NRG Stadium – Houston Texans

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14

NRG Stadium One NRG Park Houston, TX 77054

Year Opened: 2002

Capacity: 72,000

Houston Texans – NRG Stadium

In 1997 the Houston Oilers packed up shop, bid goodbye to the Astrodome and Space City, and moved to the Volunteer State, Tennessee. This left the fourth-largest city in America without professional football for the first time since 1960. The ensuing years would be frustrating for fans and the city alike, as Houston sought to reclaim admittance to the NFL.

Businessman Bob McNair was granted the rights to a new Houston franchise in 1999, with the team set to take in 2002. The Houston Texans would take the field during the 2002-03 season with a great deal of promise and fanfare – they would take to the field that inaugural season from the only home stadium they’ve ever known, NRG Stadium.

Built as a (giant) neighbor to the historic Astrodome, the now-named NRG Stadium (originally Reliant Stadium) became the latest in the league to feature a retractable roof, annually becoming one of the highest-attended stadiums in the league.

This would especially be the case as the Texans fortunes on the field began to rise in the 2010s, as they claimed the AFC South Division championship in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 (they also recently claimed the title in 2023 and 2024). This rise came from the stellar play of newly enshrined Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Johnson and future Canton enshrine J.J. Watt, among others.

NRG Stadium is a reflection of everything that makes Houston a great city: it’s bold, it’s diverse, it’s energetic, and it’s very Texan, naturally.

Food & Beverage 5

One of the best things about NRG Stadium is its concession offerings – the offerings are quintessential H-Town, with a heavy focus on barbecue and Tex-Mex. You can find these offerings at the El Tiempo kiosks (street tacos, anyone?) and the Texas Smokehouse and Truth BBQ (brisket sandwiches, y’all) stands on the 100, 300, and 500 levels. Local favorites, such as Laurenzo’s (French dip sandwiches!) and Trill Burgers, are also well represented.

There are also plenty of kiosks that offer regular gameday fare like hot dogs, nachos, pizza, chicken fingers and sandwiches, and popcorn (be on the lookout for the Cheeto’s popcorn carts). If you are feeling adventurous you can also try chicken wonton nachos, Asian infusion beef teriyaki tacos, and strawberry cheesecake dessert pretzels, which are new items on the menu this season.

Adult beverages can also be found in multiple spots, including the Bud Light Lounge and Bud Light Cantina on the main concourse, as well as Crown Royal Saloon near the south end zone. These seating areas cater to grown-ups looking to take a break in the action, offering seating areas as well as an in-house DJ. These are fun experiences and I’d recommend making at least a pass through one of them on your visit to NRG Stadium.

You won’t go hungry at NRG Stadium; my only caveat is these items are all at NFL prices, so just be prepared for a little bit of sticker shock when it comes time to pay.

Atmosphere 4

The Texans – like most of the NFL – do a great job of making game days at NRG Stadium feel like a very big deal. In addition to the regular accoutrements of the division championship banners hanging from the rafters and the Texans Ring of Honor underneath the press box, along with team merchandise stores around every corner on every level of the stadium, the Texans offer up multiple other events and activities that enhance the gameday atmosphere.

Each week has a theme; for example, the most recent game I attended was Kids Day and featured junior cheerleaders taking the field before the game, contests (a baby race) throughout the day, and face painters, balloon artists, and games for kids in the concourse, as well as special “kids treats” available for purchase at some of the food stands – think marshmallow treats, cake pops, chocolate pretzel rods, etc.

There is also usually a live music artist in and around the stadium on game days, and there is always something big planned at halftime. You’re going to have a good time at NRG Stadium – even if the team you’re rooting for is not winning.

Neighborhood 4

I’ve written numerous times in past reviews expounding on the virtues of Houston and all its numerous attractions. For sports fans, if you plan your visit right you might be able to catch a Houston Astros game, or a Houston Rockets game, or a Houston Dynamo game when you take in a Texans game at NRG Stadium, as all their seasons converge with the Texans at certain times during the calendar year.

