281 also ensures convenient access for our fans, as well as visitors who make their way into the Valley for games."
Bailey expressed gratitude for the pivotal role the City of Edinburg and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EDC) have played in facilitating the acquisition.
"We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Edinburg City Council, and Edinburg EDC, along with their dedicated teams," Bailey said. "Without their unwavering support and shared vision, this transformative collaboration would not have come to fruition."
Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza said he is excited about UTRGV football and its benefits to the city.
"Continuing another historic chapter in our longstanding relationship with the university, this partnership between the City of Edinburg and UTRGV symbolizes our steadfast commitment to nurturing growth and opportunity within our community," Garza said. "Bringing Division I football to Edinburg enriches our city's sports landscape and paves the way for new possibilities for our residents and visitors alike. I sincerely thank President Bailey and the entire university team for their visionary leadership and collaborative efforts. I eagerly anticipate UTRGV football's transformative impact on Edinburg and the entire Rio Grande Valley
According to UTRGV, the stadium complex offers an array of amenities and features, making it an exceptional venue for both college football and entertainment. These include:
- 20 acres of festival grounds, providing versatile space for various activities and events, such tailgating, concerts, and campus and community events.
- A state-of-the-art 43-by-24-foot video board.
- An amphitheater offering an intimate setting for concerts, stage shows and special events for up to 2,500 people.
- 30 luxury and eight patio suites allowing for a unique game day experience for fans.
"We have seen a tremendous outpouring of interest in and support for our football program," UTRGV vice president and director of athletics Chasse Conque said. "We will be playing in one of the top facilities in NCAA Division I FCS, and we look forward to using the next year and a half to create an unforgettable game day experience for our fans."
UTRGV already has secured more than 2,800 season-ticket deposits for the 2025 season.
Head football coach Travis Bush said he is thrilled to call UTRGV Stadium home.
"This has been the goal since day one, and it's the final piece of the puzzle for UTRGV Football," Bush said. "This stadium adds to our facilities that are under construction as being the best in our conference and on top of FCS Football, which will only help us continue to recruit top talent to UTRGV. It will be the perfect college football environment for the Rio Grande Valley, and we can't wait to see it packed with fans wearing orange."
