Texas A&M University is a special place. On campus in College Station, Texas, you'll find historic landmarks like Kyle Field and the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum — two of which are part of the eight coolest landmarks in Aggieland.
History and tradition is abundant at TAMU, but none of that is possible without the help of alumni and former athletes. Former Aggie Von Miller opened up a vision center on campus and Mike Evans donated $40,000 in scholarship money. It's generosity like theirs that has made Texas A&M home to one of the best college football facilities in the country.
Of course, the nearly 70,000 students on campus and 153,000 in the Texas A&M University System get to walk by some of the school's incredible athletic facilities each day. Baseball's Blue Bell Park is a must-see stadium on Friday and Saturday nights. Softball's David Diamond is a brand-spanking-new field opened in 2018. Reed Arena hosts Aggie basketball as well as many other school functions.
However, it's Texas A&M's football facilities that are king in the SEC. From the 115-year-old Kyle Field to the immaculate Bright Football Complex that features a barbershop in its locker room, TAMU football players should be thankful for what they have. Here are the unbelievable football facilities that make Texas A&M a treasure in the state of Texas and in the NCAA.
Kyle Field
The oldest stadium in college football resides in College Station. While it is ancient, it is a far cry from the wooden bleachers Edwin Jackson Kyle first built in 1904.
The concrete stadium that holds more than 100,000 fans received a $485-million, multi-phase redevelopment and debuted the facelift in 2015. Home of the unforgettable "Bonfire Game", Kyle Field also features a 3,954-square-foot LED scoreboard that was the second-largest of its kind in college athletics when it was added in 2006.
Bright Football Complex
No football program is complete without a facility like the Bright Football Complex.
Located at the south end zone of Kyle Field, the breath-taking, state-of-the-art training facility boasts a massive, futuristic-looking locker room. Each locker contains a charging station, an individual helmet display and two LED screens. Oh, and there are vanishing TV mirrors above each locker room sink. Because why not?
Also included is a players lounge fit for kings, a barbershop, training rooms, meeting rooms and coaches' offices. The $20.8 million worth of renovations spanned more than 36,000 square feet and were completed in 2014. Potential high school recruits will have trouble turning down the Aggies after stepping foot in here.
McFerrin Athletic Center
Practicing in the Texas heat can be beneficial to replicating gameday temperatures, but the Aggies also have the option to take the gridiron in a cool environment.
The McFerrin Athletic Center, opened in 2007, is a fully air-conditioned turf football field that features an 80-foot ceiling ideal for kicking and throwing drills. The $35-million center also houses two full-size football fields outside adjacent to it.
Davis Player Development Center
Strength and development are emphasized highly at Texas A&M, and that begins with one of the country's best and most technologically advanced workout facilities: the Davis Player Development Center.
Athletes like former first overall NFL Draft pick Myles Garrett packed on weight at this state-of-the-art, 19,000-square foot center next to the Bright Football Complex since it opened in 2012. It features squat racks and weights as far as the eyes can see, and future improvements will include a mini turf area and a players' lounge.
Slocum Nutrition Center
Aggie athletes need fuel to recover after a grueling workout, which is when they head over to the Slocum Nutrition Center.
Named after former TAMU coach R.C. Slocum, the $12-million center opened in 2013 and has been feeding Texas A&M football players and other athletes ever since. It included a full salad bar, pasta station, fruit bar, smoothies and grilled food options. Student-athletes can feast twice a day here for lunch and dinner, with lunch also open to non-athlete students.
