I am an Aggie Sports fanatic.

As someone who did my undergraduate and masters work at Texas A&M, I had attended my fair share of sporting events before I started my doctorate. I attended every football game for the five years it took me to finish my undergraduate degree, my fair share of baseball and men’s basketball games, and the occasional other major sporting event.

Ever since I started my Ph.D., attending sporting events has been my only reprieve from the tedious, monotonous, and stressful brain work that I am constantly mired within. Because of this, I have widened my rather narrow sports scope to include any and every sport I can attend. Tennis, basketball, softball, baseball, track and field, swimming, football, volleyball, soccer, hockey… I have been to ‘em all.

After attending a softball game, baseball game, and tennis match over the course of a week, I decided I ought to put my sports knowledge to good use and write this blog as the definitive ranking of Aggie sports. So, for anyone who has wanted to get in on the TAMU sports culture but is not sure where to start, read on to see the best of what College Station has to offer.

I have ranked each sport based on what I like the most. Criteria includes when and where the sport is played, the distance of the stadium from my house (I am not doxxing myself, but I live on the south side), the ticket price, and the overall vibes. These opinions are my own and frankly, there isn’t a sport on this list I don’t enjoy… but not everything can be five stars!

Men’s Tennis

Ticket Price: Free
Location (distance from my house): Mitchell Tennis Center, pretty far
Length of Event: Doubles normally take around 20 minutes, with the whole event being
around 2 hours… but it varies a ton!
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Season: Spring (January-May)

I am not going to lie. I used to think tennis was a sport for people much classier than I was. But tennis? I won’t even watch this sport on the same level as they play (which is an option— lots of different seating options) because they hit the ball so hard it scares me. Men’s tennis at TAMU is not ranked as highly as women’s, but they’re still fun to watch.

This sport is also incredibly visceral, as in, you are so close to the players and the responses from the audience really do reach the court. You can hear the tennis grunts all the way from Reed arena, too, so get ready for lots of noise. The best part about tennis is that it isn’t just one game, but nine. There is doubles play (when two players play on one side against two others on the other side) and singles play (where it is one player on one side versus another on the other side). Doubles is spread over three courts (all of which you can see at one time) and singles is spread over six (you can only see three at a time, so choose your side wisely).

Scoring can be confusing, so look it up the first time you go. But don’t worry about not wanting to stay the whole time, admission is free and seating is open, so you can wander in, enjoy, and then head out whenever you want!

Bonus points if you catch a game at sunset with the stadium lights.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 4
TLDR; Action packed, visceral, multi-court experience. Fun and free.

Women’s Tennis

Ticket Price: Free
Location (distance from my house): Mitchell Tennis Center, pretty far
Length of Event: Doubles normally take around 20 minutes, with the whole event being around 2 hours… but it varies a ton!
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Season: Spring (January-May)

See above. All of that— and the women are even better. Particularly one of our players, who is ranked number one according to ITA rankings.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 5
TLDR; The same as men’s tennis, but better…

Men’s Basketball

Ticket Price: $10
Location (distance from my house): Reed Arena, medium distance
Length of Event: A little over two hours.
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor
Season: Fall/Spring (October-March)

Ahhh, basketball. A fan favorite. Men’s basketball in particular tends to draw hoards of fans, and I will admit I am one of them.

Although I do prefer women’s basketball to men’s (more on why later), there is no denying the atmosphere inside Reed Arena. From the moment you walk in on a cold day, there is an overwhelming sense of being at an event. The popcorn smell. The sounds of sneakers on the wood floor as the players warm up. The bustle of other bodies, beers and pretzels in hand, decked out in head to toe maroon. I think the ambiance of indoor sports is unmatched (though I do have friends that disagree).

As for the game, go to watch Buzz Williams, stay for the rest of the team. Buzz is a dynamic coach who is almost always on the court, and the players aren’t too bad themselves. Our team plays like a team, meaning laughter, intensity, and overall swagger. No look passes, pull back three pointers, and tricky places to get the defense to foul us (our main point guard draws a foul better than anyone else I have ever seen), these games have all the exciting “get on your feet” moments you could want. The fan atmosphere is also electric, with a number of basketball specific traditions led by the Yell Leaders.

Tickets aren’t as cheap, but $10 isn’t bad to go watch our team BTHO everyone.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 3.5
TLDR; A sport we know and love that provides an incredible fan experience all around.

Women’s Basketball

Ticket Price: $4
Location (distance from my house): Reed Arena, medium distance
Length of Event: A little over two hours.
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor
Season: Fall/Spring (October-March)

Much of what I have to say about men’s basketball I would say about women’s basketball. The fans, traditions, and experience are all excellent. The reasons I like women’s basketball better are threefold; coach, players, tickets.

