• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Beyond The Boxscore

    Where the stars go: Sports celebs flock to new Dynamo stadium opener — yes,soccer is trending

    Chris Baldwin
    May 12, 2012 | 8:49 pm
    • Brad Davis scored the goal — then raced to celebrate with the Dynamo's mostloyal fans.
      Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • One of the greatest boxers ever? Check. Oscar De La Hoya was just one of thebig-time sports celebs in the house.
      Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Oliver Luck (blindingly bright orange jacket) and Peyton Manning successorAndrew Luck (orange shoes) also made the game.
      Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Brad Davis' determination could be seen on a day when the Houston Dynamo wouldnot be denied.
      Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • The orange helicopter flyover was a nice, different take on flyovers.
      Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • BBVA Compass Stadium is already the best sports arena in Houston.
      Houston Dynamo/Facebook
    • The Houston Dynamo's new stadium opener could not have gone much better for thehome team.
      Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • The Dynamo had a ton of chances before finally breaking through in the 67thminute.
      Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

    There is the quarterback who pushed out Peyton Manning, grinning from ear to ear like the soccer nerd he sort of is. J.J. Watt is in the house too, one of the NFL's emerging defensive superstars, the guy his coach is already comparing to Howie Long, dealing with the literal heat of being in the front row.

    One of the greatest boxers in history is in the building too.

    Someone jokes with Oliver Luck, the former NFL quarterback turned first Houston Dynamo president and general manager turned new-age Archie Manning, that Houston's MLS franchise will be able to boast that a future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback attended its first game at BBVA Compass Stadium. "You must be talking about Matt Schaub," Andrew Luck's father shoots back.

    Oh yes, the Houston Texans starting quarterback is also here. Who isn't?

     

      Soccer's not just arrived — it's kicking down the door and taking numbers (credit card numbers). 

    At a soccer game . . . The game, the event in all of Houston. On a day when the Art Car Parade rolls through H-Town, one of the most beautiful Saturdays we're likely to see in a long while (maybe till October), there is no doubt what's the toughest ticket in town. There is only one place to be, only one phrase that can cause envy, and it's "I'm at the Dynamo game."

    Soccer's not just arrived — it's kicking down the door and taking numbers (credit card numbers).

    The signs are all over BBVA Compass Stadium on the official opening day. The Dynamo beat D.C. United 1-0 on one of the most beautiful goals you'll ever see from Brad Davis — followed by a celebration for the ages. But this day goes far beyond that. It's a celebration of the possibilities in front of 22,039 — every one of whom is likely to tell at least 10 people how great it all is.

    Including Andrew Luck, Oscar De La Hoya, J.J. Watt and Matt Schaub — major American sports stars who truly wanted to be at the opening of the soccer team's new home.

    If you don't think that fact alone's huge for soccer in Houston, you're oblivious to the larger sports landscape. The Dynamo always held the hearts of dedicated pockets of soccer fanatics. But now, with this stadium, they're a hot ticket. Suddenly, it's cool to be a soccer fan in Houston.

    "This is really the first time that the kids who grew up playing soccer in the '80s and the '90s are old enough to bring their own kids to soccer games," Oliver Luck says. "They don't have to be convinced by their kids to go to a game. The parents want to go to the game themselves.

    "No one's saying that the NFL is quaking in its boots. But this is something for soccer."

    It's something for Houston too. Who would have ever thought that you'd have this type of big event feel in the East End? But there the people are, reaching Minute Maid Park and walking right on by, deeper into the city, right into something new.

    "I was just looking for the roar, " Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear says afterwards. "The roar from the first goal."

     The Perfect Moment

    Everyone waits for it. For no short while.

    The Dynamo put plenty of pressure on in the first half, but that first BBVA Compass goal proves elusive. Never more so than when Je-Vaughn Watson sends a perfect chance in the box screaming high over the net in first-half stoppage time.

