Garza: Edinburg is going to need a lot more hotel space once UTRGV football program starts

EDINBURG, Texas – The city of Edinburg is going to need a lot more hotel space once UT-Grande Valley’s Vaqueros football program starts.

This is the view of Raudel Garza, executive director of Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.

UTRGV Football will play its first game in program history at home against Sul Ross State on Aug. 30, 2025, at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg, according to a report from FBSchedules.com.

“There’s demand for more hotel space. We’re just finishing up a hotel study, and there’s an announcement coming up real soon, a groundbreaking coming up real soon for another hotel that’s going to be coming in, adding some additional space in Edinburg. So, we’re really excited about that,” Garza said.

Garza plans to meet with hotel developers at ICSC Red River in Dallas later this month. The big retail development trade show take place at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31.

Editor’s Note: An interview with Raudel Garza, executive director of Edinburg EDC:

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Asked about ICSC Red River, Garza said: “It’s the retail marketing event that is held at least once a year there in Dallas. A lot of the Valley communities go and try to represent some of the properties that they have in their cities – to developers and to retailers and to real estate brokers who are trying to develop new retail venues.”

One of the big selling points at ICSC Red River for Edinburg will be the upcoming Vaqueros football program, Garza predicted.

“UTRGV Vaqueros are going to be initiating their inaugural season of football, division one football, in Edinburg, starting in 2025. So that’s right around the corner, in the fall,” Garza said.

“They’ve started practicing already. Their stadium is getting ready. Their field is already ready in terms of practice fields. Some of the athletic buildings are getting built right now, and so Edinburg is gearing up for a great time when the home games are coming to the Valley, and specifically to Edinburg.”

Garza continued: “To do that, though, we want to make sure that we have the hospitality industries that we need, also the hotel rooms necessary, to host that kind of an event. And obviously the restaurants and other retailers who are going to be, hopefully, doing very well, because a lot of people from outside the area are coming into town.”

Garza said that when ICSC Red River is underway, Edinburg EDC will be working hard to make sure people know that university football coming to the Valley and specifically Edinburg.

“And if they want to talk about football, if they want to talk about the different properties that we have available in Edinburg for retail development, then they can set up a meeting with us at ICSC. We can specify the booth, and we can specify when we’ll be available,” Garza said.

“Obviously we’re just trying to promote Edinburg and the region as a whole, and make sure that people understand that there is a lot of opportunities in Edinburg for retail development.”

Asked if any studies have been undertaken to calculate the likely economic impact of the UTRGV football program, Garza answered affirmatively.

“I can’t remember the numbers off the top of my head, but it is in the hundreds of millions (of dollars) in terms of impact over the next ten years. Obviously, you’ve got not just the teams that are coming in and taking hotel space. There are families and the fans that come in, and obviously even the locals are going to be coming into Edinburg.”

Garza added: “What do they do before and after the game? Well, they’re going to visit the local restaurants. They’re going to visit the local retailers. And obviously, the more selections that we have, the more variety we have, then the better it is for everybody.”

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