If you think Buzz Williams is fun to watch, get a load of Joni Taylor. She is not as expressive as Buzz… until she is. Watching her hype up her players is a joy. As for the players, there is something about women’s sports in general that draws me in more than men. Women are often not as tall as men, so they are not dunking or anything like that. As a result, they become better technical players and generally have better form and
more elaborate strategy. Men’s games can be a bit more fast paced, but women’s sports excel in strategy and that athleticism is there no matter what. Finally, men’s tickets are $10 and women’s are $4. I don’t know why, other than supply and demand (fed by sexist ideals about who is “better” at sports). Either way, you can go to a women’s game and get a snack for the same price as one men’s ticket. That budget hack is hard to pass up as a graduate student.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 4.5
TLDR; Everything the men’s game has, but with more strategy and for a lower cost.

Softball

Ticket Price: $4
Location (distance from my house): David Diamond, medium distance
Length of Event: A little under two hours… depending on if we end early because of a run rule!
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Season: Fall/Spring (Scattered Fall Ball; February-May)

I can’t lie— softball is probably my favorite sport on this list. I go back and forth, but there is something about softball that I never knew I needed. I grew up watching baseball, so when I went to my first softball game I figured it would be about the same. I was wrong.

For starters, the stadium for softball is much, much smaller. This can seem like a bad thing (smaller crowd/less fan atmosphere), but really all that it means is that there are no bad seats. The view of the field is breathtaking as soon as you walk up the stairs and the concourse still has every variety of snack or drink you may need (Including nachos in a baseball, my favorite!).

As an outdoor sport, softball and baseball games both tend to end with stunning views of the Texas sunset. Both also use bubbles for celebrations and occasionally have fireworks. These games are more than just games, they’re events.

On to the actual play, because softball is so much smaller than baseball, a bunt or ground ball has a good shot of getting a runner to first unlike in baseball. For this reason, most softball games I have seen have been generally higher scoring, or at least have more people on base than baseball. The best part about this is that it completely changes the strategy of the game. A bunt, which is sacrificial in baseball, can be a legitimate, get-on-base play. The added layer of strategy and increased likelihood of making it on base keeps my mind engaged in a way I just can’t seem to muster for 9 innings in baseball. On that note, did I mention softball is just 7 innings? So, by the time you are cold, or tired, or hot, or your attention span is gone, the game is over… unlike baseball which, in my opinion, can tend to drag. Give softball a try and let me know what you think.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 5
TLDR; A classic outdoor contest, made more interesting by softball specific strategies and a reasonable game length.

Baseball

Ticket Price: $10
Location (distance from my house): Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, closest
Length of Event: A little over two and a half hours… but could be earlier depending on if we end early because of a run rule!
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Season: Fall/Spring (Scattered Fall Ball; February-May)

After gushing about softball, I turn my attention to baseball. All of what I said before about sunsets, bubbles, and vibes holds. What differentiates baseball from softball on the field is the number of innings and size of the stadium and field, which can be good or bad depending on your persuasion.

The biggest difference between baseball and softball, and what makes baseball stand out, is the fan atmosphere.

There is… the rifleman, ball five, the train, (lots of) bubbles, glass shattering noises, a nod to the coach, and heckling. So, so much heckling. Baseball has always been known for having a cult following, so baseball at TAMU is like a cult within a cult. If you are overwhelmed by hundreds of fans yelling in unison things that you may not understand, go to your first game with a rookie and let them show you the ropes, But if you think some fun walk up songs, a lot of suggestive joke telling, and, oh, yeah, some boys hitting a ball with a bat sounds like a good afternoon, then Aggie baseball has got all you need.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 4
TLDR; Always a good time at “America’s game”, definitely the cult-iest experience as a fan.

Football

Ticket Price: $50-100
Location (distance from my house): Kyle Field
Length of Event: Around three hours… even longer if there are a lot of penalties or injuries.
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Season: Fall (September-November)

There never has been and never will be enough words in the world to describe the experience of attending an Aggie football game. My first ever game, I video called my parents to show them the overwhelming mass of humanity decked out from head to toe in maroon. Families, college buddies, undergraduates, transfer students, reluctant Fish Camp groups, you name it and you’ll see it on a Saturday in Aggieland.

Outside of the stadium is where the fun begins with tailgates. Even though I don’t attend many football games anymore because of the price, I always hit up tailgates. Corporate tailgates and promotionals mean free sodas, energy drinks, nachos, chips, shirts, and bags at nearly every game. Though partying is not my style, there are plenty of private ragers happening too and just walking by the energy it is hard not to be both mildly concerned and incredibly impressed with the dedication that Texans have to the sport of college football.

