The first football game of the season between the UTRGV Vaqueros and UT Permian Basin at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium was completely sold out, marking the eighth consecutive sold‑out home game for the Vaqueros and the seventh straight sell‑out in their inaugural season.
Attendance milestones and stadium growth
In 2025 the team ranked 11th nationally in total attendance with 87,774 fans, 15th in average attendance at 12,539 per game, and sixth in capacity utilization at 104.49 percent. To accommodate the surge, the south end zone was expanded by roughly 1,500 seats, raising the stadium’s capacity from 12,000 to 13,498 for the upcoming 2026 season.
Limited single‑game tickets were released on a Monday at 8 a.m. and vanished within an hour, prompting the university to open standing‑room only tickets at 8 a.m. the following Friday, priced at $15 each. Fans who managed to secure tickets can enter the venue using Apple or Google Wallet or via the UTRGVTickets.com platform, which employs NFC scanning for gate access.
Tailgating and fan experiences beyond the gates
Even without a ticket, supporters can still enjoy the H‑E‑B Tailgate Zone, various tailgate lots, and the corporate sponsor tailgate area, which open as early as noon on Saturday. These communal spaces have become a staple of the game‑day atmosphere, allowing the broader community to participate in the celebration.
The sold‑out contest is part of a larger season‑opening event that sets the tone for the Vaqueros’ campaign, blending on‑field competition with a growing tradition of fan engagement and campus spirit.