RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley announced today that its Sept. 13 home football game, originally set to be held in Brownsville, will be played at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg due to a delay in the turf installation project at Sams Memorial Stadium.
 
Originally scheduled to start in early spring, replacement of the 10-year-old turf at Sams Stadium was postponed after Brownsville ISD moved its graduation ceremonies back to the venue. The last ceremony took place Tuesday, June 3, delaying the start to the project and, combined with the standard installation timeframe, risking the field not being ready for the Sept. 13 game. 
 
Additionally, given the extensive logistics required to host an NCAA Division I football game – including contractual obligations, team travel and fan experience planning – the university had no choice but to finalize an alternative venue now to avoid jeopardizing the program, its partners, and preserving a seventh home game in the Rio Grande Valley.
 
Commitment to Brownsville
 
UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque reaffirmed the university's commitment to Brownsville, stating that the Vaqueros will return to play at Sams Stadium in 2026 once the installation of the new field turf is complete. He added that the program will continue to host its annual spring game in Brownsville—last month's edition was held at Veterans Memorial Stadium due to the current condition of the field at Sams. 
 
"We've been planning this Brownsville game for nearly four years, so having to move it is incredibly disappointing," Conque said. "But with no certainty the field would be ready – and considering signed contracts and thousands of fans – we had no choice but to make a proactive decision that protects our program and community partners."
 
Sams Memorial Stadium is the only venue in Brownsville that meets the needs for UTRGV's NCAA Division I football program. Upon learning of the installation delay, UTRGV officials explored all possible alternatives to keep the game in Brownsville but found no viable backup.
 
"Although we're disappointed the Vaqueros won't play in Brownsville this fall, we understand why UTRGV had to act now," said Brownsville ISD superintendent Jesus H. Chavez. "Our parents and graduates were clear that they wanted to celebrate at Sams Stadium, and we honored that wish. We appreciate UTRGV's understanding and its continued commitment to bringing Division I football to Brownsville and we look forward to hosting a game at Sams Stadium next year."
 
UTRGV was originally scheduled to face North American University (NAU) on Sept. 13, but NAU announced in February that it was discontinuing its football program effective immediately. In response, UTRGV quickly secured a new opponent – Langston University – to preserve its plans to play in Brownsville.
 
"Football schedules are built years in advance, so when North American discontinued its program, we worked quickly to find a replacement and keep the Brownsville game intact," Conque said. "We were fortunate that Langston agreed to travel to the Valley, but that effort makes the decision to relocate the game all the more difficult."
 
UTRGV President Guy Bailey underscored that, despite the venue change, the university remains committed to Brownsville and the entire Rio Grande Valley.
 
"Our mission has always been to serve the entire Valley, and that includes standing by Brownsville even in the face of logistical hurdles," UTRGV President Guy Bailey said. "I commend Chasse Conque and the athletics department for their efforts to keep this game local, and I assure our community that our investment in Brownsville—through athletics and academics alike—will remain strong and continue to enhance the campus experience."
 
Ticketing and Fan Information

UTRGV Athletics had already begun selling Sept. 13 tickets to season ticket holders and was preparing for a public sale. With the venue change, season ticket holders will automatically have the rescheduled game added to their packages at no extra cost and those who had already purchased the Brownsville game may request a refund—or convert the original purchase into a Vaqueros Athletic Fund donation—by contacting tickets@utrgv.edu.
 
UTRGV students will be able to attend all home UTRGV football games for free. Students based in Brownsville will receive free roundtrip transportation from the Brownsville campus to Vackar Stadium for all home games. 
 
Conque emphasized that this decision does not reflect a shift in the university's commitment to Brownsville or Cameron County.
 
Over the last year, several UTRGV sport programs have held events in Brownsville. Last spring, track & field, women's soccer, and volleyball held free youth clinics while volleyball also hosted a free match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Men's basketball held a summer camp at Hanna High School. Men's soccer hosted Coastal Bend College at Veterans Memorial Stadium in August and then the tennis teams held a free youth clinic at the Brownsville Tennis Center in November. The football team hosted its spring game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in April and visited the Moody Clinic in May.
 
"We are proud to be one of only a few universities in the country with plans to play home football games in two cities each season," Conque said. "Our goal has always been to Rally the Valley – not just in spirit, but in action. Our programming and outreach efforts in Cameron County have increased substantially over the past several years and our commitment remains strong."

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