TravelingHouston

SPTTOP 10NIGHT FLIGHTCHECKED SEPTEMBER 2026

SportsClutch City

A ballpark with a train on the wall, a rodeo that fills a football stadium, and fans who have earned the nickname. Ten ways to watch Houston compete.

  1. 01Houston Astros at Daikin ParkDowntown (East side)
  2. 02Houston Texans at Reliant StadiumReliant Park (South Main / Astrodome area)
  3. 03Houston Rockets at Toyota CenterDowntown (East side)
  4. 04Houston Livestock Show and RodeoReliant Park
  5. 05Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash at Shell Energy StadiumEast Downtown (EaDo)
  6. 06Houston Cougars Football at TDECU StadiumThird Ward (University of Houston)
  7. 07Chevron Houston MarathonDowntown start and finish (George R. Brown Convention Center)
  8. 08Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial ParkMemorial Park
  9. 09Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Constellation FieldSugar Land
  10. 10The AstrodomeReliant Park

INTERACTIVESPT

Batter Up

Wait for the pitch. Click or press space to swing. Put one in the Crawford Boxes and the train runs.

Batter Up: Wait for the pitch. Click or press space to swing. Put one in the Crawford Boxes and the train runs.

01 / 10Downtown (East side)Downtown

Houston Astros at Daikin Park

Home runs, a train and the Crawford Boxes

The Astros' downtown ballpark, renamed Daikin Park in 2025, where a vintage-style train rolls along the left field wall after every home run.

The ballpark opened in 2000 as Enron Field, spent more than two decades as Minute Maid Park, and became Daikin Park on January 1, 2025. It wraps around Houston's old Union Station, built in 1911, and its retractable roof keeps summer games cool. Two quirks make it special. The Crawford Boxes in left field sit just 315 feet from home plate, so fly balls turn into souvenirs, and a replica locomotive runs along 800 feet of track above left field whenever the Astros hit a home run or win. The club won World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. The 2027 season opens at home against the Texas Rangers on March 25, 2027.

What to expect

  • Gates open two hours before first pitch, and the whole ballpark is open from then.
  • No backpacks or bags over 16 x 16 x 8 inches, and every bag is checked at the gate.
  • Tickets are mobile only in the MLB Ballpark app, and there is no re-entry.
  • The ballpark is cashless; reverse ATMs on the concourses turn cash into a card.
  • Rideshare pickup is just outside the center field gate on Crawford Street.

Do this

  1. Watch the train run after an Astros home run
  2. Sit in the Crawford Boxes with a glove
  3. Walk through the old Union Station lobby
  4. Opening Day, March 25, 2027, vs. the Rangers

The momentWorld Series, Game 6November 5, 2022

Down 1-0 in the sixth, Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer about 450 feet to center off the Phillies’ José Alvarado, and the Astros won 4-1 to clinch the 2022 World Series at home.

Plays the official MLB video from YouTube when you press play.

Price
Ticketed; prices vary by game
Hours
Game days; gates open before first pitch
  • 2000Opened
  • January 1, 2025Renamed Daikin Park
  • 315 feetLeft field (Crawford Boxes)
  • March 25, 2027, vs. Texas Rangers2027 Opening Day
Directions Official site Full field notes

02 / 10Reliant Park (South Main / Astrodome area)5.8 mi from downtown

Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium

Sunday tailgates at the old name, back again

The Texans' retractable-roof home, called NRG Stadium from 2014 until August 2026, when it went back to its original name for the team's 25th season.

The stadium opened in 2002 as Reliant Stadium, became NRG Stadium in 2014, hosted FIFA World Cup matches as Houston Stadium in summer 2026, and returned to the Reliant name in August 2026 for the Texans' 25th season. Game day is a Houston ritual: the parking lots of Reliant Park fill with barbecue pits, tents and music hours before kickoff, and the tailgate is half the reason to go. Remaining 2026 home games are Dallas (Oct 4), the New York Giants (Oct 25), Indianapolis on a Thursday night (Nov 19), Baltimore (Nov 29), Jacksonville (Dec 20) and Tennessee to close the regular season, with the date and time still to be set by the NFL.

What to expect

  • Bags must be clear and under 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a clutch about 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
  • Main gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, and everyone goes through screening.
  • To get onto the lots on game day you need a game ticket or a separate tailgate ticket.
  • Everything inside is cashless, and there is no re-entry once your ticket is scanned.
  • METRORail runs for every home game; rideshare uses Yellow Lot 35 off Main Street.

