Houston Dynamo FC facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Orange Crush La Naranja (The Orange) |
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Founded | December 15, 2005 | ||
Stadium | Shell Energy Stadium Houston, Texas |
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Stadium capacity |
20,656 | ||
Majority owner | Ted Segal | ||
General manager | Pat Onstad | ||
Head coach | Ben Olsen | ||
League | Major League Soccer | ||
2024 | Western Conference: 5th Overall: 8th Playoffs: First round |
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The Houston Dynamo Football Club is a professional soccer team from Houston, Texas. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. The club started on December 15, 2005. Its players and staff came from the San Jose Earthquakes after the 2005 season.
For their first six years, the Dynamo played at Robertson Stadium at the University of Houston. In 2012, they moved to Shell Energy Stadium, a special soccer stadium in downtown Houston. Ted Segal is the main owner of the club.
The Houston Dynamo have won the MLS Cup twice, in 2006 and 2007. They also won the U.S. Open Cup twice, in 2018 and 2023. They were MLS Cup finalists in 2011 and 2012.
Contents
Club History: How the Dynamo Started
On November 16, 2005, MLS announced that the owners of the San Jose Earthquakes could move their team. Houston was a top choice for a new MLS club. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Houston would get a team, whether by moving an existing one or starting a new one.
On December 15, 2005, MLS confirmed that all Earthquakes players and coaches would move to Houston. The Earthquakes name and records stayed with the league for a future team in San Jose. The Dynamo officially became an expansion team in 2006.
This is not an expansion franchise. This is one of the best teams in the MLS. You are getting an extraordinary franchise.
A special event was held at Houston City Hall on December 16, 2005. Houston Mayor Bill White and other officials welcomed the team. Coach Dominic Kinnear and players Pat Onstad and Wade Barrett were given cowboy boots and hats. The team would play at Robertson Stadium for three years.
Oliver Luck, a former Houston Oilers quarterback, became the team's president and general manager. He had helped build other sports stadiums in Houston.
Early Years and First Championships (2006–2010)
The new Houston team was first named Houston 1836. This name honored the year Houston was founded. However, some people from the Mexican community did not like the name. They felt it celebrated the Texas Revolution. So, the name was changed to the Houston Dynamo.
The Dynamo played their first game on April 2, 2006, at Robertson Stadium. They beat Colorado Rapids 5–2. Brian Ching scored four goals in that game. The Dynamo finished second in their conference that season. They won their playoff games to reach the MLS Cup.
In the 2006 MLS Cup, the game was tied 1–1 after extra time. It was decided by a penalty shootout. Houston beat the New England Revolution 4–3 on penalty kicks to win their first MLS Cup. This win also qualified them for the 2007 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Winning Back-to-Back MLS Cups
Houston started the 2007 season in the 2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. They won a quarterfinal but lost in the semifinals to Pachuca.

The Dynamo had a tough start to their 2007 MLS season. But they made some important player trades. They then went on an amazing eleven-game unbeaten streak. They also had a record of 726 minutes without letting in a goal.
Houston finished second in the regular season and made the playoffs. They beat FC Dallas and the Kansas City Wizards to reach the MLS Cup. For the second year in a row, they faced the New England Revolution. Houston won 2–1 with a goal from Dwayne De Rosario. This made them back-to-back MLS Cup champions!
New Owners and More Competition
In late 2007, MLS wanted each ownership group to own only one team. So, the Dynamo's original owners, AEG, looked to sell their share. On February 26, 2008, it was announced that AEG would share ownership with Gabriel Brener and famous boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

The Dynamo played in the first Pan-Pacific Championship in Hawaii. They finished second after losing to Gamba Osaka. They also played in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, reaching the semifinals.
In the 2008 MLS season, Houston finished first in the Western Conference. However, they lost to the New York Red Bulls in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Dynamo also played in the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League. They lost to Atlante in the quarterfinals.
In 2009, Houston had an 11-game unbeaten streak early in the season. They finished second in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, they beat Seattle but lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference final.
The Dynamo also reached the semifinals of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They lost to the Seattle Sounders. After the 2009 season, key players Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden left the team.
