Austin, TX
‘Rivalry renewed:’ Ticket prices soar, bars brace for big turnout
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The eyes of Texas are turning to College Station.
A day before the Texas Longhorns take on Texas A&M — a rivalry game that hasn’t been played in 13 years, with the winner advancing to the SEC championship — the fans aren’t the only ones excited.
“UT games are our big day,” said bartender Ethan Blanton.
Like many bars, the Rustic Tap in Austin is stocking up in anticipation of big watch party crowds and a post-Thanksgiving jolt. As kegs were being delivered, Blanton said their inventory will be double that of a normal day.
He expects their watch party will be packed “the entire day.”
“Absolutely, without a doubt,” he said, when asked if Saturday will be one of the busiest days of the year for his bar.
There’s also no doubt who this longtime Longhorns fan is rooting for — even though his cousin plays for Texas A&M.
“UT, 100%,” said Blanton. “Sorry, cousin.”
Ticket prices soar
In a sign of how divided fans are, some bars are displaying the flags of both schools. For those planning to travel to watch the game in person, it won’t be cheap.
Between the NFL and college, this will be the most expensive regular season football ticket on record, according to TickPick, which reported an average purchase price of $1,079. A day before the game, we found a single ticket starting at around $520 on SeatGeek and soaring to almost $9,000.
The second priciest gameday ticket on record was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers versus the New England Patriots in 2021 with an average purchase price of just over $900. That was the first game Tom Brady played at Gillette Stadium against his former team and coach.
Old rivalry, new tradition
The day before the game kicked off with a new tradition honoring an old rivalry. Wearing military ruck packs, cadets and student veterans walked, and drove, the game football to College Station in what’s being dubbed the “Ruck Across the Brazos.”
“It not only honors this rivalry game but also the military history for both of our schools,” said US Army Cadet and UT Austin student Jacob Tegtmeier. “It feels extremely special to be a start of this tradition that hopefully goes on for years and decades to come.”
The trek will end in College Station at Kyle field, where Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko will receive the ball just before kick off.
“It means a whole lot. I think everyone’s been waiting for this for so long. Just seeing it back and going on at Kyle Field, especially, means a whole bunch,” said Treacy Collier with the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
“Thirteen years in the making, this is huge,” Collier added. “And then SEC game on the line is even bigger. So this means a lot.”
‘Rivarly Renewed’
At the non-profit University Co-op, new commemorative shirts capitalized on the excitement with slogans: “Rivalry Renewed,” “House Divided” and “Lone Star Showdown.”
“Oh, I’m nervous,” said Robert Martinez. “I’m going to be nervous all day long until it’s over and we win.”
Martinez came with his two daughters, Jackie, and Katie, who graduated from UT a few years ago.
“I never got to see them play A&M when I was going here so I’m very excited,” she said.
The Martinez family will be watching the game Saturday in a house divided with their cousins, who are Aggies fans.
“They’re both fantastic schools, so it’s just fun to see them,” Katie said.
“No,” Jackie said laughing. “You have to be mean. No. They suck.”
“It’s really fun, actually,” said Katie.
“We talk smack,” said Jackie.
The Co-op said all of its profits went to course material scholarships helping nearly 7,000 students last academic year. This year the program expanded to include cheer and pom, the Longhorn band, and all student athletes.
AUSTIN, Texas – Central Texans gather to celebrate Juneteenth or “Freedom Day” on June 19 and commemorate the end of slavery.
What you can do:
The Greater East Austin Youth Association (GEAYA) is hosting the Central Texas Juneteenth Parade and Festival today (6/19).
It’s free and taking place at Rosewood Park in East Austin located at 2300 Rosewood Ave.
The schedule for the events is as follows:
- ACME Juneteenth FunRun – 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Juneteenth Historical Parade – 10 AM – 12 PM
- Park Celebration and Fireworks – 12 PM – 9:45 PM
Other events
On June 20, the Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition will be taking place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center located at 1165 Angelina Street.