Do this

  1. Tailgate in the Reliant Park lots
  2. The Cowboys game on Oct 4 for the in-state rivalry
  3. A look at the Astrodome next door
Price
Ticketed; prices vary by game
Hours
Game days
  • 2002Opened
  • Reliant Stadium (2002), NRG Stadium (2014), Reliant Stadium again (August 2026)Name history
  • 8 home games; season opened at home vs. Buffalo Sep 132026 home schedule
Directions Official site Full field notes

03 / 10Downtown (East side)Downtown

Houston Rockets at Toyota Center

Clutch City basketball in the heart of downtown

The Rockets' downtown arena, a short walk from Discovery Green and the convention center.

Toyota Center has been home to the Rockets since it opened in October 2003, and a winter night here is one of the easiest big-league experiences in Houston. The franchise that won back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995 opens the 2026 to 2027 season at home on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, against the Dallas Mavericks, with Emirates NBA Cup home games against Utah (Nov 13) and Phoenix (Nov 25). The arena sits in the middle of the downtown action, so it is simple to pair a game with dinner on the east side of downtown or a drink at House of Blues. Sections high in the building still have good sightlines, and the crowd gets loud in close fourth quarters.

What to expect

  • Bags can be no bigger than 10 x 6 x 2 inches; lockers outside rent from $10 a bag.
  • Tickets live in the Rockets or AXS app, and once you leave you can't come back in.
  • The arena is cashless; no outside food or drinks, but fountains are on every level.
  • The arena's Tundra Garage is pass-only on Rockets game days; use nearby surface lots.
  • Polk Street is closed to cars between Chartres and Avenida; allow extra time.

Do this

  1. Opening Night, Oct 21, 2026, vs. Dallas
  2. An Emirates NBA Cup game in November
  3. Dinner downtown before tipoff
Price
Ticketed; prices vary by game
Hours
Game nights
  • October 6, 2003Arena opened
  • About 18,100Basketball capacity
  • 1994 and 1995NBA titles
  • Oct 21, 2026, vs. Dallas Mavericks2026 to 2027 home opener
Directions Official site Full field notes

04 / 10Reliant Park5.7 mi from downtown

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Twenty days of rodeo, livestock and headliners

Houston's biggest annual event: professional rodeo and a headline concert every night, plus livestock shows, a carnival and a barbecue contest.

For three weeks every late winter, all of Houston goes Western. The 95th Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs March 2 to 21, 2027, at Reliant Park, and each night brings professional rodeo in the stadium followed by a concert from a major star on the rotating stage. Around it are the livestock and horse shows, the carnival, shopping halls and food of every fried description. It starts before the gates even open: the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest runs February 25 to 27, 2027, trail riders arrive for Go Texan Day on February 26, and the Downtown Rodeo Parade rolls on February 27. Wear boots, pace yourself and say yes to at least one turkey leg.

What to expect

  • The concert follows the rodeo, around 9:15 pm on weeknights and 5:15 pm on weekends.
  • No clear-bag rule: small purses and backpacks are fine, but expect wand and bag checks.
  • Volunteer-run trams give free rides between the parking lots and the grounds.
  • METRORail runs to Reliant Park, and satellite park-and-ride lots run shuttle buses.
  • Public lots near the grounds, like Yellow, 610 and OST, were $25 a car in 2026.

Do this

  1. Rodeo plus a headline concert in the stadium
  2. The World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, Feb 25 to 27, 2027
  3. Go Tejano Day, Sunday, March 14, 2027
  4. The Downtown Rodeo Parade, Feb 27, 2027
Price
Ticketed; grounds admission and stadium tickets sold separately
Hours
Daily during the run; hours vary by attraction
  • March 2 to 21, 2027 (95th edition)2027 dates
  • February 25 to 27, 2027BBQ contest
  • Friday, February 26, 2027Go Texan Day and Trail Rides
  • Sunday, March 14, 2027Go Tejano Day
Directions Official site Full field notes

05 / 10East Downtown (EaDo)1.2 mi from downtown

Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash at Shell Energy Stadium

Orange, loud and right in EaDo

A compact soccer stadium in East Downtown, home to MLS's Dynamo and the NWSL's Dash, with supporters' sections that never sit down.

Shell Energy Stadium opened in 2012 as the first soccer-specific stadium built in a major American downtown, and it sits in the thick of EaDo's bars and breweries. The Dynamo play in MLS, and the Dash, winners of the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, carry Houston's flag in women's soccer. The best seats are anywhere near the supporters' groups behind the goal, where drums and chants run for 90 minutes. Remaining 2026 Dynamo home matches are Kansas City (Sep 26), FC Dallas in the Texas Derby (Oct 17), Minnesota (Oct 24) and St. Louis on Decision Day (Nov 7). The Dash host Washington (Oct 4), Orlando (Oct 18) and Portland on Decision Day (Nov 1).

