Xavier Aguilar 
EDINBURG – UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics unveiled renderings for a 45,000 plus square foot facility with an estimated cost of $45 million dollars located just north of the UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
The Vaquero’s Performance Center will include a new state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility, an academic success center, a sports medicine facility, a steam room, football locker rooms, and office space for athletic personnel.
The area will also hold 2 practice fields, one with artificial turf, and the other a natural grass field that will be used for both the soccer and football teams.
“This is transformational for our athletics program, obviously for our football program, giving them a primary home, a place that they will live and work and train as student-athletes and coach and mentor as a coaching staff, but this is also to serve our entire athletics department,” said Chasse Conque, vice-president and director of athletics.
Conque added that the Vaquero Performance Center will house the football program and will rival any division one FCS program in the country.
Head football coach Travis Bush, acknowledged recruits’ interest in the Vaquero’s Performance Center comparing it to UTSA, Houston, and other training facilities.
“When they saw those renderings and they saw the facilities, it was a big wow factor. I got hit up by a lot. A lot of recruits today, too, that are excited,” said Bush, “I got off this plane and I had hundreds of texts because I don’t think people still realize the level of football and the level of, you know, the athletic programs are going to be at UTRGV.”
Funding for this project comes from athletic revenue streams, fundraising, corporate sponsorships, and the football founders society, a group of 34 families and individuals that have committed $1.7 million dollars.
Naming opportunities are available for all facilities, including Vaquero’s Performance Center.
The Vaqueros Performance Center is expected to be completed for the Vaquero’s first season in 2025 while the practice fields are set for 2024.
