Playoff Game Thursday Night

Never be satisfied: Dynamo organizational mantra has the club chasing anotherchampionship

Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Head coach Dominic Kinnear, forward Brian Ching and midfielder Brad Davis areconfident about Thursday's playoff game.
Photo by Whitney Radley

The Houston Dynamo didn't just beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1 in the first game of the MLS Eastern Conference Semifinals. They overcome a sold-out, 18,000 Philly-fan-strong road crowd.

That sets up the second and final game in aggregate-goal series — this time back on the Robertson Stadium home turf — this Thursday night. The team with the most combined goals after Thursday will advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

But for the Dynamo, this journey began with the disappointment of last year's 9-15-6 season.

Houston's professional soccer team is a two-time MLS Cup winner, but after a playoff-less 2010, president Chris Canetti and head coach Dominic Kinnear knew that changes needed to be made. They overhauled the roster in the offseason, turning the Dynamo into one of the younger teams in the MLS, and they kept tinkering throughout this season, being unafraid of trades.

"When those [new] players settled in . . . It made a more complete team, and I think that the results have shown that," Kinnear said Tuesday.

The team has seen ups and downs throughout the 2011 season, but the players are finally "gelling" on and off of the field, according to Kinnear.

"We wanted some momentum going into the brand new stadium (next season)," Canetti said. He admits that he and Kinnear are never satisfied, and are always looking for ways to improve the team. "But whatever happens on Thursday. . . we're really proud of what we've accomplished this year."

One goal in the lead, Kinnear is confident, but he admits, "Nothing's guaranteed here, because Philadelphia is still a good team . . . They want to advance as well."

The Dynamo and the City of Houston will hold a pre-playoff rally at the City Hall Farmers Market, on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Mayor Annise Parker, Canetti, the team's Dynamo Diesel mascot and the Dynamo Girls are all set to attend the high-energy send off where some free Dynamo merchandise will be given away.

Tickets for Thursday's game are still available online.

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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.

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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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