An International Event

Mayor Annise Parker reveals her rugby playing past while hyping up the newDynamo stadium

Italian General Consul Fabrizio Nava, USA Rugby coach Mike Tolkin, USA Rugby CEONigel Melville, Mayor Annise Parker, BBVA Compass Stadium general manager DougHall and Lone Star Sports & Entertainment director Heather Houston workedtogether to bring rugby to Houston.

Photo by Whitney Radley
The nearly-complete stadium will be able to accommodate soccer, football, rugbyand lacrosse.

Photo by Whitney Radley
In honor of the occasion, Melville presented Parker with an Eagles jersey.

Photo by Whitney Radley

"We built the stadium not just for soccer," said Mayor Annise Parker of the nearly-complete BBVA Compass Stadium. "We in Houston know how to put on first class sporting events."

Though a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the stadium is slated for May 1, less than two weeks before the inaugural Houston Dynamo game at the club's new home, a different sport caused a stir on Tuesday.

Caught up in the excitement of the moment, Parker admitted to knowing a bit about the sport from her days playing rugby on a Houston club team.

Amid the sounds of construction, a group of diplomats and Houston sports representatives, wearing orange safety vests and hard hats to match the newly-installed stadium seats, announced the first international sporting event hosted at the new stadium: A rugby match between the USA Eagles and the Italian national team on June 23.

Rugby is one of the fastest-growing team sports in the United States, according to Nigel Melville, USA Rugby CEO and president of rugby operations. Italian Consul General Fabrizio Nava echoed this statistic — the sport's popularity is also growing in Italy.

Mike Tolkin, the newly-hired USA head rugby coach, expressed excitement at playing such an important game at a brand new facility. "We want to make it one for [Italy] to remember — for the wrong reasons on their part."

Caught up in the moment, Parker admitted to knowing a bit about the sport from her days playing rugby on a Houston club team. It's a little bit of soccer and a little bit of football, she said — "What's not to like?"

Parker and the others expect the rugby match to be well attended and well supported by Houston sports enthusiasts. Tickets will be available on www.axs.com and www.bbvacompassstadium.com beginning March 12 at 10 a.m.

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hockey news

NHL taps Houston billionaire to launch new Texas hockey franchise

Photo by Morris Molina

Houston has been without a pro hockey team since the Aeros folded.

Hockey fans in either Houston or Austin may have a new opportunity to root for the home team. The NHL has committed to adding a 33rd team in the Lone Star State, according to multiple media reports.

As part of those plans, the NHL has reached an agreement with Pursuit Sports, an arm of the Houston-based Friedkin family. Per the agreement, the NHL has granted The Friedkin Family, led by Houston billionaire Dan Friedkin, the exclusive rights to own the future franchise. Pursuit Sports, the family’s company that owns three European soccer franchises, will evaluate both Houston and Austin as potential homes for the team.

The family issued the following statement about the NHL’s decision. It reads in part:

Each city brings unique attributes that would make a new team a huge success — both have the infrastructure, passionate fan bases, and economic strength needed to support a championship-caliber franchise for years to come.

We have wanted for some time to bring an NHL team to Texas, and we are excited that the process has now begun. Selecting a new market for an NHL franchise is a special and important responsibility, and we are grateful to the league for their faith in us and their support. Working with Commissioner Bettman and the NHL, we will undertake a principled, disciplined, and methodical process to ensure we find the right long-term home for this new franchise.

Houston has been without a professional hockey team since the Houston Aeros folded in 2013.

With a net worth of $11.4 billion, Dan Friedkin ranks No. 279 on the 2026 edition of the Forbes World’s Billionaires List. That’s good for Houston’s third richest resident, behind only Kinder Morgan chairman Richard Kinder (No. 232, $13 billion) and Landry’s owner Tilman Fertitta (No. 268, $11.7 billion).

His wealth primarily stems from his ownership of Gulf States Toyota, which has the exclusive rights to sell Toyota vehicles in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. The company sold more than $13 billion worth of Toyotas in 2025 alone, Forbes reports.

The Friedkin family launched Pursuit Sports last summer. It currently owns three European soccer clubs — A.S. Roma (Italian Serie A), A.S. Cannes (French Championnat National 2), and Everton F.C. (English Premier League).