Coastal Bend Residents Embrace Good Sports
Published May 27, 2008
Brian Teter exudes enthusiasm when talking about Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s sports program, and the athletic director’s mood clearly is contagious.
“When kids start to show up at games with their faces painted blue and green, we know we’re on the right track,” Teter says of rising Islanders fever. “Sports tend to bring people together, and it’s an exciting time for the community and the university.”
Excitement reached a frenzy in March 2007 when the men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division I playoffs, mere months after joining the Southland Conference. In an opening-round game, the Islanders led at halftime but lost to Wisconsin of the Big 10 Conference, 76-63.
Teter and the TAMU-CC teams want to capitalize on the growing school spirit. Islanders merchandise is popping up in area stores. Attendance is up at sports events on campus and in the downtown area, where the men’s and women’s basketball teams play in the 8,000-seat American Bank Center arena and where the baseball team plays a handful of games at Whataburger Field.
“We have drawn big crowds, and if they come once, we want to make it a great experience so they’ll come again,” Teter says.
Whataburger Field also is the 5,050-seat home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, the double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
“Our business model is about affordable family entertainment and a family-friendly environment,” says J.J. Gottsch, Hooks president and general manager.
Spectators in the Coastal Bend also can attend games of the Corpus Christi Rayz of the Central Hockey League, the Corpus Christi Sharks of arenafootball2, the Corpus Christi Hammerheads of the Intense Football League, the Coastal Bend Aviators of the American Association baseball league, and the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Javelinas of the Division II Lone Star Conference.
Story by Leanne Libby
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