The 2010 season was tough for the Dynamo. Key players got injured, and the team finished 7th in the Western Conference. This was the first time they missed the playoffs since 2006. They also played in the 2010 North American SuperLiga, winning their group but losing in the semifinals.
Playing in the Eastern Conference (2011–2014)
The Dynamo moved to the Eastern Conference for the 2011 season. This happened because new teams joined MLS in Vancouver and Portland. The team finished second in the Eastern Conference. Brad Davis was a star player, leading the league with 16 assists.
In the playoffs, the Dynamo beat the Philadelphia Union. Then they won against Sporting Kansas City to reach the MLS Cup Final. They faced the Los Angeles Galaxy in the final. The Galaxy won 1–0.
After their new stadium was finished, the Dynamo played their first game there on May 12, 2012. They beat D.C. United. The Dynamo had an amazing year at home, not losing any games there. In the playoffs, they beat the Chicago Fire. They then faced Sporting Kansas City again and won to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
MLS Cup Final Rematch
The Dynamo played D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Finals. Houston won the first game 3–1. In the second game, a goal from Oscar Boniek García helped the Dynamo get a 1–1 tie. This meant they won the series and went to their second straight MLS Cup.

The MLS Cup 2012 was a rematch against the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Galaxy won 3–1. Even though they lost, the Dynamo had a great 2012 season. They were undefeated at home, which became a 36-match unbeaten streak.
In 2013, the Dynamo continued their strong home performance. Their 36-game home unbeaten streak ended on May 12, 2013, when they lost to Sporting Kansas City. Houston made the playoffs again. They beat Montreal in the Wildcard Match.
The Dynamo then faced the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls had beaten them three times in the regular season. In the first playoff game, the Red Bulls led 2–0, but Houston made an exciting comeback to tie it 2–2. In the second game, Houston scored two late goals to win and reach the Conference Championship for the third year in a row.
However, the Dynamo lost to Sporting Kansas City in the Conference Championship. Still, 2013 was a successful year for the team. In 2014, the Dynamo signed DaMarcus Beasley. The team finished 8th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs.
Recent Seasons (2015–Present)
The Dynamo moved back to the Western Conference in 2015. They finished 8th in the conference and missed the playoffs. At the end of 2015, Gabriel Brener became the main owner.
In 2016, the team changed head coaches. Wade Barrett took over as interim coach. The Dynamo finished last in the Western Conference. Wilmer Cabrera became the new head coach in October 2016.
In 2017, the team finished fourth in the West. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2013. They reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to Seattle Sounders FC.
The 2018 season was special because the Dynamo won their first U.S. Open Cup title. They beat the Philadelphia Union 3–0 in the final. This win qualified them for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. However, they did not make the MLS playoffs that year.
In 2019, the Dynamo played in the CONCACAF Champions League, reaching the quarterfinals. They also played in the first Leagues Cup. After a tough summer, head coach Wilmer Cabrera was fired. The team missed the MLS playoffs again.
Tab Ramos became the head coach in 2020. The team signed new players like Darwin Quintero and Marko Maric. But they finished last in the Western Conference during the shorter COVID-19 season. After the 2021 season, Tab Ramos's contract was not extended.
Ted Segal bought the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash on June 22, 2021. He has invested a lot in both clubs and Shell Energy Stadium. One of his first big changes was bringing back Dynamo legend Pat Onstad as the General Manager. Onstad had helped other MLS teams win championships.
On March 2, 2022, Houston Dynamo FC made their biggest player signing ever. They brought in Héctor Herrera as a designated player. Paulo Nagamura was hired as head coach for the 2022 season but was later replaced by Kenny Bundy as interim coach.
Ben Olsen became the manager for the 2023 season. He led the team to a 14-11-9 record and their first MLS Cup Playoffs appearance in five seasons. They reached the Western Conference Final. The team also won the 2023 U.S. Open Cup and made it to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup.
On July 16, 2024, Tim Howard, a famous U.S. Men's National Team player, joined the Dynamo's ownership group. He said he wanted to help soccer grow in the United States.
