Aggie might

The new Colosseum? Texas A&M's Kyle Field aims to be most intimidating sports environment ever

Anyone who has visited College Station has been subjected to the watchful eye of Kyle Field, which looms large over the otherwise flat landscape. The storied stadium has been called one of the most intimidating in the nation. And it's about to get even bigger and more intimidating.

On Wednesday, the Texas A&M University Board of Regents approved a $450 million expansion project that it's calling the most extensive redevelopment of a college athletic facility in history.

The Aggies will have state bragging rights, too, as the expanded Kyle Field will be larger than the 100,119-seat Darrell K. Royal Stadium at the University of Texas.

The plan calls for extensive landscaping, decorative paving and lots of bronze statues in the surrounding plazas, and the beautification of the bland grey exterior, which will be replaced by a facade of brick, glass and limestone — materials that "exude power, prominence and endurance," according to a virtual video tour (watch above).

But that's just the beginning: The field will be lowered and the stadium partially enclosed with canopies to further increase the noise level and intimidation factor of the venue. Luxury loge boxes and premium suites will be added, as well as private club and lounge areas. Plus, nearly 20,000 seats will be added, upping the capacity to 102,500 marooned-out fans.

The expansion will make Kyle Field the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference, narrowly surpassing the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, which holds 102,455.

The Aggies will have state bragging rights, too, as the expanded Kyle Field will be larger than the 100,119-seat Darrell K. Royal Stadium at the University of Texas.

What's more, the stadium will remain operational throughout the construction process, eliminating interruption of regular home games. Phase I — which includes the demolition and reconstruction of the first deck on the stadium's east side and construction of the south end zone — will begin in November of this year.

Phase II involves the demolition of the stadium's entire west side, complete construction of the south end zone and reconstruction of the west side, and will commence Nov. 2014. The grand opening is currently projected for August 2015.

for the win

Cheer on these Texans competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Emily Chan, 2026 Winter Olympics figure skater

teamusa.com/

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The XXV Winter Olympic Games, also known as the Milano Cortina 2026, are right around the corner, running February 6-22 in northern Italy. Out of the 2,900 athletes who will participate in this year's Games, 232 will represent the U.S., with four hailing from the Lone Star State.

Houston residents might recognize one local athlete in particular: Figure skater Emily Chan, who is a Pasadena native.

To catch these Texas-born athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics, viewers can tune in to NBC and its affiliate networks, websites, and apps (like Peacock).

Without further ado, these are the Winter Olympians competing for Team USA with roots in Texas. (Note that there are other athletes with Texas ties, like Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars, who are competing in the Olympics but aren't considered Texans.)

Hannah Bilka, 24
Sport: Ice hockey
Texas tie: Bilka grew up in Coppell and is the youngest of four children. At age six, she followed in the footsteps of her older brother, Anthony, and started playing hockey. Due to a "lack of girls’ hockey teams in Texas," she grew up playing hockey with boys.
Fun facts: She won the 2024 National Championship in women’s ice hockey with the Ohio State Buckeyes, the same university where she earned a master's degree in sport management. Her two older sisters, Christina and Stephanie, were figure skaters.
When to watch: The women's ice hockey preliminary round begins on Thursday, February 5. The women's bronze and gold medal matches will take place on Thursday, February 19.

Hannah Bilka, 2026 Winter Olympics hockey player Hannah Bilka is one of two North Texans competing in this year's Games.Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Emily Chan, 28
Sport: Pairs figure skating
Texas tie: Chan hails from Houston suburb Pasadena, but she also calls Dallas home. She graduated from Texas Online Preparatory School as the valedictorian.
Fun facts: She loves to cook, bake, make jewelry, and dreams of opening her own café in the future. Her longtime skating partner, Spencer Akira Howe, is from Los Angeles. They both relocated to train at the Skating Club of Boston in 2019, where Chan now coaches young figure skaters. Chan is also pursuing a family and marriage counseling degree from Grand Canyon University.
When to watch: The figure skating "team event" kicks off on Friday, February 6. The pairs figure skating competition begins on Wednesday, February 16.

Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe In addition to being a top-notch figure skater, Emily Chan is also trained in Chinese modern dance and ballet.teamusa.com/

Amber Glenn, 26
Sport: Singles figure skating
Texas tie: She was born in Plano, and started skating at just five years-old.
Fun facts: Glenn is a mental health advocate and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She came out as pansexual in 2019. She loves to play Magic: The Gathering, and her dog, Uki, is named after stalking shadow card Ukkima. She also enjoys anime and Star Wars. On Friday, May 29, Glenn will visit the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb Allen during the 2026 Stars on Ice Tour.
When to watch: The figure skating "team event" kicks off on Friday, February 6. The women's singles free skate competition begins Thursday, February 19.

Amber Glenn, 2026 Winter Olympics figure skater from Plano Plano's famous figure skater Amber Glenn is on the roster. teamusa.com/

Boone Niederhofer, 32
Sport: Bobsledding
Texas tie: Niederhofer grew up in San Antonio, and later became a wide receiver at Texas A&M University. His father, Dan, played football for Abilene Christian University. Niederhofer and his family previously lived in Midland .
Fun facts: Niederhofer has a degree in petroleum engineering and worked in Texas' oil and gas industry while competing in bobsledding competitions.
When to watch: The bobsled competition begins on Sunday, February 15. The men's two-man heat will take place on Tuesday, February 17, and the men's four-man heat is scheduled for Sunday, February 22.

Boone Niederhofer, 2026 Winter Olympics bobsledder Boone Niederhofer is a former Texas A&M University football player.Photo courtesy of Getty Images

winter olympics olympics texas houston pasadena

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