    D.C. United goalie Bill Hamid — who lost his starting job earlier this season — is rising to the occasion as well, making those eager Dynamo all the more anxious.

     

      "No one's saying that the NFL is quaking in its boots," Oliver Luck says. "But this is something for soccer." 

    But when it happens in the 67th minute . . . what a beauty. In a flash. It almost comes out of nowhere, with Davis turning and firing from a good 10 yards outside of the box, arching a shot over Hamid, from a seemingly impossible angle.

    Suddenly, it's in the back of the net — and the roar of roars is filling the stadium that puts the fans so close to scream.

    "What a great first goal," Dynamo goalie Tally Hall says later in the locker room, shaking his head at the skill from Davis, one of the two original Dynamo left.

    After scoring, Davis almost seems to wait for Brian Ching — the other original, the man who seems to have scored every other milestone goal in Dynamo history — to catch up, before leaping over the first waist-high barrier that separates the field from the stands. Davis and Ching almost take the two steps across concrete to reach the Dynamo's supporters section and another short barrier, together. Davis and Ching will get in there with their people, the loudest of the fanatics who did their best to make ancient, football-built Robertson Stadium seem like a proper home for all those years.

    Call it the Dynamo's version of the Lambeau Leap — the Dynamo Dive.

    It seems like Davis and Ching have planned this celebration (though both men later deny that). "You don't plan for something like that," Ching says. "At least we don't."

    When you've waited six years for a home of your own, you do have some time to imagine though.

    If there's a better way to open a stadium, I'd like to see it.

    "I would have been happy if the ref headed (a goal) in for us," Kinnear jokes. He's a coach. He deals in practicalities. A coach just wants the win. History demands a little more though. And these Dynamo seem to sense that.

    "We've been waiting for this day for a long time," Davis says. "A lot of people in this city have . . . I just wanted to soak up the moment."

    The Dynamo do it by seizing the sun-kissed day.

    It's a 20 to 4 advantage for the Dynamo in shots. Houston simply overwhelms a team ahead of it in the standings. In truth, this easily could be a 3-0 game. Ching misses three prime chances inside the box himself. On the last, he crumbles into the new grass, still quite not believing.

    "I was a little off today," Ching laughs later. Who could blame him with so much on?

     The Party

    As "This is Home" played over the stadium speakers, seemingly every politician in Houston gets introduced. The unveiling of the 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup Championship banners on the overhang high over one of the goals is nice (even if getting the black covering off is harder than anyone anticipated). But the real thrill of the pregame comes in the unconventional fly over of high-speed orange helicopters rather than fighter jets.

    Helicopters can get a lot closer than jets — fitting for a stadium that doesn't believe in keeping the fans at a distance.

     

      Some of the concession stands hand out samples, like you're shopping at Central Market rather than deciding whether to spend $8 on a barbecue sandwich or on taco nachos. 

    The Dynamo's new stadium is not dominated by a scoreboard (a la Cowboys Stadium). It's not dominated by quirks (a la the hill in center field, or the home run train at Minute Maid Park). It's dominated by the action on the field.

    That's where everything is focused. It's all about providing the best view of what's happening on the field — whether you're in one of the suites only nine rows from the playing surface or at the very top of the place in section 214, Row T.

    The wild storm that turned Friday night into a lightning show — and put many Dynamo executives on edge — is long gone by the time the stadium opens. Even Houston's unpredictable weather cedes to the big day.

    Little first-class touches abound. Some of the concession stands hand out samples, like you're shopping at Central Market rather than deciding whether to spend $8 on a barbecue sandwich or on taco nachos. Smiles are the order of the day as The Compass seems determined to become the friendliest arena in Texas.

     Watt — the Houston Texans emerging star — is sitting in the front row, soaking it all up. De La Hoya — the boxing great turned Dynamo minority owner — is in the house as well. You could do a lot worse for celebrity rows.

