SAN ANTONIO — Local business leader Red McCombs announced Friday that he will donate $1 million to UTSA Athletics, matching the single-largest gift in department history. The announcement came during a local breakfast held by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce at Stonewerks Big Rock Grille at The Rim.
In addition, the McCombs pledged to purchase 1,000 tickets for UTSA's inaugural football game against Northeastern State, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Alamodome.
"What Red has pledged to our department is nothing short of amazing," UTSA Athletics Director Lynn Hickey said. "We want to thank him for his generosity and support of our athletics department."
“Red McCombs has been a steadfast supporter of UTSA,” President Ricardo Romo said. “Like many in San Antonio, his enthusiasm for our new football program is unstoppable. With his help and the assitance of local business leaders, we are aiming to sell all 65,000 seats at our first game. Let’s ‘fill ‘er up!’”
"We certainly appreciate Mr. McCombs and his gift and all of the support we've received in the San Antonio area," UTSA head football coach Larry Coker said.
McCombs’ million-dollar pledge kicks off a fundraising campaign to build practice facilities at the new UTSA Park West Campus near the intersection of Loop 1604 and Hausman Road. Once completed, the campus will be home to all UTSA Athletics teams.
"Today, the center of San Antonio is UTSA," McCombs said. "We need a lot of things at UTSA. We have to have practice fields and I'm going to kick that drive off today."
At the Chamber breakfast, Hickey also announced Jim Bodenstedt, a graduate of the UTSA College of Business, will purchase 500 tickets. Bodenstedt, and his wife Cathy, donated $1 million last year to support UTSA Athletics.