What to expect

  • Bags must be clear and no bigger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches, or a small clutch.
  • Gates open 90 minutes before Dynamo matches and 60 minutes before Dash matches.
  • The supporters' sections are 115 to 116 and 215 to 217, behind the goal.
  • The stadium is cashless, and there is no re-entry during events.
  • Parking is tight; the Astros run nearby Lots B and C on matchdays.

Do this

  1. The Texas Derby vs. FC Dallas, Oct 17, 2026
  2. Pregame at an EaDo bar or brewery
  3. Stand with the supporters' groups
Price
Ticketed; prices vary by match
Hours
Match days
  • May 12, 2012 (as BBVA Compass Stadium)Opened
  • About 22,000Capacity
  • Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) and Houston Dash (NWSL)Tenants
Directions Official site Full field notes

06 / 10Third Ward (University of Houston)2.9 mi from downtown

Houston Cougars Football at TDECU Stadium

Big 12 Saturdays with a skyline view

The University of Houston's on-campus stadium, oriented to frame the downtown skyline, now hosting Big 12 football.

TDECU Stadium opened in 2014 on the site of old Robertson Stadium, and its open end was designed to frame the downtown skyline, which makes night games especially pretty. Since joining the Big 12 in 2023, the Cougars bring major conference opponents to Third Ward, and campus Saturdays mix students, alumni and neighborhood families. Remaining 2026 home games are UCF (Oct 3, 11 AM), Oklahoma State for Family Weekend (Oct 17), Cincinnati for Homecoming (Nov 7) and Baylor to close the home slate (Nov 28). If you want a second college game, Rice plays at historic Rice Stadium, where President Kennedy gave his 1962 moon speech.

What to expect

  • Prepay parking to save $10; Blue and Green lots are $30 ahead, $40 on game day.
  • The METRORail Purple Line stops near Gate 3 on the stadium's west end.
  • Clear bags only, up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a small clutch; no backpacks or purses.
  • Concessions are cashless, and there is no re-entry once you are inside.
  • A tailgate area with food trucks and a Kids' Zone sits outside Gate 4.

Do this

  1. A night game with the skyline behind the end zone
  2. Homecoming vs. Cincinnati, Nov 7, 2026
  3. Tailgating on campus
Price
Ticketed; prices vary by game
Hours
Game days
  • August 29, 2014Opened
  • About 39,700Capacity
  • Big 12 (since 2023)Conference
Directions Official site Full field notes

07 / 10Downtown start and finish (George R. Brown Convention Center)Downtown

Chevron Houston Marathon

A flat, fast January race through the city

One of the country's fastest big-city marathons, run every January on a flat loop through downtown, Rice, Uptown and Memorial Park.

The Houston Marathon started in 1972 with 113 runners and has grown into a January weekend that takes over the city. The 55th Chevron Houston Marathon and the 26th Aramco Houston Half Marathon run on Sunday, January 17, 2027, on a famously flat course that starts downtown, loops past Hermann Park and Rice University, heads through Uptown and Memorial Park, and finishes at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Both races carry World Athletics Gold Label status, and the half has produced some of the fastest times ever run on American soil. The weekend runs January 13 to 17, with a shakeout run, an expo and the We Are Houston 5K at Discovery Green on Saturday.

What to expect

  • Allen Parkway (miles 23 to 24) has wide sidewalks on both sides, and dogs are welcome.
  • The Memorial Park land bridge tunnels (mile 20.5) usually get a DJ and a light show.
  • West University City Hall, near mile 11, is a family-friendly spot with activities.
  • Bands, drumlines and cheer groups line the course, including an Elvis at mile 1.

Do this

  1. Cheer from Memorial Park or the Montrose stretch
  2. Run the We Are Houston 5K on Jan 16, 2027
  3. Walk the finish area at George R. Brown
Price
Free to watch; race entry fees vary
Hours
Race morning, Sunday, Jan 17, 2027; TV coverage starts 6:30 AM
  • December 30, 1972First race
  • Sunday, January 17, 2027 (55th edition)2027 race day
  • World Athletics Gold Label (marathon and half)Status
Directions Official site Full field notes

08 / 10Memorial Park4.1 mi from downtown

Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park

PGA Tour golf in a city park

Houston's PGA Tour stop, played every spring on the public Memorial Park course that was rebuilt for the pros.

The Houston Open dates to 1946, and since 2020 it has been played at Memorial Park Golf Course, a municipal course that the Astros Foundation helped rebuild with architect Tom Doak and input from Brooks Koepka. That means the pros play the same public course anyone can book the rest of the year. The tournament moved back to late March in 2024, and Gary Woodland won the 2026 edition at 21 under par. The 2027 dates are March 22 to 28, with competition rounds March 25 to 28. Walk the course early in the week when crowds are thin, then come back for the weekend's final holes.

