players only

Houston Texans announce no fans for season opener in NRG Stadium

Deshaun Watson JJ Watt celebrating towels

Texans fans will have to wait to cheer on Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt in person.

Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Houston Texans fans raring to don their battle blues and scream for Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, and company in NRG Stadium on September 20 will have to wait. The team announced that the stadium will not admit fans for the Texans first home game of the 2020 regular season scheduled for Sunday, September 20 vs. the Baltimore Ravens.

“We have made the difficult decision to not host fans at NRG Stadium in the month of September as we are committed to protecting the health and safety of our fans during these challenging times,” Texans president, Jamey Rootes, said in a statement. “Our fans provide the best homefield advantage in the NFL and we remain hopeful for their return to NRG Stadium once it is safe to do so.”

Season ticket holders, take note: The team reports that if the Texans host fans at home games at a later date, season ticket members who made the decision to opt-in for the 2020 season will receive instructions about the ticket-purchasing process at that time.

The Texans note that having no preseason games (a time where fans can get a glimpse of superstars and budding draft picks) will allow the organization to focus on game operations while continuing to refine the safety and operational protocols required to host fans at NRG Stadium.

Just when fans will be able to attend other home games later in the season will depend on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in the greater Houston area, which is currently at the highest threat level red — the highest — the team says.

In a statement, the team adds that it will continue to monitor a “variety of metrics and other factors in consultation with local medical and public health officials with the safety and wellbeing of our fans, players, coaches, staff, other personnel and the Houston community as our highest priority.”

On March 20, the Texans traded star wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins (considered by many to be the best in the game) and a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round pick. The trade was widely mocked and lambasted by media members, experts, and players.

Time will tell when fans will get to see the new-look Texans in-person, and if head coach Bill O’Brien’s offseason tinkering will pay off.

sports houston-texans

chill out

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.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Houston Astros (@astros)

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.”

houston astros daikin park business