Team Colors and Logo
The Houston Dynamo's official colors are Wildcatter orange, Space City blue, and Raven black. The star on their first logo was a nod to the Houston, Texas Flag or the "Houston 1836" idea.
After winning the MLS Cup in 2006, a star was added above the team's shield in 2008. They won the MLS Cup again in 2007, so another star was added in 2009.
In 2020, the club changed its name to Houston Dynamo FC and got a new logo. The new logo is a hexagon with six sides. These sides represent the club's founding in 2006 and the six original parts of Houston. The logo also shows channels that look like Houston's bayou system, which are waterways.
Team Name: Why "Dynamo"?
The name "Dynamo" was announced on March 6, 2006. It refers to Houston's energy industry. It also honors an older Houston soccer team called the Houston Dynamos. The team president, Oliver Luck, said "Dynamo" means someone who never gets tired and never gives up. This name represents Houston as an energetic and hard-working city.
The team colors (orange, white, and "Space City" blue) are a symbol of the Houston flag. They also honor the former NFL team, the Houston Oilers.
The team was first named Houston 1836 on January 25, 2006. This name came from an online survey. It referred to the year Houston was founded. However, some Hispanic fans were upset because 1836 was also the year of Texas' independence from Mexico. Because of these protests, the name was changed to the Dynamo. Since then, MLS has not used online surveys to name new teams.
In 2020, the club officially added "Football Club" to its name, becoming Houston Dynamo FC.
Home Stadiums
The Houston Dynamo have played in a few stadiums:
- Robertson Stadium: 2006–2011
- Reliant Stadium: Hosted one game in 2006 and the 2010 MLS All-Star Game.
- Carl Lewis Track & Field Stadium: Hosted one U.S. Open Cup game in 2006.
- Aggie Soccer Stadium: Hosted games in 2007 and 2011.
- Shell Energy Stadium: 2012–present
Shell Energy Stadium: The Dynamo's Current Home
On December 2, 2010, an agreement was made for a new soccer stadium in Downtown Houston. The stadium, first called 'BBVA Compass Stadium', opened on May 12, 2012. The first game there was against D.C. United.
On February 5, 2011, Dynamo players and owners, along with Houston city leaders, broke ground for the new stadium. Construction began that month. The stadium offers clear views from all seats. It has a concourse that goes all around, with easy access to food and restrooms.
In June 2022, the Houston Dynamo Football Club announced big upgrades for Shell Energy Stadium. The renovations started after the 2022 MLS season and were ready for the 2023 season. New mesh seats were installed throughout the stadium. This made Shell Energy Stadium the first soccer-specific stadium in America with mesh seating everywhere.
A new air-conditioned club area was created on the east side of the stadium. This "East Club" has premium food and drinks. It also features nine special "loge boxes" for groups.
Besides soccer, the stadium hosts Texas Southern University football games and concerts. Its downtown location makes it part of a sports area with Daikin Park and Toyota Center.
The stadium's name has changed a few times. In 2019, it became BBVA Stadium. In 2021, it was renamed PNC Stadium. On January 17, 2023, it became Shell Energy Stadium. The stadium can hold 20,656 fans.
Houston Sports Park: Training Home
The Dynamo's training facility is at the Houston Sports Park (HSP). This complex opened in 2011. It has seven soccer fields, lights, and parking. Four fields are just for the Dynamo, Houston Dash, and visiting teams. The other fields can be rented by the public. The training facility is about 10 miles south of Shell Energy Stadium.
Club Culture
Supporters: The Dynamo Fans
The first Dynamo game on April 2, 2006, had 25,462 fans. Attendance grew throughout the first season. A game against the Los Angeles Galaxy in August 2006 was part of a doubleheader. That event drew a crowd of 70,550.
For the 2006 season, the average home game attendance was 18,935. Dynamo fans also traveled to the 2006 MLS Cup in Frisco, Texas, helping to sell out the stadium.
There are four official fan groups: El Batallón, Texian Army, Bandera Negra, and The Surge.
Mascot: Dynamo Diesel
In 2007, the Dynamo looked for a mascot. Students from The Art Institute of Houston submitted drawings. The winning design was an orange-haired fox named Dynamo Diesel. He was introduced on April 3, 2007, at the Houston Zoo. Dynamo Diesel helps with the team's marketing and community events.