It will be a day of celebration and remembrance and there will be BBQ plates and music as well as vendors and hands-on activations.
The backstory:
Juneteenth commemorates the end of formal slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and more than one month following the end of the American Civil War.
Colloquially known as “The Black 4th of July,” Juneteenth marks the beginning of an African American journey to carve a new place in society for free people to shape identities independent of racial caricature, eradicate slave culture, promote ethnic pride, and create economic prosperity.
The Source: Information from City of Austin and Greater East Austin Youth Association and reporting by Jessica Rivera.
Juneteenth celebrations are happening across the city this weekend. The events will mark the 161st anniversary of the day Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free. The announcement on June 19, 1865, came more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19 — known as Juneteenth — became a federal holiday in 2021.
From historical bike rides to Austin’s annual parade, here are seven events taking place in Austin.
Annual Juneteenth FunRun, June 19
The city of Austin’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility will host a fun run starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at East Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Leona Street, and concluding at Hargrave Street near the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex. Participants will have one hour to complete the course. The route is the same as the parade through the African American Historical Cultural District that will start later that morning. Runners and walkers of all ages and levels can participate.
Central Texas Juneteenth Parade & Festival, June 19
The annual Juneteenth parade will take place Friday and begin at 10 a.m. at East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street and will travel down to Chicon Street before turning on Rosewood Avenue. The parade will feature floats, live music and performers.
A Very Juneteenth Comedy Jam, June 19
The Velveeta Room, Austin’s longest-running comedy club, will have shows highlighting Black voices Friday night at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The 18+ event will feature comedians like Freddy Do Less and Roderick McDaniel. Tickets for both shows are around $23.
Sistas Walk And Talk: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
Texas Sistas Society will host a 3-mile walk and talk Saturday at 515 S. Pleasant Valley Road starting at 7:45 a.m. Texas Sistas Society is an Austin-based community created for Black women and women of color. Attendees are encouraged to wear Juneteenth colors: red, yellow, green or black, and to RSVP ahead of time.
The Carver Kickback: Juneteenth Edition, June 20
The George Washington Carver Museum in Austin is dedicated to creating a “space where the global contributions of all Black people are celebrated.” The museum is hosting a free celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with barbecue plates, live music, vendors and activities for all ages.
Black Auteur Film Festival, June 20
The Black Auteur Film Festival, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Black filmmakers in Texas, is hosting its third annual film festival to showcase short films directed by Black Texans at AFS Cinema on Saturday. One filmmaker will win the $1,000 “Best of Fest” award, and attendees can enter a raffle for a chance to win Austin Film Society memberships and movie tickets. The festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $14.
Juneteenth Social Ride, June 21
Black History Bike Ride, an Austin nonprofit teaching people about the city’s Black history through cycling, is hosting its seventh annual Juneteenth ride starting at the Haskell House on Saturday at 10 a.m. Austin-based historian Harrison Eppright will serve as the ride’s guide. Registration is required for all attendees. The event is free, but donations are encouraged.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Data analyst Corey Yeung created the ATX Running Guide to help runners find community across Central Texas. What started as a personal project has become one of Austin’s most comprehensive running resources.
Looking for a Run Club? There’s a Map for That
When Corey Yeung moved to Austin three years ago, he had a simple question:
“How many run clubs are actually out there?” The answer wasn’t easy to find. While several websites listed local groups, Yeung felt none offered a complete picture. So, he decided to build one himself. What started as a spreadsheet evolved into ATX Running Guide, a website and social media platform that helps runners discover clubs throughout the Austin area.
“The list would be more useful if it were a map and search tool,” Yeung said. “The Instagram page was simply a way to communicate those free resources to the community.”
Today, the guide covers running groups from San Marcos to Hutto and serves as a one-stop resource for runners looking to connect. In this episode of KXAN’S Plus Simple Health, Corey Yeung walks us through everything you need to know about the 200-plus running clubs in Austin.
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