Inside the stadium is just as massive as it looks from the outside. Seats on the first deck, second deck, third deck, or even the boxes, it does not matter where you go, I have been there. I attended every single game during my undergraduate and met my best friend there where we worked our way from third to first deck. In my graduate career I attended some games with a friend in the disability section where we sat instead of stood, and later on I transitioned to working as a suite attendant in the prettiest part of Kyle Field. While each view had something to offer, there is no better feeling than being in the student section doing yells in harmony with 100,000 of your closest friends. The atmosphere is electric and nobody does it like the Aggies do.

On the field, Aggie football is hit or miss, I hate to say. We have moments of brilliance and moments of bone headedness, all in the same play. My friend and I had a joke that we could never be good at offense and defense in the same season, and the joke stands pretty firm as far as I am concerned. Football is a beautiful sport, though, even with the mistakes. A forty yard pass or a quarterback sack always makes me smile and that is never going to change. Raised in a football family, my nostalgia knows no end.

If you have never been-- give Kyle a try. You might be surprised to find you like it more than you expected.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 4.5
TLDR; Football is a well-known and beloved sport; in Aggieland, its a day-long event and a sight to behold.

Volleyball

Ticket Price: $4
Location (distance from my house): Reed Arena, medium distance
Length of Event: Around an hour and a half if it ends in three sets, but closer to two plus hours if not!
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor
Season: Fall (August-November)

Let me start this by stating that I played volleyball when I was younger. I was an outside hitter and I absolutely loved it. The way I love and watch volleyball is very much shaped by the fact that I used to play. I shout things at the players as if I was on the court, with my loud “Out!” or “Cover!” making me feel like the true embodiment of the 12th man/woman/person.

Volleyball is my favorite fall sport and it holds much of the same appeal as basketball does in terms of atmosphere. Also held in Reed Arena, volleyball games provide a nice indoor ambiance of popcorn, free air conditioning, and a killer soundtrack. The music at volleyball games is top tier and because the sport stops and goes each play, there is plenty of time for the players and fans alike to jam along with whatever the DJ spins.

As for the game, volleyball is fast paced and athletic. Somewhat like tennis in its “back and forth” style, volleyball play is rhythmic and it can be easy to get caught up in the flow of bump, set, spike. The speed at which these athletes hit the ball in college is astounding and nothing makes me jump to my feet faster than a good block or killer spike. Volleyball is a game of the other team’s failures and so it can be fun as a fan to
pull for your team to simply outplay the other side, but also losses are especially demoralizing for the same reason.

We had a good season this past year with our new coach and I can’t wait to watch more in this upcoming year.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 5
TLDR; Action packed, but with lots of breaks for great music selections.

Soccer

Ticket Price: $4
Location (distance from my house): Ellis Field, pretty close
Length of Event: Ninety minutes plus twenty minute half. Most predictably timed game in sports.
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Season: Fall/Spring (August-November; Scattered spring play)

My technical knowledge of soccer before this year was non-existent. Now, it is very, very small. But that does not stop me from enjoying the games. I only missed one home soccer game this year, and soccer really surprised me by how much enjoyment it gave me each game.

Soccer is not fast paced, but it is non-stop. They don’t stop, ever. Not really for penalties, timeouts, strategy-- they just run, for 90 minutes. There is a stoppage in the middle for about 20 minutes, but that is it. This fact makes soccer one of the most consistent sports in terms of time required to attend a match.

Soccer is fun to watch not because it is high scoring, but because it always keeps you on the edge of your seat. Each point is hard-fought, so even just a game with a few shots on goal is interesting because each of those shots took excruciating minutes of build up to get to. Corner kicks are chaotic and goalies are some of the toughest players in sports. Aggie soccer is especially fun because we are really, really good. I saw one loss this
season and the rest were definitive wins, with confetti cannons for each score. Some folks like the bubbles at Olsen or Davis, but I think the confetti at Ellis is my favorite celebratory sports moment in Aggieland. Come to a soccer game knowing nothing about the rules and you’ll still have a good time-- confetti and all.

Rank (1 to 5 stars):4
TLDR; A sport with non-stop play, but not non-stop action. Keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for just one point.

Track and Field

Ticket Price: Free
Location (distance from my house): R.A. ‘Murray’ Fasken ‘38 Indoor/ E.B. Cushing Stadium Outdoor
Length of Event: TBH it seems like the whole day… but each event only takes a few minutes!
Indoor/Outdoor: Both
Season: Spring (January-May, depending on indoor/outdoor)

I did not get to attend many track and field events this year, so my ranking may improve as the season progresses. From first glance, what I can say is that there is never a dull moment at a track and field meet.

