The U.S. city of Houston and its metropolitan area have a rich sporting culture and the area residents are active in many spectator and participant sports. Spectators attend events including teams from five major professional sports leagues and collegiate sports. Participants enjoy activities from running in Memorial Park to sailing on Galveston Bay and Clear Lake. Several other sports are also available, including nearly a dozen fencing clubs, ranging from recreational clubs to elite competitive organizations.
Major league sports Houston has six professional major league teams: the Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Texans (NFL), Houston Rockets (NBA), Houston Dynamo FC (MLS), Houston Comets in 2027 and Houston Dash (NWSL). Houston does not have an NHL team.
The Astros have won two World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. In 2006, the Dynamo won the MLS Cup in their first year after moving from San Jose, California, and in 2007 became the first MLS franchise since 1997 to repeat a championship. Meanwhile, the Rockets similarly obtained two championships, winning back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.
Daikin Park (home of the Astros) and Toyota Center (home of the Rockets) are located in Downtown Houston—contributing to an urban renaissance that has transformed Houston's centre into a day-and-night destination. Also, the city has the first domed stadium in the United States, now known as the Reliant Astrodome, and also holds the NFL's first retractable roof stadium—Reliant Stadium. Other facilities for major league teams in Houston include Shell Energy Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium.
+Professional major league teams Club League Sport Venue Founded Titles Attendance Houston Texans NFL Football Reliant Stadium 2002 0 71,644 Houston Astros MLB Baseball Daikin Park 1962 2 (2017, 2022) 41,168 Houston Dynamo FC MLS Soccer Shell Energy Stadium 2006 2 (2006, 2007) 20,117 Houston Dash NWSL Soccer Shell Energy Stadium 2014 0 7,000 Houston Rockets NBA Basketball Toyota Center 1967 2 (1994, 1995) 18,104 Houston Comets (2027) Houston Comets 1.0 (1997-2008) WNBA Basketball Toyota Center (2027(upcoming)-present) Compaq Center (1997-2008) 1997 and 2027 4 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) 12,000 Houston Rig Hands BIG3 Basketball Toyota Center 2024 0 None LOVB Houston LOVB Pro Volleyball Fort Bend Epicenter 2023 0 2,000
Other sports Club League Sport Venue Founded TitlesBayou Warriors UBA Basketball 2012 0 Houston Bounty Hunters NDL Dodgeball 2009 0 Houston Energy WFA Women's football Pearland Stadium 2000 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2018)Houston FC USL2 Soccer San Jacinto College 2017 0 Houston Hornets USARL Rugby league 2011 0 Houston Lonestars USAFL Australian rules football 2005 0Houston Mud Turtles USAU Ultimate Frisbee 2016 0 Houston Roller Derby WFTDA Roller derby Bayou Music Center 2005 0 Houston Sparks WBCBL Women's basketball 2013 0 Houston Spirit UBL Basketball 2008 0 Houston Venom MLRH In-line hockey 2013 0 Houston Warriors UBA Basketball 2010 0 Houston Xperience ABA Basketball Lone Star College-Kingwood 2011 0 Sugar Land Space Cowboys PCL Baseball Constellation Field 2010 4 (2016, 2018, 2020, 2024)Houston Legends MLQ Quidditch (real-life sport) 2016 0Houston APL APL American football Rice Stadium 2018 0Houston Stampede WFLA Women's American football 2020 0Houston Hurricanes NGFFL Flag football 2010 0 AHFC Royals USL2 Soccer British International School of Houston 2017 0 Houston Hurricanes MiLC Cricket Prairie View Cricket Complex 2020 0 AC Houston Sur USL2 Soccer 2021 0 Houston Havoc UFA Ultimate SaberCats Stadium 2022 0 Lone Star Athletics MiLC Cricket Moosa Stadium 2020 0 Houston Dynamo 2 MLSNP Soccer SaberCats Stadium 2021 0 Houston Power AWFL Women's American football 2010 0 Houston Doom AWFL Women's American football 2023 1 (2025) Houston Bandits AWFL Women's American football 2026 0 Houston Bulls NAHL Ice hockey Deep South Ice & Sports Center 2026 0 Houston Volts PPL Padel (sport) 2023 0 Houston FirehawksUSA Team Handball NationalsHandball Crossover Atheltics 2004 0 Houston Hitmen TBL Boxing 2023 0 Houston Wranglers PGF Grappling 2026 0 Houston Bandits UGL Bodybuilding 2024 0 Houston Falcons AIF Indoor football 2026 0
Former teams
Houston was home to the now-defunct WNBA Comets from 1997 to 2008. The Comets won four consecutive WNBA Championships, which is still the most championships of any sports team in Houston, and the biggest title streak in Texas.
