By hosting a pair of massively attended events at Kyle Field this summer, Texas A&M University's athletic department collected more than $6 million.
Brazil played Mexico in an international soccer friendly on June 8 with 85,249 people in attendance. One week later, 110,905 fans attended a George Strait concert at the stadium, dubbbed "King at Kyle Field." The latter crowd achieved a new national record for ticketed concerts, according to USA TODAY's Aggies Wire.
Kyle Field has a capacity of 102,733 for football.
"You have heard me say before and I want to repeat my thanks to the previous administration for having the vision to bring these events to Kyle Field. I would like to thank our entire staff and especially our special events and facilities staffs for their hard work,” Aggies first-year athletic director Trev Alberts said Tuesday, as reported by Shaun Halkko of Aggies Wire. “The final net revenue to Texas A&M athletics for the two events was a little over $6 million – $2.6 for soccer and $3.9 for George Strait.
“Not only were these events profitable, but we continue to grow the overall Texas A&M brand. Additionally, our local economy benefitted greatly by bringing in people who have never been to our community.
“Kyle Field is a special venue, and we will make sure any event that we host will be a worthwhile endeavor.”
Added Kindra Fry, A&M's assistant athletics director for special events services, “The cooperation between MexTour and MLS/SUM for the soccer match, as well as the Messina Touring group with George Strait was outstanding. We have shown the capability of handling events of this stature, and we will continue to work to bring entertainment to the community.”