What to expect

  • Lot A ($35) at 2727 Allen Parkway runs a shuttle in; vehicles over 6 ft 5 in won't fit.
  • Lot C ($73) on North Picnic Lane is a walk to the gates, with no shuttle.
  • Lots open at 6 or 6:30 am, and fan shuttles start running at 6:30 am.
  • Rideshare drop-off and pickup is off Memorial Drive, steps from the 7th green.

Do this

  1. Walk the back nine during a practice round
  2. Book a public tee time at Memorial Park another week
  3. Watch the final round on Sunday
Price
Ticketed during tournament week
Hours
Tournament week; daylight hours
  • 1946First played
  • 2020At Memorial Park since
  • Gary Woodland (-21)2026 champion
  • March 22 to 28, 2027 (rounds March 25 to 28)2027 dates
Directions Official site Full field notes

09 / 10Sugar Land19 mi from downtown

Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Constellation Field

Triple-A baseball with a Texas-shaped scoreboard

The Astros' Triple-A club, playing in a friendly suburban ballpark with cheap seats, a lawn and a giant scoreboard shaped like Texas.

Constellation Field opened in 2012 and is one of the best-value nights of baseball in the region. The Space Cowboys are the Astros' top minor league affiliate, so you are often watching future big leaguers and players on rehab assignments from close range. The park holds about 7,500 for baseball, with a grass berm, a manual scoreboard in left field and a towering video board shaped like the state of Texas. The 2027 home opener is Tuesday, March 30, 2027, kicking off a six-game series. It is about 25 minutes southwest of downtown without traffic, and it is ideal for families who want baseball without big-league prices or crowds.

What to expect

  • Parking is $5 a car bought ahead or $10 on game day; Lot B is across a footbridge.
  • Lawn seats beyond right field let you bring blankets and folding lawn chairs.
  • A splash pad just beyond the center field wall keeps kids busy mid-game.
  • It is cashless; no backpacks, and the only drink allowed in is a sealed 16 oz water.
  • Gates open an hour before first pitch, 90 minutes on giveaway nights.

Do this

  1. Sit on the outfield berm with kids
  2. Spot the Texas-shaped scoreboard
  3. Catch a fireworks night in summer
Price
Ticketed; generally far less than Astros games
Hours
Game days, April to September
  • April 26, 2012Opened
  • About 7,500 for baseballCapacity
  • Triple-A, Houston Astros (team acquired by the Astros in 2021)Affiliation
  • Tuesday, March 30, 20272027 home opener
Directions Official site Full field notes

10 / 10Reliant Park5.7 mi from downtown

The Astrodome

The Eighth Wonder, waiting for its next act

The world's first domed multipurpose stadium, closed to the public since 2009 and still searching for a new life.

When the Astrodome opened on April 9, 1965, it was billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World, and it changed stadiums forever, giving the world indoor baseball and, famously, AstroTurf. The Astros, the Oilers and the rodeo all called it home. It has been closed to the public since 2009 and is used for storage, yet it is protected: listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 and named a State Antiquities Landmark in 2017. Harris County has said any renovation needs private money after a 2026 study priced a basic rehab at about $752 million, and in August 2026 the Astrodome Conservancy invited developers to pitch new ideas. For now, admire it from the parking lots on a Texans or rodeo day.

What to expect

  • On Texans game days you need a game or tailgate ticket just to enter the lots.
  • For Texans games, every Reliant Park lot needs a pre-bought mobile parking pass.
  • METRORail runs to Reliant Park for Texans games and the rodeo.

Do this

  1. See the dome from the Reliant Park lots on a game or rodeo day
  2. Read up on the Conservancy's redevelopment plans
Price
Exterior viewing only; free with access to Reliant Park lots
Hours
Closed to the public
  • April 9, 1965Opened
  • January 15, 2014National Register of Historic Places
  • January 27, 2017State Antiquities Landmark
  • About $752 million for a basic operational renovationRenovation estimate (2026 county study)
Directions Official site Full field notes

THE WHOLE ROUTE

Ten stops, one flight plan.

Save the ones you want with the star, then open My Plan to see them grouped into days.

Map of the Sports Top 10: 1. Houston Astros at Daikin Park, 2. Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, 3. Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, 4. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, 5. Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash at Shell Energy Stadium, 6. Houston Cougars Football at TDECU Stadium, 7. Chevron Houston Marathon, 8. Texas Children's Houston Open at Memorial Park, 9. Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Constellation Field, 10. The Astrodome1Houston Astros at Daikin Park2Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium3Houston Rockets at Toyota Center4Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo5Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash …6Houston Cougars Football at TDEC…7Chevron Houston Marathon8Texas Children's Houston Open at…9Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Cons…10The Astrodome5 km · 3 miN
SPT · FLIGHT PLAN · 10 STOPS · DRAWN FROM OPENSTREETMAP

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