A franchise quarterback, new uniforms, and a former great as their head coach are just a few reasons why Houston Texans fans are counting down the days until they open the 2024-2025 season in Pittsburgh versus the Steelers on August 9. But, before C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans changed the culture of this team, things were looking bleak just a few years ago. The squad had only won a combined 11 games from 2022 to 2024 and had four different head coaches in that stretch. Just how bad was that stretch? Well, last year the team matched that combined win total with 10 regular season wins and a playoff game win. Now things are turning around, and it’s truly football time in Houston again. If that wasn’t enough, Andre Johnson is getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year as the first Texans player ever.

Game Day Pro Tip: Get to NRG Stadium early on game days and walk around one of the best tailgates in the South.

Most pro teams would do anything to go on a run like the Astros have been on. They’ve played in four World Series, won two of them, and haven’t missed the American League Championship Series since 2016. Simply put, this is the golden era of Astros baseball led by the greatest Astros ever, José Altuve. Sure, the team is off to a slow start this year, but key players are returning from injury so they could go on another long postseason run. So, get all your Astros gear ready for another postseason run.

Game Day Pro Tip: Come hungry, because Minute Maid Park has some of the best food options in the city 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 resurgent years led by James Harden—it’s all about rebuilding right now for the Houston Rockets. While Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün are filling up the stat sheet, they aren’t winning many games. The team hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2020, but things can change fast 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 they go all-in on Şengün, but something needs to be done to rally the fans and bring the team back to their glory days.

Game Day Pro Tip: You usually don’t get a chance to experience history when going to a sporting event, but I highly recommend fans eat at China Garden before the game. The city’s oldest Chinese restaurant is located across the street from the Toyota Center and is the place for Houston celebrities before the game.

One soccer team in Houston would’ve been a huge win, but we have two here with the Houston Dynamo (playing in MLS) and the Houston Dash (playing in the NWSL). Houston summers are hot, but there’s something so perfect about being outside enjoying a Houston summer evening watching a Dynamo or Dash game all while the sun sets on the downtown skyline. Soccer teams are known for their loud fan groups and both the Dynamo and Dash feature some of the best in the nation with Bayou City Republic (Dash) and El Batallon Houston (Dynamo).

Game Day Pro Tip: Arrive in EaDo early and hang out at Pitch 25, which is owned by former Houston Dynamo and United States Men’s National Team great Brian Ching. If you’re lucky, you could even play a little soccer against him on Pitch 25’s indoor soccer field.

Rugby might not be the biggest sport in the US, but it’s starting to gain traction here in Houston thanks to the Houston SaberCats. What is rugby, you ask? It’s a nonstop sport that takes the best elements of soccer and football all without any pads protecting the players. It’s a blast to watch. Started in 2018, the SaberCats play in their own stadium just 15 minutes from downtown and have some of the most fan-friendly ticket prices 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 top teams in MLR this season.

Game Day Pro Tip: The SaberCats have a lot of events before and after games, so check their calendar for concerts, firework shows, and meet and greets with players.

Houston has one of the biggest and best mixed martial arts scenes in the nation, so it’s no surprise that UFC’s biggest feeder promotion, Fury Fighting Championships, is based out of H-Town. Since 2010, former fighter Eric Garcia has been putting on MMA events around the city and has become 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 are fighting right here in the city.

Game Day Pro Tip: Arrive early to get the most out of your ticket, because all of the cards feature preliminary fights before the UFC Fight Pass broadcast. A little self-promotion here: I’m the play-by-play voice for Fury FC, so come say hi to me cageside before our broadcast!