The only meet I attended was indoors and I spent a good ten minutes just ogling at the new stadium. It is MASSIVE-- and has so many things to look at. Sand pits and high jumps and tracks and pads on the wall so that sprinters can bounce into something rather than hurt themselves and sloped tracks fill the space. There were also tons of out- of-town fans there, with the event hosting multiple schools at once from as far away as Florida to as close as Baylor.

As far as what happens in the sport, well, I had a hard time focusing. There were so many simultaneous events and athletes just wandering around in the stands that my overactive brain had to leave pretty quick. I am excited to get to love track more, but first I need to learn what to watch out for (and how to figure out the timing of particular events) so that I can focus on the good stuff!

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 3.5
TLDR; A lot to watch at once, with new stadiums making for a cool, but overwhelming experience.

Swimming and Diving

Ticket Price: Free
Location (distance from my house): Natatorium inside the Rec Center, medium distance
Length of Event: TBH it seems like around three hours… but each event only takes a few minutes!
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor
Season: Fall/Spring (October-March, seems scattered)

Swimming and diving, like track and field, is something I am broadly unfamiliar with. I attended one swimming and diving meet this year and was overwhelmed by the number of things happening at once. Just like track and field, swimming and diving simultaneously had lap swims, high dives, board dives, and random chants happening at all moments. The natatorium itself is beautiful with the TAMU logo behind the divers, but inside was a bit muggy and warm. As a free sport inside the recreation center, you can bring in snacks and water, which is a nice change from the other clear bag policies and low tolerance for any outside food or beverages. Overall, I can’t say much about this sport other than I think it is just not my cup of tea. I should have guessed, as it was never of much interest to me on television, either. Kudos to the athletes, many of whom have been/go on to be Olympians, but I am not sure I can invest here as much as in other areas.

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 2
TLDR; A lot going on at once and you may have to understand the way it runs to have a good time (which I do not!).

Hockey

Ticket Price: $10
Location (distance from my house): Spirit Ice Arena, super far
Length of Event: Around two hours.
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor
Season: Fall (September-December… I think)

I had never been to a hockey game before in my life when I attended Texas A&M vs Baylor a few years ago. Hockey is not a sport that is NCAA officially sponsored by the university, but it is a part of the hockey subdivision and thus the players rock the maroon and white in a more formal way than one may traditionally think of when it comes to more “club” sports. Hockey is the most physical sport on this list in that players get smacked against the glass routinely in legal and illegal plays. Even more than football, these large men on very sharp skates fly around the ice hitting a very tiny puck. I found the whole thing exhilarating.

Akin to soccer, hockey does not stop, but there is also a lot of build up time for every play. The ice rink itself is fairly small so the action stays intense, but scores are hard fought and hard won. The puck itself can be hard to follow as it is so small, and seating was tight, but this sport is a must see for any Aggie sports fan!

Rank (1 to 5 stars): 4
TLDR; Not an official sport, but a great way to let off steam if you like watching physical sports.

Equestrian

Ticket Price: Free
Location (distance from my house): Hildebrand Equine Complex, really far
Length of Event: TBH it seems like the whole day… but I don't know!
Indoor/Outdoor: Both… I think
Season: Fall/Spring (October-March, seems highly spread out)

Being totally honest, I have no right to write about this sport. I have had students in my classes associated with the equestrian program, but other than that, I have no connection, tie, or understanding to this sport. That is not for lack of trying-- but it is for lack of parking! Even after emailing TAMU Parking Services, I found that the closest visitor parking is a fifteen minute walk away which I wouldn’t mind… if it wasn’t down the side of a dirt road with no sidewalk.

Equestrian looks very fun and I am pretty sure that it is like track and field in that there are multiple events at each meet. That’s as far as I can elaborate, but I vow to get there one day to be able to say more

Rank (1 to 5 stars): ???
TLDR; One of two on this list I have not attended. The crown jewel of my Aggie sports bucket list.

Men’s and Women’s Golf

Ticket Price: Free
Location (distance from my house): Traditions, very far
Length of Event: TBH it seems like the whole day… but I don't know!
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Season: Spring?

I forgot that golf was a sport until I started looking at the upcoming Aggie sports schedule. I have never played golf nor watched it live, but I have heard it can be fun to go out and follow.

Although golf was not my thing growing up, I do think I would like to get to a game to support the Aggies… plus, I think we’re pretty good! 

Rank (1 to 5 stars): ???
TLDR; One of two on this list I have not attended. Let’s see if I make it!

When all is said and done, there is not an Aggie sport I don’t love. And the best memories I have made are not in the plays themselves, but in the random conversations and connections with other fans who stop to tell me about their lives or relive old Ag’ memories.

Being a regular at any sporting event means being a part of a community, and there is no community I would rather be a part of than the Aggies.

Gig ‘em.