What are the main sports teams in Houston?

A franchise quarterback, new uniforms and a former great as head coach are just a few of the reasons Houston Texans fans are counting down the days until they open the 2024-25 season in Pittsburgh against the Steelers on August 9. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans have changed the culture of this team, things looked bleak just a few years ago. The team had only won a total of 11 games between 2022 and 2024 and had four different head coaches during that stretch. How bad was this sequence? Well, last year the team matched that combined win total with 10 regular season wins and one playoff victory. Now things are changing and it’s football time again in Houston. If that wasn’t enough, Andre Johnson will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year as the first Texas player ever.

Pro tip for game day: Arrive at NRG Stadium early on game days and stroll around one of the best tailgates in the South.

Most professional teams would do anything to make a run like the Astros did. They’ve played in four World Series, won two, and haven’t missed the American League Championship Series since 2016. Simply put, it’s the golden age of Astros baseball led by the greatest Astros of all time, José Altuve. Sure, the team got off to a slow start this year, but key players are returning from injury so they can compete in another deep playoff run. So, get all your Astros gear ready for another playoff run.

Pro tip for game day: Come hungry, because Minute Maid Park offers some of the best dining options in town with H-Town staples like Killen’s BBQ, El Tiempo, and Taqueria Arandas, to name a few.

Gone are the championship days of Hakeem and the resurgence years led by James Harden – now it’s all about rebuilding for the Houston Rockets. While Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün fill up the stat sheet, they don’t win many games. The team hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020, but things can change quickly in the NBA, especially when you have the third overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Maybe the Rockets trade for a proven superstar or go all-in on Şengün, but something needs to be done to rally the fans and return the team to its glory days.

Pro tip for game day: You don’t usually get a chance to experience history when you attend a sporting event, but I highly recommend fans eat at China Garden before the game. The oldest Chinese restaurant in the city is located across from the Toyota Center and is THE room for Houston celebrities before the game.

A soccer team in Houston would have been a huge win, but we have two here with the Houston Dynamo (playing in MLS) and the Houston Dash (playing in the NWSL). Summers in Houston are hot, but there is something so perfect about being outside and enjoying a Houston summer evening watching a Dynamo or Dash game while the sun sets over the skyline of the downtown. Football teams are known for their rowdy fan groups and the Dynamo and Dash are among the best in the country along with Bayou City Republic (Dash) and El Batallon Houston (Dynamo).

Pro tip for game day: Arrive early at EaDo and spend time at Pitch 25, owned by former Houston Dynamo and US Men’s National Team great Brian Ching. If you’re lucky, you’ll even be able to play a little soccer against him on the Pitch 25 indoor soccer field.

Rugby may not be the biggest sport in the United States, but it’s starting to gain traction here in Houston thanks to the Houston SaberCats. What is rugby, you ask? It’s a non-stop sport that takes the best elements of football and soccer, all without any protection for the players. It’s a blast look. Established in 2018, the SaberCats play in their own stadium just 15 minutes from downtown and offer some of the best value tickets for fans in the city. If you’ve never watched rugby, just fire up a tutorial on YouTube and head to the stadium ready to party while watching some big hits, because the SaberCats are one of the best teams in MLR this season.

Pro tip for game day: The SaberCats host many events before and after games, so check their schedule for concerts, fireworks, and player meet-and-greets.

Houston has one of the biggest and best mixed martial arts scenes in the country, so it’s no surprise that the UFC’s biggest promotion, Fury Fighting Championships, is based in H-Town. Since 2010, former fighter Eric Garcia has hosted MMA events in the city and became an official partner of the UFC with his Fury Fighting Championships brand. There’s nothing like watching MMA in person and it’s even better when the next generation of UFC stars fight right here in the city.

Pro tip for game day: Arrive early to get the most out of your ticket, as all cards feature preliminary fights before UFC Fight Pass airs. A bit of self-promotion here: I’m the play-by-play voice of Fury FC, so come say hello cageside before our broadcast!