BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Brownsville leaders do not yet know how big an economic impact the Games of Texas will have on the city this weekend.
What they do know is that 20,000 visitors from across the state will converge on the city. The surge is so great that the city’s hotels are full and Harlingen and South Padre Island are having to help with the overspill.
“We have about 6,000 athletes that have signed up to register to compete in 12 different sports,” said Helen Ramirez, Brownsville’s city manager. “About 20,000 people are coming from around Texas to Brownsville. We’ve had to secure thousands of hotel beds.”
The 2023 Summer Games – Games of Texas takes place between July 27 and July 30. The 2024 version is also slated to be held in Brownsville.
In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Ramirez said the event could not have been put on without the help of neighboring cities and numerous nonprofits, community groups and individual volunteers.
“It’s not just about Brownsville. Yes, we are the host city, but we really have brought everybody together to really make this experience a positive one and just a very happy one.”
Asked what the visitors will see, Ramirez said: “They’re going to have a really warm experience, a very professional experience. But they will also see a beautiful, historic, downtown. Please take the time. Go to our downtown, go to all the different authentic restaurants, the mom and pops that have opened up. Go experience our Sunrise Mall.”
Ramirez said hosting the Games of Texas is another example of the New Border Economy she often talks about.
“From SpaceX, to the LNG, to hosting important statewide sporting events, to having an economic summit with the Governor's Office. We have a very diverse economy. And I think that's what makes us so resilient and so successful. So we look forward a successful Games.”
According to the Games of Texas website, the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation chose Brownsville because of its “commitment and engagement to promoting amateur athletics, including the promotion of parks, recreation, and leisure services to the communities it serves.”
The website states: “The Games of Texas Brownsville is promising to create memorable experiences for athletes and their families, offer athletes an opportunity to advance to state level competitions, all while welcoming visitors from outside of the Rio Grande Valley to the extraordinary City of Brownsville.
“The Games of Texas Brownsville is expected to host more than 7,000 athletes in the various competitive sports it will feature. The sporting events will take place across various City venues, including Brownsville Independent School District venues.
“The thousands that are expected to descend on Brownsville for the competitive sporting event will be welcomed at City hotels, including AirBnB properties; retails shops, restaurants, family entertainment venues; City parks, walking and biking trails; and other local attractions.”
Brownsville ISD Superintendent René Gutiérrez told the Guardian that Brownsville students will benefit from seeing quality sports events.
“Like someone said earlier, who knows, maybe a future Olympian is going to be competing these coming days in Brownsville. It is going to be so exciting for the community, for everyone to come by and support our athletes.”
Gutiérrez said he and the school board are pleased to be lending school facilities to the Games.
“They are going to use our natatorium, which is our swimming pool. We're also lending them our track at the stadium. We're always honored as a school district to partner with the City and with other entities. We're excited that we're going to have athletes from all over, come into Brownsville and spend a few days here competing in top quality sporting events.”
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