Houston real estate: The Benefits of a Sports Town

Taxpayers often rally against the construction of new athletic venues. In many cases, millions in public funds are diverted from schools and social programs so that team owners can oversee the creation of revenue-generating sports cathedrals.

Houston, however, features five professional sports teams and has embraced the construction of stadiums and arenas in recent years. And if you are thinking about purchasing Houston real estate, the local sports scene may prove to be an unanticipated selling point.

The NFL’s Texans, MLB’s Astros, NBA’s Rockets, WNBA’s Comets and MLS’s Dynamo call Houston home. The city, whose growth has been fueled by the oil and aerospace industries, has hosted the Super Bowl (2004), World Series (2005) and NBA and MLB All-Star games this decade. Reliant Stadium is also scheduled to host the 2011 and 2016 NCAA Final Four basketball championship.

In short, Houston has quickly become a fan-friendly town. Though few house-hunters would allow a city’s athletic environment to influence their decisions, Houston real estate can only benefit from the availability of first-rate entertainment options.

In 2000, the Astros opened Minute Maid Park. The Astros’ new home features a natural grass playing surface and a retractable roof. Though Houston failed to capture the World Series championship in 2005 by losing to the Chicago White Sox in four games, Minute Maid Park successfully grabbed the attention of the sporting world.

Houston continued to support construction in 2002, by building Reliant Stadium. The home of the NLF’s Texans also boasts a retractable roof. Finally, the Toyota Center opened in 2003. The arena houses the NBA’s Rockets, WNBA’s Comets and American Hockey League’s Aeros. The Toyota Center holds 18,500 spectators.

Houston claims major colleges including Rice University and the University of Houston as well. The city also holds the annual PGA Shell Houston Open at Redstone Golf Club. Past champions include Byron Nelson, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.

Furthermore, Houston’s favorable climate supports various amateur sports leagues for all ages. From flag football to softball and Little League, the city and its Parks and Recreation Department encourages competition at all levels (www.houstontx.gov).

So those seeking Houston real estate will certainly debate the merits of different neighborhoods and school systems. Sports enthusiasts, however, will also consider Houston’s many teams and athletic venues when making that choice. After all, a city’s athletic environment is of clear value to its overall culture.

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