The AFL/NFL Oilers called Houston home from 1960 to 1997 before the team moved to Tennessee and became the Titans. The Oilers also provided the city with two AFL championships in 1960 and 1961, before the merger with the NFL.
The Houston Aeros of the International Hockey League and the American Hockey League existed in Houston from 1994 until 2013 when they were moved to become the Iowa Wild. They won the Turner Cup (IHL) in 1999 and the Calder Cup (AHL) in 2003.
The Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association played in Houston from 1972 to 1978 until the WHA dissolved. They won the Avco World Trophy as champions of the WHA in 1974 and 1975.
Houston has three teams in World TeamTennis: The E-Z Riders in 1974, the Astro-Knots in 1982 and 1983, and the Wranglers from 2005 to 2007.
College sports
Four NCAA Division I college athletic programs play within the city of Houston, with the University of Houston as the sole member of a Power Four conference. A fifth, Prairie View A&M University, is located in the metropolitan area. A new venue, TDECU Stadium, opened in 2014 on the University of Houston campus at the former site of Robertson Stadium. Other college sports facilities in Houston include the Fertitta Center and First Community Stadium.
+ NCAA Division I programs School Nickname Major venues Conference University of Houston Cougars TDECU Stadium, Fertitta Center Big 12 (FBS) Rice University Owls First Community Stadium, Tudor Fieldhouse American (FBS) Houston Christian University Huskies Husky Stadium, Sharp Gymnasium Southland (FCS) Texas Southern University Tigers Health and Physical Education Arena SWAC (FCS) Prairie View A&M University(in Prairie View) Panthers Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field, William Nicks Building SWAC (FCS)
Annual events Houston hosts annual sporting events such as the PGA Tour's Houston Open, the college football Texas Bowl, and college baseball's Houston College Classic. Since 1971, Houston's two NCAA Division I FBS football teams, the Rice Owls and Houston Cougars, have faced off in the annual Bayou Bucket Classic. Since 1985, the Texas Southern Tigers and Prairie View A&M Panthers compete in the annual Labor Day Classic.
Every June since 2012, the U.S. national rugby team has played an international match against a top European team at BBVA Stadium, breaking attendance records for rugby matches in the U.S. The U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, an ATP World Tour 250 series tournament, has been held in Houston since 2001.
From 1998 to 2001, the CART World Series held the Grand Prix of Houston auto race on downtown streets. CART's successor series, Champ Car, revived the race for 2006 and 2007 on the streets surrounding Reliant Park. The race was discontinued again in 2008, following Champ Car's merger with the rival IndyCar Series. The Grand Prix of Houston returned for the 2013 season. In motorcycling, the Astrodome hosted an AMA Supercross Championship round from 1974 to 2003 and Reliant Stadium since 2003.
Several annual sporting events are no longer held in Houston. The Virginia Slims of Houston was a women's tennis tournament held from 1970 to 1995 as part of the WTA Tour. The final official event of the LPGA golf season, the LPGA Tour Championship, was held in Houston in 2009 but moved to Orlando, Florida in 2010.
