Toyota Center – Houston Rockets

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29

Toyota Center 1510 Polk St Houston, TX 77002

Houston Rockets website

Toyota Center website

Year Opened: 2003

Capacity: 19,000

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Houston Rockets – Toyota Center

The NBA’s Houston Rockets made their debut in Space City in 1971, coming over from San Diego. From the beginning, the Rockets cultivated a die-hard group of fans in H-Town. A string of all-time greats suited up for the squad over the years, including Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Clyde Drexler, Ralph Sampson, Yao Ming, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, and Tracy McGrady.

Since coming to Houston, the Rockets have taken home four conference championships – in 1981, 1986, 1994, and 1995 – as well as taking home the NBA Championship in back-to-back years in 1994 and 1995.

In 2001, the Rockets moved into their brand new downtown stadium, Toyota Center. The state-of-the-art arena has all the bells and whistles to keep fans entertained during each game in H-Town. Despite being a quarter of a century old, it is still one of the best stops in the NBA. Read all about it below.

Food & Beverage   4

Toyota Center has a truly great array of food and beverages for fans. Barbecue, Tex-Mex, hot dogs, burgers, chicken wings and fingers, and pizza can be found throughout the arena on both the upper decks and on the main concourse. Chains such as Pizza Hut and Dippin’ Dots can also be found on the main concourse.

One particular stand near the escalators that take fans up to their seats in the upper decks has a rotating menu of gourmet hot dogs and hamburgers. The smell is always intoxicating! I would also make a stop at Garrison Brothers Bourbon Bar on the upper concourse to sample some Texas-made bourbon cocktails, if you’re inclined to.

Pretty much anything you could want to eat or drink is available to you here. My one knock that keeps this from being a “5” ranking is the cost. This may just be a symptom of the NBA at large, but I couldn’t find any item available for less than $8. Just be forewarned before you start ordering.

Atmosphere   5

This area is one in which Toyota Center truly excels. From the banners hanging from the rafters – and on the main concourse – to the no less than five team stores in the arena, a lot of attention to detail has been paid to fan entertainment and engagement.

On the upper concourse, the Children’s Memorial Hermann Sky Court has a ton of activities for fans, young and old. Sign-making activities (only ones that root for the Rockets, though) and arcade games like pop-a-shot, as well as a one-on-one court, are all up there for fans to partake in.

You can also find the Legends Lockers, a collection of player lockers featuring memorabilia of some of the team’s all-time greats. Also, it is home to the center court of the former Houston Summit, where fans are invited to take pictures at or on.

On the main concourse, fans can stop in at multiple cantinas/bars/viewing areas, such as the ULTRA Club, Corona Beach House, and Golden Nugget. These areas are congregation spots for fans looking to catch up away from the crowds in the stands.

Neighborhood   5

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country, and is the most metropolitan of all of Texas’s big cities. As such, it has a ton of activities, dining, and lodging options for visitors. With the Toyota Center being in the middle of downtown, a lot of these are within walking distance of the arena.

For sports fans, Daikin Park – home to MLB’s Houston Astros – and Shell Energy Stadium – home to MLS’s Houston Dynamo and college football’s Texas Southern Tigers – are all within walking distance of Toyota Center. If you plan your visit just right, you should be able to double up on games while you’re in town.

Other areas of interest include Houston’s Museum District – home to multiple world-class museums – and Discovery Green, a 12-acre oasis in the middle of H-Town. All of this is within walking distance of the arena.

For dining options, there are plenty of spots to choose from, with your only limitations being your budget and your taste buds. A few of my favorites include Kenny & Ziggy’s, a New York-style delicatessen that serves up belt-busting plates of comfort food, and Lankford Grocery & Market, an unassuming little building that serves up one of the best burgers in the state. While neither is near the arena, they are well worth the trip, trust me.

When it comes to lodging, you can find plenty of hotels that are within walking distance of Toyota Center; these include Athens Hotel & Suites and Hilton Americas-Houston. As with dining, your only limitations are going to be your tastes and your budget.

Fans   4

The Rockets have been on a bit of an upswing in the past few years. The addition of high draft picks and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant is partly to thank for this resurgence. As such, fan interest is at a pretty high level right now. Houston is averaging around 18,000 fans per game, which is a virtual sellout each night.

When I last attended, the vast majority of the crowd was decked out in the Rockets’ signature red color, with a variety of jerseys found in the crowd. It was loud and energetic, and this is the best that you can ask for from a home crowd.

Access   4

As mentioned, Toyota Center is located in downtown Houston. It’s right smack-dab in between state highways 45 and 69. As such, the arena is relatively easy to get to if you’re driving from out of town. It’s also only roughly a 25-minute drive from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and around a 20-minute drive from William P. Hobby Airport, if you’re flying in.

If you don’t want to deal with parking downtown, the Houston METRO makes stops close to the Toyota Center. If you do drive, there are multiple lots and garages near the arena, depending on how much you want to spend and/or how far you’re willing to walk.

The one element that keeps this score from being higher is my long-time nemesis, the Houston traffic. You’re going to get stuck in it, no matter what you do. If you are driving in, give yourself some extra time.

Return on Investment   4

Depending on the game, tickets to the Rockets at Toyota Center range between $65 and $200, depending on where you want to sit and the opponent. This is around the middle of the pack for the NBA, but it is on the higher end compared to the other two pro teams in Texas.

You do get a good bargain, however, especially considering how well the Rockets are playing these days, and considering how strong the Western Conference is presently.

Parking in and around Toyota Center is another story. I saw costs ranging from $35 to $75. If you want to park around the arena, it’s going to cost you. This, all coupled with the concession costs, means that you’re going to spend a penny or two.

Extras   4

The Rockets have all the traditional pomp and circumstance of most modern professional sports teams. Their mascot, Clutch the Bear, is a beloved local institution. The Clutch City Dancers, Houston’s dance squad, perform during most breaks and at halftime.

Before games, the Bud Light Liftoff is a party for fans near the main entrance, complete with performances from the dancers and a DJ. Lastly, the Red Rowdies are Houston’s answer to the recent development of fan clubs. They patrol the arena at different times in the game, banging drums and rooting for the Rockets.

Final Thoughts

As much as I – a lifelong Spurs fan – have to admit it, Toyota Center is the best arena of the three NBA squads in Texas. It still looks brand new, it has a ton of things outside of the game for fans to take in, the food options are great, and the location really can’t be beat. If you haven’t made a visit yet, Toyota Center definitely should be on your sports bucket list.

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