Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium - UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- Eric Moreno
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium 1616 S. Raul Longoria Rd Edinburg, TX 78542
Year Opened: 2017
Capacity: 12,000
UTRGV Vaqueros – Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium
Spoiler alert – big things are happening in the Rio Grande Valley. First, a little history: in 2015 the University of Texas-Pan American merged with the University of Texas at Brownsville to form a new university that would service the whole of the Rio Grande Valley. The new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) almost immediately began discussions on starting a college football program, with a program formally announced in 2022.
Since then, the football-crazed denizens of the Valley have been waiting with bated breath for the arrival on the field of the new UTRGV Vaqueros. In anticipation of their arrival in time for the 2025-26 season, the university purchased the former home of the Rio Grande Valley Toros FC soccer club in Edinburg.
Thanks to a gracious donation from one of the university’s most prominent boosters, renovations were made to turn it into a true football stadium, as well as add additional seats to bring the stadium’s capacity up to 12,000. As it turns out, those seats were badly needed, since UTRGV has sold out its allotted season tickets for every game this year. It’s always something special to see history in the making, and that’s exactly what they’re doing in the RGV.
Food & Beverage 4
There’s a lot going on in the food and beverage department at Vackar Stadium. Most stands in the stadium offer up traditional stadium fare such as hot dogs, soft pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, bottled soft drinks, water, and sports drinks, but there are also quite a few unique offerings for discerning fans.
First off, there are food kiosks outside the stands behind each end zone – these stands offer up such wares as Mexican hot dogs, spiral cut fried potatoes on a stick, turkey legs, and even Chick-fil-A.
There are also two large food stands, one behind each of the main seating areas (on opposite sides of the venue), both of which offer up something unique. Behind the visiting team seating there is a chicken wing stand, where patrons can purchase combo meals of wings and fries, while behind the home team stand there is a kiosk that sells menu items from chains such as Schlotzsky’s, Dairy Queen, and Cinnabon. Fan can also purchase sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, and cinnamon roll bites at both of these stands.
Finally, one of the main centerpieces of the stadium is its massive jumbotron, underneath which sits the Scoreboard Bar. This full-service bar serves up draft beers (including a special one created by a local brewery just for UTRGV), craft cocktails (including signature UTRGV-inspired margaritas), and assorted other wines and spirits. It’s a great addition to the stadium and adds to the overall atmosphere.
Atmosphere 4
Speaking of atmosphere, my review is naturally going to be a prisoner of the moment, and may be a bit skewed by what transpired on my most recent visit, that being the first game ever in program history, and the Vaqueros did pull out all the stops for this sellout crowd.
There was a military flyover after the National Anthem, and the parking lots were packed with tailgaters, especially in the HEB Tailgate Zone. The alumni area was also full for the entirety of the game, and the stadium was awash in a sea of orange. It was truly a site to behold.
Something else to be on the lookout for during your visit includes the team store located behind the home team stands, where fans can pick up all manner of UTRGV gear.
Neighborhood 4
The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area is the fifth largest population area in Texas. It is a booming area in an underrated corner of the state. Virtually anything you could want in a major metropolis, you can find in this part of the Rio Grande Valley.
In terms of sports, UTRGV athletics are pretty much the proverbial only game in town. Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium was originally built near a suburban residential area of Edinburg. However, it is within shouting distance of UTRGV Baseball Stadium and Bert Ogden Arena, home to Vaqueros baseball and basketball, as well as the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G-League, respectively. If you plan your visit right, you should be able to catch a basketball game in addition to seeing the new football team.
Other nearby attractions include the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg and the McAllen Nature Center. The Museum of South Texas History chronicles the unique lore of this particular region of the state, covering indigenous history all the way through present day, including the region’s new place as a part of modern space exploration. The nature center, on the other hand, is the perfect respite for nature lovers, and the Rio Grande Valley itself is a hotbed for birdwatchers and butterfly enthusiasts.
In terms of dining, if I’m going to be honest you could throw a rock in any direction from Vackar Stadium, and it would hit what will probably be a restaurant that serves the best and most-authentic Mexican food you’ve probably ever had. For something quick and easy, I would recommend stopping by two chains that got their start in the RGV, Taco Palenque and Delia’s Tamales. These would be perfect to hit up before or after Vaqueros games.
For lodging, the stadium is not too far from state highway 69, so you will have plenty of options to choose from nearby. These include Home2 Suites by Hilton Edinburg and TownePlace Suites by Marriott McAllen Edinburg. As always, budget is going to be your only limitation in terms of lodging.
Fans 5
Again, I might be a prisoner of the moment, but I was quite frankly blown away by the fan presence during my visit. As mentioned earlier this is a football-mad corner of the state, which in Texas is saying a lot. UTRGV packed over 12,700 fans (there were a lot of folks in the standing-room only area behind the goal posts) into Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium for their first game.
The parking lots surrounding the stadium were also filled to the brim, and orange was everywhere. UTRGV t-shirts and jerseys were also everywhere, and the crowd was loud and energetic and engaged. It was a magical night for the fans, and I hope it is something that can continue as the Vaqueros continue to grow on the field.
Access 3
Getting to the Rio Grande Valley from other parts of the state can be a bit daunting – it’s just under a three-and-a-half-hour drive from San Antonio, four and a half hours from Austin, and five from Houston. Nearby McAllen International Airport does offer regular daily flights in from Austin, Dallas, and Houston, however, if you choose not to drive.
Once on-site there appears to be lots of parking, but again, the lots were full and the main road to and from Vackar Stadium from the nearby highway was horrifically bottlenecked. I’m going to discount these as opening night hiccups, however, and believe that the city and the university will get these things ironed out once everyone knows what to expect week to week.
Return on Investment 4
I almost gave this score a “5” considering that single-game tickets for Vaqueros games are only $20, with standing-room only spaces just $12. Also, guess what? Parking is free in most of the lots surrounding Vackar Stadium.
Given UTRGV is a Division I FCS-level program, this kind of pricing is quite frankly remarkable for this level of football. The only thing that will keep this score from rising higher is the caliber of opposing teams that the Vaqueros are able to bring to the valley. Playing as members of the Southland Conference, there are some nationally ranked teams that should be on the schedule for years to come. However, will they ever be able to bring in any national brands? Time will tell.
Extras 3
I was fortunate to be in a similar spot a decade and a half ago, namely being on the ground floor of another start-up college football program. Over the years, it’s been part of my enjoyment to watch the team, the school, and the fans find their way and forge new traditions.
UTRGV is in a very similar boat – the athletics teams here have been playing for several years, so there were some built-in extras that became part of the football program. The UTRGV Marching Band performed before the game and during halftime, and they were loud from their seats in the student section; the Dance Team also performed throughout the game. The Cheer Team could be found on the sidelines urging on the players and the fans all game long, and the Vaquero (mascot) patrolled the stands and sidelines, and was great to get a photo with.
Final Thoughts
It’s difficult to precisely put into words how much fun an experience like this is. Programs that have been around for over a hundred years obviously have all their history and traditions already established. When you’ve got a program like UTRGV, however, everything is still there to be written. That makes everything new and exciting and full of promise.
If you can, I would highly recommend getting in on the early days of the UTRGV Vaqueros, and spend some extra time in the Valley while you’re there. I think you’ll enjoy yourself.
Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.
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