Event Month Sport Venue Established Houston Marathon January Running Convention Center and streets of Houston 1972 Houston College Classic February Baseball Minute Maid Park 2001 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo February / March Rodeo NRG Park 1932 Houston Open March Golf Golf Club of Houston 1946 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships April Tennis River Oaks Country Club 2001 U.S. International Rugby Match June Rugby Shell Energy Stadium 2012 Texas Bowl December Football Reliant Stadium 2006 Bayou Bucket Classic Varies Football Rice Stadium, TDECU Stadium, or Reliant Stadium 1971 SWAC Championship Game December Football Reliant Stadium 2013 SWAC Basketball Tournament March Basketball Toyota Center 2013
Other major events
In addition to the events listed below, Houston hosted the Masters Grand Prix in 1976 and the Tennis Masters Cup in 2003 and 2004. Houston hosted multiple matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Event Host Sport Venue Date UFC 69: Shootout UFC Mixed martial arts Toyota Center April 7, 2007 Wrestlemania X-Seven WWE Professional wrestling Astrodome April 1, 2001 Wrestlemania XXV WWE Professional wrestling Reliant Stadium April 5, 2009 Super Bowl VIII NFL Football Rice Stadium January 13, 1974 Super Bowl XXXVIII NFL Football Reliant Stadium February 1, 2004 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer Reliant Stadium July 13 and 17, 2005 2005 World Series MLB Baseball Minute Maid Park October 2005 1968 MLB All-Star Game MLB Baseball Astrodome July 9, 1968 1986 MLB All-Star Game MLB Baseball Astrodome July 15, 1986 2004 MLB All-Star Game MLB Baseball Minute Maid Park July 13, 2004 2006 NBA All-Star Game NBA Basketball Toyota Center February 19, 2006 1971 NCAA Men's Final Four NCAA Basketball Astrodome March 25 and 27, 1971 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer Reliant Stadium June 13 and 17, 2007 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer Reliant Stadium July 9, 2009 2010 MLS All-Star Game MLS Soccer Reliant Stadium July 28, 2010 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer Reliant Stadium June 22, 2011 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four NCAA Basketball Reliant Stadium April 2 and 4, 2011 Big 12 Championship Game Big 12 Football Reliant Stadium December 2002 and 2005 2013 USA Women's Sevens IRB Rugby sevens BBVA Compass Stadium February 1–2, 2013 2013 NBA All-Star Game NBA Basketball Toyota Center February 17, 2013 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer BBVA Compass Stadium July 15, 2013 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer BBVA Compass Stadium July 11, 2015 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four NCAA Basketball NRG Stadium April 2 and 4, 2016 Copa América Centenario CONMEBOLSoccerNRG StadiumJune 11,13, and 21, 2016 Super Bowl LI NFL Football NRG Stadium February 5, 2017 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer BBVA Compass Stadium July 11, 2017 2017 World Series MLB Baseball Minute Maid Park October 2017 2018 U.S. Open Cup FinalUSSFSoccerBBVA Compass StadiumSeptember 26, 2018 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer BBVA Stadium and NRG Stadium June 21 and 29, 2019 2019 World SeriesMLBBaseballMinute Maid ParkOctober 2019 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer BBVA Stadium and NRG Stadium July 13, 17, 20 and 29, 2021 2021 World SeriesMLBBaseballMinute Maid ParkOctober/November 2021 2022 World SeriesMLBBaseballMinute Maid ParkOctober/November 2022 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four NCAA Basketball NRG Stadium April 1 and 3, 2023 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium June 25, and July 1, and 4, 2023 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship NCAA Football NRG Stadium January 8, 2024 2024 Copa América CONMEBOL Soccer NRG Stadium June 22, 24, and July 4, 2024 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Soccer NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium June 14–July 6, 2025 2026 World Baseball Classic WBSC Baseball Daikin Park March 5–17, 2026 2026 FIFA World Cup FIFA Soccer NRG Stadium June 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29 and July 4, 2026
Intramural sports