Aura Velasquez/THE RIDER
UTRGV Athletics announced the McAllen International Airport as the university’s official airport to provide Vaqueros a better traveling experience.
Chasse Conque, vice president and director of Athletics, said “after a month or two” of conversations, the partnership officially “kicked off” during a Sept. 28 news conference.
Conque said the partnership between the two started with the overall relationship between the City of McAllen and the university.
“We saw a great opportunity to match up our McAllen International Airport with the UTRGV Vaqueros,” said Jeremy Santoscoy, interim director of Aviation from McAllen International Airport.
Santoscoy said the partnership is “a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the leader in higher education here in the Rio Grande Valley.”
He said the McAllen International Airport started the process of the partnership “probably about a month and a half ago, more or less.”
Conque said it is a typical sponsorship agreement and it is still being rooted for the final signature.
“It could be done as we sit here today,” he said. “But all of that happens right as the public announcement happens.”
The Rider asked Conque how the partnership benefits UTRGV Athletics.
“Being associated and co-branded and affiliated with someone like the McAllen International Airport–it’s really a validator for us,” he replied. “We do about 70% of our air travel through McAllen International. It’s not just our teams. It’s the visiting teams.”
Santoscoy said, for Athletics, having an airport so close to campus is the main benefit.
“They can connect basically all over the world with high-frequency available flights throughout every day of the week,” he said.
“Connectivity” was the economic benefit of this partnership, Santoscoy said.
“We have two of the legacy carriers, which you can connect to all over the world,” he said. “That helps the UTRGV students get to where they need to be whether it’s for athletics or for their education.”
Conque said there will not be much change on the way UTRGV Athletics travel because the department already does most of its air travel out of McAllen International Airport.
“We expect that to remain,” he said. “What we will see, though, is an increase in travel with the addition of our two new sports with swimming and diving and with football.”
Conque said the student athletes will continue to travel the same way and they will be welcomed back or sent on the road in a branded McAllen International Airport.
“We’re just excited about this new partnership,” Santoscoy said. “Being able to collaborate with UTRGV Vaqueros and the Athletic Department says a lot about the way we can collaborate with our community.”
Santoscoy said McAllen International Airport wants to be the front doorstep for visitors and students from all over the world and a gateway to the community.
The partnership offers UTRGV students giveaway opportunities, Conque said, including a trip for two to a UTRGV football game during the 2025 inaugural season with airfare from McAllen International Airport, hotel accommodations, transportation and tickets to the game.
The second giveaway will be awarded during UTRGV Madness on Oct. 27.
One student will win a trip for two to the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament in Las Vegas during spring break.
The giveaway includes airfare from the McAllen International Airport, hotel accommodations, transportation and passes to the WAC men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
