Epic MarioKart Battle

Watch NBA superstar Stephen Curry play Mario Kart at an EaDo coffee shop

Coral Sword Hunter Pence Lexi Pence Stephen Curry

Steph Curry hung out with Hunter and Lexi Pence on Friday night.

How did Stephen Curry spend his Friday night in Houston? Did he stay out late partying at a club?

Of course not.

Rather, on January 19, the NBA superstar guard from the reigning champion Golden State Warriors dined with San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence and his wife Alexis at Uchi, then stopped by Coral Sword, the Eastside coffee shop and gaming den the Pences are opening with Blacksmith owners David Buehrer and Ecky Prabanto, for a spirited game of Mario Kart 8 on the Nintendo Switch.

Thankfully, Coral Sword streamed the hour-long session over its Twitch feed, so that those of who aren't world championship-winning professional athletes from the Bay Area could get in on some of the fun. Curry is a gamer, but he's ultimately bested by Pence, who does a little victory dance at the end.

Watch the video below for all the trash talking good times between the two athletes, Alexis, and barista Sanford Bledsoe. Here's hoping the gaming session drains enough of Curry's competitive juices that the Rockets are able to prevail in their prime time matchup with Curry's Warriors on Saturday night.

Watch Stephen Curry stops by Coral Sword! from CoralSword on www.twitch.tv

Curry promises to return if the Warriors face the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals, but he might be back in Houston even sooner than that. After all, his wife Ayesha is opening her barbecue-inspired restaurant International Smoke in CityCentre later this spring. He can't miss that, right?

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Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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