Garza: UTRGV Football is going to have a big impact on the Edinburg economy

EDINBURG, Texas – Having a football program at UT-Rio Grande Valley is not only good for entertainment and excitement. It is also good for the economy.

This is the view of Raudel Garza, executive director of Edinburg Economic Development Corporation. Garza spoke about the upcoming arrival of football at UTRGV at an Edinburg Commercial Tour event co-hosted by his organization and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. He made his presentation at Edinburg City Hall. 

“The big thing is football, division one football, coming up next year,” Garza said, to warm applause from an audience of bankers, realtors and land developers. 

“Obviously, UTRGV has sold out their season ticket allotment already, over 6,000 seats. So, there’s a lot of things going on, and a lot of things are going to happen. It’s going to happen, right here in Edinburg.”

Garza paid tribute to Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza and his colleagues on the city council.

“It (UTRGV’s football program) happened because the mayor and council really pushed to make sure that UTRGV kept the football team here locally. They did a lot to help encourage that.”

Garza continued: “UTRGV is spending a lot of money, investing a lot of money in its campus, on its football stadium, well over $121 million that is being spent here in Edinburg. But that’s obviously going to produce a lot more in the future.”

Garza said UTRGV leaders have talked about the impact that football can have on the community on the weekends when the team is in town. 

“More than anything, it’s going to start giving our younger population something that a lot of other big cities have. Now, we’re going to have it here in the Rio Grande Valley, and we’re going to have it here in Edinburg. You know, people go to the university, and on Saturday mornings they get ready to tailgate. I’m looking forward to that day. 

In his powerpoint presentation, Garza had some data about the UTRGV football program:

Local Economy Boost: “Creating and operating a UTRGV. Football program injects vitality into the local economy, increasing overall output by a staggering $197.6 million. Jobs, labor income and taxes all benefit.

Construction Surge: Total construction spending related to UTRGV football hits $121.5 million in Edinburg. That’s 1,272 jobs, $73.8 million in value-added, and a grand output of $183 million.

Operational Gains: The annual $5.5 million spent on UTRGV Football generates 79 jobs, and $2.8 million in labor income, and adds $3.9 million to the GDP – a robust economic impact of $8.7 million.

Game-Day Magic: UTRGV’s study reveals that visitor spending during five local home games (with 50,000 attendees and 10,000 tailgaters) amounts to $4.2 million annually. That’s 64 more jobs, $1.9 million in labor income, and an additional $2.8 million in GDP – a total economic impact of $5.8 million. 

Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of Raudel Garza’s comments about the economic impact UTRGV has in Edinburg:

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