H-Town is also home to attractions such as Space Center Houston, world-class facilities like the Downtown Aquarium and Houston Zoo, fantastic urban green spaces like Hermann Park and Buffalo Bayou Park, not to mention the Houston Museum District offering more things to see and do than anyone could do in a week. In short, there are plenty of things to do before and after Texans games for fans.

In terms of dining, this is the one area that keeps the score for NRG Stadium from being even higher – the stadium is removed from Houston’s downtown area, so it’s kind of off by itself in the city. NRG Park is a massive complex and takes up a huge amount of real estate, and as such, there really aren’t any spots to eat at within walking distance of the facility. There are numerous food trucks along the roads leading toward the complex, however, and there are several restaurants that are within a five-minute drive – these include Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurant and Angelo’z Po Boys. There are plenty of other options across the city, though.

For lodging, there are a few withing walking distance of NRG Stadium, including Staybridge Suites Houston - Medical Center and Comfort Suites near Texas Medical Center. As with the dining options, there are plenty of other spots in Houston; the only limit is your budget.

Fans 4

This season the Houston Texans sat in 10th place in the league in terms of attendance. NRG Stadium averaged 71,300 fans per game, which is virtually a sellout each Sunday (or Thursday or Monday). During the last game I attended, I was heartened to see so many fans tailgating in the parking lots and decked out in Texans gear. The crowd was loud and energetic throughout the entirety of the game, which always makes for a better experience.

My one point of contention is the sheer volume of opposing team fans in every corner of the stands. This may just be the state of pro football these days with easy access to tickets on the secondary market. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is definitely something that is noticeable.

Access 4

As mentioned, NRG Stadium is sort of set off from a good chunk of the major metro area of Houston. While it’s not too far removed from Texas Loop 610, it’s just over a 40-minute drive from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Another item I’ve written extensively about in terms of Houston is its traffic – you’re going to be stuck in it no matter what time of day you drive into the city; it’s just an immutable fact. However, if you want to avoid the grind, the Houston METRO mass transit is a good way to go. Both the light rail and city buses have routes that will drop you off at NRG Park.

Once you get to the stadium, parking is plentiful. Depending on how far you want to walk, you can find some relatively affordable options.

Return on Investment 4

Single game tickets for the Houston Texans start at $50 per person, which is pretty on par for the NFL these days. With tickets looking like they’re going to be hard to come by outside of the secondary market, as the Texans enjoy another upswing on the field, costs could easily get higher.

When looking at parking near NRG Stadium, I was able to find spots at some intrepid businesses in the area offering parking for the game as low as $20. However, the closer you get to the stadium, the closer the cost gets to triple digit costs.

Concessions here match the scale of the overall prices. If you’re bringing a family to the game, you can expect to drop a pretty penny or two to cover everything. The one thing that makes the costs more palatable, however, is how the Texans are playing these days – with Burgeoning stars all over the field, you’re going to (mostly) get your money’s worth at NRG Stadium.

Extras 4

A lot of what the Texans do mirrors what the college game does in this area, and that’s a good thing. Costumed mascot? Meet Toro, one of the best in the league. Cheerleaders? Yep, the Texans Cheerleaders can be found on both sidelines, performing throughout the game during breaks in the action. How about a band? You can find the Texans Deep Steel Thunder drumline performing on the main concourse before the game starts, as well as during breaks in the action. Oh, and don’t forget the Texans Mariachis, as you’ll see them during player introductions and at halftime; all great stuff that goes above and beyond what you normally will find in the pro game.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been to NFL games at NRG Stadium more than any other facility in the country – though it is now over two decades old, it still feels new somehow. There is also always a new wrinkle or a new amenity to make it feel fresh.

Neither the stadium nor the Texans have the history or the championship pedigree that some of the great places in the NFL, such as your Superdome in New Orleans, your Lambeau Field in Green Bay, or your Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. However, I would put it right up there with any of the shiny new stadiums that have been built in the past decade or so.

If you’re a football fan, I would definitely add NRG Stadium and Houston to your bucket list.

Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.