Texas A&M University-San Antonio celebrated an important milestone today, as the University expands its campus facilities with the groundbreaking of a softball stadium, competition track, and multipurpose field.
The expansive new projects usher in a new era for the University, providing students with more opportunities for athletic competition and camaraderie, while also serving as a community hub for health, fitness, and amateur sports.
“We are seeing steady year-over-year growth in enrollment, and we are building our campus to keep up with that,” said A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa. “These exciting new campus facilities enable us to better serve our growing student body while also providing the community with much-needed recreational resources. This is a wonderful moment for both the University and South San Antonio.”
Bexar County in 2022 committed $10 million to build the new athletic facilities at A&M-San Antonio. The money will fund the new eight-lane competition track and field, as well as the renovation of the existing softball field, adding a press box, dugouts, and bleachers for 300 people.
“These facilities will provide even more opportunities for student-athletes to pursue their dreams. They will also be a first-class resource for a variety of community events. That is another reason why Bexar County is committing $10 million this project. These multi-use venues will be a tremendous boon for the entire Southside,” Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai said.
This project will serve as a practice and competition facility for the University’s men’s and women’s sports programs, and the renovated softball field will help with recruitment and provide a top-notch training venue. Moreover, the facilities will be open to the public, providing space for a variety of sports in a part of the city where such resources are scarce.
“There is a disparity of dedicated sports facilities south of U.S. Highway 90,” said A&M-San Antonio Athletic Director Darnell Smith. “As the University expands, we’re taking strategic steps to be good stewards in the community, enabling both student-athletes and residents to take advantage of our growing facilities. It’s another critical way we’re helping improve the region’s quality of life and educational opportunities.”