UTRGV Athletics Generated $24.48 Million in 2023-24

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics generated a historic increase in revenue of over 800% as the community rallied behind the Vaqueros to the tune of $24.48 million in philanthropy, ticket sales, and corporate partnerships during fiscal year 2024, which ran from Sept. 1, 2023, through Aug. 31, 2024.

In total, UTRGV Athletics raised a record $23,075,545.59 in philanthropic giving, a record $931,500 in corporate partnerships, and a record $475,709.03 ticket sales, not including the 5,828 deposits for football season tickets.

“We are greatly appreciative of the impactful commitment the Valley is making to UTRGV Athletics,” UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “The support and momentum of our fans has put us on a path of exponential growth while the impressive increases in attendance and revenue show just how considerable that support is becoming. We are grateful for the way the Valley has rallied behind UTRGV Athletics. The impact of this support will be realized by student-athletes for years to come.”

The record-setting ticket sales can be directly attributed to some of the best attendance numbers in program history while tickets prices for UTRGV baseball, basketball and volleyball remained the same as in previous years.

As a department, UTRGV Athletics welcomed a record 120,508 fans across all sports, including a program record 62,132 fans for baseball and a program record 17,128 fans for women’s basketball. The baseball team, which ranked 39^th in the national in both total and average attendance, drew seven of the 10 largest crowds to ever watch a UTRGV baseball game at UTRGV Baseball Stadium, breaking 4,000 five times, including a season-best 6,044 for a game against UT Arlington on April 6. The volleyball team averaged a program record 1,234 fans per match, drawing a program record seven crowds of 1,000+, including three of the eight largest crowds in program history.

The women’s basketball team’s historic attendance included a program record 6,591 for a game against Texas at Bert Ogden Arena on Dec. 20, the largest to ever witness a women’s basketball game in the Rio Grande Valley. The women’s basketball team has now seen attendance increases in three consecutive seasons.

Season tickets for baseball, basketball and volleyball, multi-sport passes, and season ticket deposits for football can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com or by contacting UTRGV Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Sales and Operations Nick Swanson at (956) 665-4205 or tickets@utrgv.edu.

The record setting corporate partnership revenue can be attributed to several factors, including increased attendance, which helped to increase the value of and interest in partnering with UTRGV Athletics. Additionally, UTRGV Athletics has built meaningful relationships with many local businesses that are all buying into the vision of where the Vaqueros are going. Each relationship is mutually beneficial, as when UTRGV Athletics grows, so do its corporate partners, and vice versa.

To become a corporate partner, contact UTRGV Chief of Staff/Associate Athletic Director for Revenue Generation Seth Jones at (956) 665-3877 or sponsorships@utrgv.edu.

The strong philanthropic giving is in-part due to significant multi-year commitments made by donors to the Vaqueros Athletic Fund (VAF), including a $20 million gift from Robert and Janet Vackar, believed to be one of the 40 largest donations in the history of college athletics.

UTRGV Athletics put an exclamation point on the fiscal year by raising a record $207,320 during the UTRGV Day of Giving on Aug. 27.

All donations provide resources that are necessary to compete for championships, earn degrees, and create leaders of tomorrow.

Raising these crucial resources through various avenues of fundraising is paramount in this current climate of college athletics that is constantly evolving.

More information on the VAF can be found at GoUTRGV.com/VAF, by sending an email to VAF@utrgv.edu, or calling (956) 665-4069. To donate immediately, visit GoUTRGV.com/Donate.

The increased revenue generation is helping UTRGV Athletics to transform the student-athlete and fan experiences through over $160 million in athletics facilities enhancements across 13 capital projects positively impacting all 18 sport programs.

The renovations began in the spring of 2022 with the construction of a new weight room and administrative offices near the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

Upgrades to the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex began during the summer of 2022, including the installation of a new press box and upgraded sound system. Construction on an operations center for the soccer and track & field programs, with new locker rooms and coaches’ offices, as well as a new sports medicine facility for those programs, was completed this past January.

Enhancements to the interior of the UTRGV Fieldhouse, including new seating, a new video board and ribbon board, and a new court design, were completed in the fall of 2023. A new practice gym opened in recent weeks. Construction on the new atrium and lobby on the east side of the fieldhouse is currently underway and scheduled for completion in the spring.

Renovations to the home clubhouse at UTRGV Baseball Stadium were completed in January 2023 with a much larger renovation project including new reserved seating and premium seating, and new walls and padding occurring prior to the 2024 season. Additional premium seating is set to be added ahead of the 2025 season.

The Vaqueros Golf Center, located next to the driving range at Champion Lakes Golf Course, opened this past spring and includes locker rooms, coaches’ offices, and hitting bays.

The tennis teams are set to receive an upgrade as well with the construction of an operations center set to begin in the coming months with completion expected in 2026.

Construction on the Vaqueros Performance Center (VPC), a 45,000+ square foot facility being constructed north of UTRGV Baseball Stadium that will house the football program, be used by multiple sports, and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2025, is currently underway. The football team is already making use of a turf practice field at the VPC and will begin using a grass practice field as well later this fall.

The VPC will house a new, large, state-of-the-art strength & conditioning facility for use by football and other athletics programs, an academic success center, a football locker room, football coaches’ offices, a sports medicine facility, a team room with stadium-style seating, multiple meetings rooms, and additional office space to be used by other athletics personnel.

For more information on UTRGV Athletics facilities, visit GoUTRGV.com/AthleticsFacilities.

Naming opportunities are available for all facilities, include locker rooms, head coach and assistant coach offices, meeting rooms, strength & conditioning facilities, practice fields, and whole facilities.

To pursue a naming opportunity, contact UTRGV Senior Associate Athletic Director for Advancement and Administration Derek Schramm at (956) 665-3897 or vclub@utrgv.edu.