UTRGV acquires H-E-B Park

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley announced the acquisition of H-E-B Park, now UTRGV Stadium, as the home field for its football program during a news conference Wednesday outside the facility.

The stadium has a capacity for 10,000 people, 20 acres of festival grounds, a LED video board and an amphitheater with a 2,500 seating capacity. 

In attendance were several local and state officials such as UTRGV President Guy Bailey, Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza, Texas Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg) and State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-Edinburg).

Chasse Conque, vice president and director of athletics, said UTRGV has acquired H-E-B Park.

“We want to declare that UTRGV now owns this beautiful stadium,” Conque said. “And from this day moving forward, it’ll be the primary home for Vaqueros Football.”

He said the stadium is the “crown jewel of stadiums” in the Rio Grande Valley.

Previously the home of the Rio Grande Valley Football Club Toros since it opened in 2017, Conque said the stadium will legitimize the football program.

“This announcement, it sends a strong message that we are committed to not only doing it right, but we’re committed to building a first-class Division 1 college football program,” he said.

Conque said the program has 2,800 deposits for season tickets.

Bailey said UTRGV launched on Aug. 30, 2015 and it would play its first football game on Aug. 30, 2025.

“Ten years to the date, we opened the university,” he said. “What do we do? We play our first football game … You’ll be right here having the time of your life.”

Bailey said the program was not just UTRGV’s, but the Valley’s. 

“This isn’t UTRGV’s football team,” he said. “It’s yours, it’s the Valley’s, it’s something we’ve done together.”

Bailey thanked everyone and gave special thanks to Canales, Hinojosa and Garza for their support.

Conque is thankful to have Head coach Travis Bush leading the football program.

Bush said the stadium was the final piece to their facilities for football, and would allow them to continue recruiting, having the UTRGV Stadium as their official home field.

“It’s hard to win football games,” he said. “… This truly can be a home-field advantage for us. … It’s not just us, it’s not just the team, it’s definitely not the coach, it’s everybody in the stands, it’s everybody in those seats. … It truly does take all of us.”

Garza said the acquisition would mean an economic uplift for the region and more opportunities regarding the sports landscape in the city and community engagement.

“Over 100 million in economic impact here to our city and to our region,” he said. “… It is a game changer for us. … It’s going to provide many new opportunities for development and growth, but you know what else it’s going to do? It’s going to provide a major boost to our city, for our quality of life, for our region.”

The football program’s first season is set to debut in 2025, with a home game set to be played every season at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.