Bravos leave Valley View quietly

During its first year of existence, Rio Grande Valley Bravos FC did little quietly. Almost any piece of news was delivered by a showy news conference, often accompanied by other small spectacles.

Their departure from Hidalgo’s Valley View Tiger Stadium to the Brownsville Sports Park on Thursday was slightly more inconspicuous.

Though their arrival was punctuated by the customary news conference in Brownsville, the end of the Bravos’ time at Valley View sounded like a surprise to some in the Upper Valley. When asked his reaction to the Bravos’ move, Valley View athletic director/head football coach Tracey Hamilton said he hadn’t heard about it.

“They told us they’re playing at our place,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton, though, had good reason for not knowing about the end of the Bravos’ time at Valley View. When reached Thursday afternoon, new Bravos owner, president and general manager Kru Kayan Sitsanthaparn said he hadn’t yet notified school officials that his team wasn’t playing at Valley View, despite having already held a news conference to announce the move.

“Well, actually I have to do that (Thursday), and everybody else that expressed interest,” Sitsanthaparn said. “We just made that announcement (Thursday) and now it’s my task to let everybody know that, ‘Hey guys, all bets are off now and we’re going to move forward with our schedule.’”

While the Bravos’ move to Brownsville isn’t necessarily surprising because of the city’s passion for soccer and plans to build a 5,000-seat facility at the Sports Park, it did come about quickly. Sitsanthaparn said the team began looking for a new home shortly after their open tryouts completed on March 21 and that the team and school didn’t have a contract for the coming season.

Officials from San Juan, Mercedes and Brownsville courted the Bravos along with Valley View. Sitsanthaparn said that Valley View wanted the Bravos back at the same terms as last year, which the team declined.

“We certainly gave them an opportunity to be competitive,” said Sitsanthaparn, who added that he told Valley View the Bravos had other offers. “Unfortunately we didn’t get anything other than what was presented by them.”

Valley View principal Rolando Ramirez could not be reached for comment.

Brian Sandalow covers sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.