RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Tuesday that the women's basketball team will host the second annual UTRGV South Padre Island Classic, a four-game tournament featuring UTRGV, UTSA, Liberty and Grand Canyon, Dec. 17-18 at the South Padre Island Convention Centre.
 
UTRGV will face UTSA on Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. and Liberty on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. Grand Canyon will face Liberty on Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. and UTSA on Dec. 18 at 4 p.m.
 
Fans looking to guarantee their seats for the UTRGV South Padre Island Classic can purchase season tickets. Single-day passes will go on sale closer to the event should inventory be available once all season ticket holders are given seating equivalent to their tickets for games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
Season tickets can be purchased online at UTRGVTickets.com or by contacting the UTRGV Athletics Ticket Office team of Seth Jones (956-665-3877) and Carlos Munoz (956-665-3747) over the phone or through email at tickets@utrgv.edu. UTRGV faculty and staff can take advantage of a 20% discount through payroll deduction by using this form and returning it to Jones or Munoz.
 
Reserved season tickets in sections B, C and G of the UTRGV Fieldhouse cost $275 each. A limited number of courtside seats are available for $350 plus a $150 donation to the V Club per seat. General admission season tickets can be purchased for $150 each or as a family four pack for $400. Family four packs can also be purchased as reserved seats in sections A and H for $750 each. Winter Texans looking to purchase reserved season tickets in sections A and H can do so for $200 each.
 
Equivalent seating will be arranged for games at Bert Ogden Arena as well.
 
Additionally, fans can choose to purchase multi-sport passes that include season tickets to volleyball, basketball, and baseball for $260 for general admission and starting at $360 for reserved seating.
 
"We are excited to be able to bring UTRGV basketball back to Cameron County for our annual event on South Padre Island," UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. "We are committed to making UTRGV the Valley's team and playing in Cameron County. Playing on South Padre Island is key to our mission to #RallyTheValley behind UTRGV Athletics."
 
Conque has placed an emphasis on bringing UTRGV Athletics to the entire Rio Grande Valley, forming a partnership with the City of Brownsville to bring more events, including competitions, camps, and clinics to Brownsville.
 
"We're inviting everyone to please join us and make this a successful event," Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. said. "We're excited about the continued partnership and future between Cameron County and UTRGV Athletics."
 
South Padre Island is a tropical oasis located off the southern tip of Texas. This barrier island offers the unsurpassed beauty of the Laguna Madre Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and is the ideal year-round destination for visitors seeking a getaway from the daily grind.
 
South Padre Island features 34 miles of beautiful white sand and clear emerald water, making it one of the world's most exquisite barrier islands – and the only tropical island in Texas. Calm weather and water and more than 300 days of sunshine make South Padre Island a great place to visit all year. When visiting during the winter, the warm sun melts away your cares as you stroll down the beach in shorts and sandals. You can close your eyes, breathe deeply, and let go of all the worries you left behind when your trip to South Padre began.
 
With a breathtaking view of the Laguna Madre Bay, the South Padre Island Convention Centre offers 45,000 square feet of space for meetings, conventions, conferences, trade shows, exhibits and special events. The primary facilities include 22,500 square feet of exhibit hall space with a clear ceiling height of 36 feet for large meetings and sporting events, a 2,633 square foot conference auditorium, and 9,000 square feet of breakout space. A large central lobby can also host various exhibits and functions. The Sunset Terrace adjoins the lobby, providing the perfect setting and view for an outside reception.
 
"We're really excited about the partnership with UTRGV," South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Ed Caum said. "We're going to #RallyTheValley. We're bringing basketball back to the Island. We're excited to be partners with UTRGV again. Book your stays now and bring the family for great basketball and a beach vacation."
 
UTSA enters the season under the direction of new head coach Karen Aston, who previously coached at Texas and was one of four finalists for the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year award in 2017 and one of 10 semifinalists for the honor in 2018. Aston also earned Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades in 2017.
 
Liberty is coming off a 19-8 season and a runner-up finish at the Atlantic Sun Tournament.

Grand Canyon is coming off an 18-7 season and a runner-up finish at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

Support UTRGV Women's Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube