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    No Guilt Naming Rights

    Classy, not trashy: Three reasons to like BBVA Compass on the new Dynamo stadium

    Sarah Rufca
    Dec 14, 2011 | 4:25 pm
    • Rendering courtesy Houston Dynamo/BBVA Compass
    • Photo via HoustonDynamo.com
    • Photo via TransGriot

    "Dynamo Stadium" might have a certain ring to it, but these days any corporate sponsorship less clunky than the "Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas" has got to be taken as a victory.

    BBVA Compass has inked a 10-year, $20 million deal for sponsorship and naming rights to the new soccer stadium rising in EaDo, and frankly, it's a great fit. The new stadium will be called BBVA Compass Stadium.

    Not convinced it works? Here's why it does:

    1. European credibility

    BBVA Compass might be the specifically American branch of the global banking giant, but BBVA is based in Bilbao, Spain. It's a bit of a stretch to call it cool, but compared to the things I associate with other MLS stadium sponsors like Red Bull (frosted tips) and Pizza Hut (cardboard/obesity), BBVA having at least a tenuous connection to famous art museums and Basque wines makes it a winner.

    The kind of pretentious Europhiles who insist on calling soccer "football" (or "fútbol") won't be disappointed.

    2. An inside track to La Liga

    BBVA (again, the European branch, not BBVA Compass) also has a strategic sponsorship partnership with La Liga, Spain's professional soccer league. BBVA's association is so lucrative and so high-profile that the top tier of the league has officially been renamed the LigaBBVA through 2013.

    What does that mean for the Dynamo? Next to nothing. OK, absolutely nothing. Probably. But you never know.

    After all, Just naming Utah's MLS team Real Salt Lake earned the team an exhibition match with Real Madrid every two years and a lucrative partnership in a youth academy. That's just because Salt Lake copied their name.

    I'm not saying the bankers are going to be making deals to loan the Dynamo some Liga stars, but if they wanted to lend some out, wouldn't the Dynamo be an attractive, corporately symbiotic option? Maybe I'm just having a waking dream, but if it puts us one inch closer to Cristiano Ronaldo in a Dynamo uniform, that I am so for it.

    3. Not embarrassing

    You know what was no fun? Having "Enron Field" slathered all over Houston's lovely new baseball stadium 10 years ago. It was literally a monument to the corporate excess that led to the company's spectacular implosion and a reminder to all sports fans what city Enron called home.

    Bank of America and Citibank might have paid significantly more to put their names on stadiums in North Carolina and New York, respectively, but I'd rather have a sponsor that hasn't inspired any protests over TARP or debit card fees lately. BBVA and fellow Spanish bank Santander made news (and profits) through the recession by avoiding subprime exposure. That's the kind of reputation I want the namesake of H-Town's stadium to have.

    Plus, we're all just going to call it Dynamo Stadium anyway, aren't we?

    unspecified
    news/sports

    pucker up

    Growing pickleball franchise smashes into Houston with 2 locations

    Jef Rouner
    Apr 29, 2025 | 5:30 pm
    Two men play pickleball on a Picklr court.
    Photo courtesy of The Picklr
    A Picklr court campus similar to the ones soon to open in Houston.

    Pickleball is one of the hottest sports sweeping the nation, and one of the biggest names in the game is setting up two new facilities in Houston. Picklr is scheduled to open indoor sports campuses in Cypress and The Woodlands in the coming months.

    “Bringing a pickleball facility to Cypress will not only provide a fun and engaging recreational outlet for residents of all ages, but will also foster a sense of community and promote a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Steve Nguyen, owner of The Picklr Cypress.“This facility will serve as a vibrant hub for social interaction, skill development, and friendly/competitive competition, enhancing community bonds and offering a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.”

    Although the game is approximately 60 years old, pickleball saw a massive spike in popularity following the pandemic when people were looking for fun group activities with easy points of entry. Though a racket sport like tennis, it is far easier and slower thanks to using perforated balls, smaller courts, and lighter paddles. This means the game is open to players of all ages, and was originally most popular with retirees. Now, there are roughly 5 million players across America, with players under 24 making up the majority. Houston even has its own professional team, the Hammers (not the Texas Hammer; that's this guy).

    The court in Cypress will be located in the old ASI Gymnastics building at 8920 Barker Cypress. It's a relatively modest facility with only six courts including a practice court. By contrast, The Woodlands location will be much more opulent. At 66,517 square feet, it will have 20 courts, 4 private event spaces (one with an exclusive viewing area), as well as a shower, changing room, dry bar, and kitchenette. Picklr The Woodlands will be located at 16590 Interstate I-45 South.

    These locations are the first for Picklr in Houston. They have twelve locations all throughout Texas, including in Round Rock and McKinney, and many more nationwide. Picklr locations operate on a membership model similar to a gym. Memberships run $159 a month for adults and $89 for minors, with unlimited access to open play, league play, and tournaments , as well as four free clinics a month. Additional coaching is available.

    There is currently no set opening date for the two Houston-area Picklrs. Players interested in learning more may sign up for updates at ThePicklr.com.

    pickleballopenings
    news/sports

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