COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M is hosting two major events this summer, the Savannah Bananas at Kyle Field and the USA Track and Field’s Lone Star Grand Prix.
Texas A&M and the city of College Station are putting their facilities on full display this summer. With less than three months until the Savannah Bananas come to play, anticipation among city officials is building.
Jeremiah Cook, Visit College Station’s assistant director of tourism, said they’re excited to have more people see the town.
“We want more people coming in and seeing everything that we have to offer,” Cook said. “And so we’re hopeful that this is a continuation.”
College Station Mayor John Nichols said he is honored that the city can partner with the university.
“The city of College Station is really happy that we were able to be part of what Texas A&M is leading in this area, and we’re a partner to them, and we’re happy to be a participant,” Nichols said.
The sporting events are expected bring in major revenue for the city, with projections up to $1.7 million for the one-day Lone Star Grand Prix alone.
“That’s part of what we do here at Visit College Station, is try to bring events during a time that maybe there’s less students in our restaurants,” Cook said. “There’s less students in our retail. It’s when our economy needs it the most.”
That economic impact won’t be confined to just College Station’s borders; the city of Bryan expects to see an increase as well, with people booking hotels and eating at restaurants across the two cities.
“Anytime we can draw tourism, sports, tourism kinds of programs here, it generates sales tax revenue,” Nichols said. “It helps to do exactly what our hotel tax does, which is put heads in beds.”
With people coming from all over the country to see the Savannah Bananas and the Lone Star Grand Prix, Taylor McGilis, Texas A&M’s executive associate athletic director, said he is excited to showcase the university’s facilities.
“It’s just a really unique opportunity for Texas A&M University, and it won’t just be our community members,” McGilis said. “There’s going to be people coming from all 50 states, which again, it’s the opportunity to showcase what we have to offer as part of the total package of what makes it such a great opportunity.”
As the university and cities work to bring in major events, they set the stage to attract even more high-profile opportunities in the future.
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