RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics unveiled during The Business Playbook Conference, hosted by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Thursday that, when construction, annual operations, and attendee spending are combined, the launch and inaugural season of the Vaqueros football program supported 1,028 jobs, generated $41.1 million in labor income, and added $58.7 million in value added (GDP), resulting in a total economic impact of $144.3 million in the local economy.

Additionally, excluding construction, the football program and associated game activity supports 187 jobs, generates $5.9 million in labor income, and adds $8.4 million in GDP, resulting in $17.7 million in recurring annual economic impact for the City of Edinburg.
 
The findings are part of an economic impact analysis created by the UTRGV Data and Information Services Center.
 
Total football-related construction and facility investment included in the economic impact analysis is estimated at $82.6 million, supporting 841 jobs, generating $35.2 million in labor income, and adding $50.3 million in GDP, for a total construction-related economic impact of $126.6 million.
 
The annual football program operating spending of $5.3 million supports 88 jobs, generates $2.7 million in labor income, and adds $3.8 million in GDP, resulting in $8.4 million in recurring annual economic output.
 
Attendee and visiting team spending associated with seven home football games and approximately 104,474 individuals on stadium grounds during the 2025 season generated an estimated $8.2 million in direct visitor spending, supporting 100 jobs, generating $3.1 million in labor income, and adding $4.5 million in GDP, for a total annual economic impact of $9.2 million.
 
The individuals on stadium grounds includes a season attendance of 87,774 across seven home games, the 11^th-best total in NCAA Division I FCS, for an average of 12,539 fans per game, the 15^th-best mark. The figure also includes approximately 16,700 non-game attendees who were on the stadium grounds to enjoy the festivities and pageantry, largely made up of those enjoying tailgating before and during games. Approximately 3,850 individuals on stadium grounds were from outside the Rio Grande Valley.

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