    Fourteen of the 19 teams in Major League Soccer have their own soccer-specific stadium now, but the Dynamo's is the only one that's part of a city. On day one, a good dozen fans mention to me how they're surprised by how close the place is to Minute Maid Park. Another part of Houston is opening up for many — an area they'd never have even thought of walking toward before.

    New season ticket holders Stephanie Fulton and Liz Brackeen plan to ride their bikes to most games. Soccer in America tends to draw these types of eco commuters more than other sports. To be a soccer fanatic in a land that worships the other football, you almost have to look at things a little differently.

    It turns out this stadium may make people look at Houston a little differently too.

    "To me, the most important thing is where this stadium is," Luck says, his blindingly bright orange jacket showing just how much he still bleeds for this franchise. "It means everything that it's right by Minute Maid, that you can see the skyscrapers of downtown from here, with the energy companies and the law firms nearby."

    Suddenly, it's the place to be — a soccer stadium in the East End. That's where the celebs from other sports want to roam. Talk about a farfetched dream come true.

    "Coolest day ever," 10-year-old Houston native Angelina Martinez says, echoing the thoughts of many of the Dynamo pros.

    Soccer's more than trending. Who knows what can happen now?

    unspecified
    news/sports

    16,000 amateur athletes coming to Houston for Junior Olympic Games

    Jef Rouner
    Jun 30, 2025 | 9:45 am
    A boy in a gi breaks a stack of boards in a sports arena
    Photo courtesy of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)
    Taekwondo is just one of the events showcased at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games

    The finest young athletes in the nation will be heading to Houston for 12 days of intense competition as the city hosts the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games for the fourth time.

    “We’re very excited to once again welcome the country’s best competitors and their families to Houston for the 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games,” Harris County - Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) CEO Ryan Walsh said in a statement. “The AAU has a long history of producing some of the most renowned athletes in the country, and we look forward to seeing the next generation of talent compete in this year’s events. It’s an honor to bring the AAU Junior Olympic Games back to our city.”

    Competition will take place July 22 - August 2.

    Founded in 1888, the AAU is the largest nonprofit youth multi-sports organization in the United States, and its Junior Olympic Games is the largest multi-sport youth event, featuring 16,000 athletes in this year's games. Previously, it was the primary feeder program for the International Olympic Games, and to this day many Olympic luminaries are AAU alumni. These include Houston's own gymnast Simone Biles, Dallas track star Sha’Carri Richardson, swimmer Katie Ledecky, and beach volleyball player Sara Hughes.

    The schedule for the AAU Junior Olympics is as follows..

    • Swimming: Tuesday, July 22 - Sunday, July 27 at the Cy-Fair Natatorium
    • Indoor Sports: Wednesday, July 23 - Wednesday, July 30 at the George R. Brown Convention Center
      • Baton Twirling, Dance, Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Jump Rope, Karate, Taekwondo, Trampoline & Tumbling, Sports Stacking and Wrestling
    • Flag Football: Thursday, July 24 - Sunday, July 27 at Rice Stadium
    • Track & Field/Multi-Events: Saturday, July 26 - Saturday, August 2 at Turner Stadium
    • Field Hockey: Monday, July 28 - Thursday, July 31 at Episcopal High School
    One notable aspect of Houston hosting is that the city is on track to be the second-most used home for the games. With Houston slated to also host in 2027 and 2031, the Bayou City will trail only Des Moines, IA.

    “We are so excited to bring our premier event back to Houston,” AAU President Jo Mirza said. “The AAU Junior Olympic Games bring together athletes from all corners of the country and all walks of life to showcase their skills on a national stage. Harris County Houston Sports Authority has been an invaluable partner in helping us create such a successful event for these athletes and attendees.”

    Tickets and more information can be found at HoustonSports.org.

    news/sports

    most read posts

    Exclusive: New cocktail bar from Houston hospitality stars coming to the Heights

    Growing burger chain slides into first Houston location

    Houston declines on list of best places for celebrating July 4th

    Loading...