The Rice University football team will return to Rice Stadium for the first time in two weeks to take on the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers in the team’s first home conference game of the season Sept. 28.
Many parents and family members of Rice students will be present to cheer on the Owls as they conclude their weekend of festivities during Families Weekend.
Each fall, Rice invites community members to campus for a taste of life at a university during Families Weekend — an opportunity to spend time with their loved ones, learn a bit more about daily life at the university and get to know other Rice parents and family members.
This year, there are over 2,500 registrants, with nearly half being from outside of Texas — a first for Families Weekend.
"It’s been an exciting adventure to expand our work with alumni engagement to include parent and family engagement, and a very big special thanks is owed to Emily Wolfe, assistant director of Alumni Engagement, for spearheading Families Weekend 2024," said James Hurley, associate vice president of Alumni Relations.
"In partnership with offices across campus, the Office of Alumni Relations is thrilled to produce Families Weekend with 10 'core' events for parents and families, as well as more than 25 'elective' events across the weekend. All sessions will provide guests a snapshot of the student experience and an opportunity to hear from university leaders."
Attendees are invited to campus to participate in a bevy of events, including a campus fair, a leadership symposium at Rice’s stunning opera hall, a luncheon at their students’ residential college, a teaching excellence showcase and more. The weekend is capped off with a pregame tailgate experience before Rice’s matchup with Charlotte at Rice Stadium.
Saturday’s game will be the sixth meeting between Rice and Charlotte with Rice leading the series 3-2. The schools have split the first two meetings at Rice Stadium with the Owls winning the first game of the series in 2015 and the 49ers the most recent game in Houston in 2022.
“My biggest message to the team this week is going 1-0 and not worrying about anything else,” said Mike Bloomgren, Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach, during a Tuesday press conference. “We’ve got to find a way to beat this very talented Charlotte team here at Rice Stadium this weekend, and we need all our fans to come out and help us be loud at the Owl Walk and be loud for every snap during the game.”
Tickets are available starting at $22 through TicketMaster or by calling 713-348-OWLS (6957). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.