Rivalries: Who the Dynamo Play Against
The Houston Dynamo's main rival is FC Dallas. They play each other in the Texas Derby. Since Austin FC joined in 2021, these three Texas teams compete for the Copa Tejas trophy.
The Dynamo also have a rivalry with Sporting Kansas City. They have played each other many times in the playoffs and the U.S. Open Cup.
Broadcasting: How to Watch and Listen
Since 2023, every Dynamo match can be watched on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app. Before this, games were shown on local TV stations in Houston.
Radio Broadcasts
Most Houston Dynamo matches are broadcast on local radio in English and Spanish. ESPN Houston 97.5 FM is the English radio partner. Glenn Davis is the commentator.
TUDN Radio Houston 93.3 FM is the Spanish radio partner. Daniel Mejia does the play-by-play, and Cesar Procel is the color analyst.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Players on Loan
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Head Coaches
Name | Nationality | Tenure | G | W | L | T | Win % |
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Dominic Kinnear | ![]() |
December 16, 2005 – October 25, 2014 | 288 | 112 | 90 | 86 | 38.8 |
Owen Coyle | ![]() |
December 9, 2014 – May 25, 2016 | 46 | 14 | 21 | 11 | 30.4 |
Wade Barrett (interim) | ![]() |
May 28, 2016 – October 26, 2016 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 18.2 |
Wilmer Cabrera | ![]() |
October 28, 2016 – August 13, 2019 | 93 | 32 | 39 | 22 | 34.4 |
Davy Arnaud (interim) | ![]() |
August 14, 2019 – October 24, 2019 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 33.3 |
Tab Ramos | ![]() |
October 25, 2019 – November 4, 2021 | 57 | 10 | 26 | 21 | 17.5 |
Paulo Nagamura | ![]() |
January 3, 2022 – September 5, 2022 | 29 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 27.6 |
Kenny Bundy (interim) | ![]() |
September 5, 2022 – November 8, 2022 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 40.0 |
Ben Olsen | ![]() |
November 8, 2022 – present | 68 | 29 | 21 | 18 | 42.6 |
General Managers
Name | Nat | Tenure |
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Dominic Kinnear | ![]() |
2005–2014 |
Matt Jordan | ![]() |
2014–2021 |
Pat Onstad | ![]() |
2021–present |
Current Staff
Executive | |
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Majority Owner & Chairman | ![]() |
Owner/Vice Chairman | ![]() |
Minority Owner | ![]() |
Minority Owner | ![]() |
Houston Dynamo Football Club President | ![]() |
General manager | ![]() |
Technical director | ![]() |
Assistant general manager | ![]() |
Director of methodology | ![]() |
Coaching staff | |
Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Head video analyst | ![]() |
Sports performance director/fitness coach | ![]() |
Head of sports science | ![]() |
Strength & conditioning coach | ![]() |
Director of sports medicine | ![]() |
Head athletic trainer | ![]() |
Assistant athletic trainer | ![]() |
Assistant athletic trainer | ![]() |
Physical therapist | ![]() |
Massage therapist | ![]() |
Scouting coordinator & analyst | ![]() |
Player care manager | ![]() |
Affiliates and Youth Academy
The Houston Dynamo Academy started in 2007. It helps young players develop their skills. On February 27, 2009, Tyler Deric became the first "homegrown player" for the club. This means he came up through the Dynamo's own youth system. Francisco Navas Cobo was the second homegrown player. He was the first academy player to play in an MLS game for the Dynamo. Alex Dixon was the first academy player to score a goal for the team.
The Dynamo Academy trains at Houston Sports Park. For a few years, the Dynamo partnered with the Charleston Battery and then Rio Grande Valley FC Toros to help their young players get more experience.
On December 6, 2021, the Dynamo announced they would have a new team, Houston Dynamo 2. This team plays in MLS Next Pro, a league for developing players. They play their games at SaberCats Stadium at Houston Sports Park.
The Dynamo are also connected to the Houston Dash, a women's professional soccer team. Both teams are run by the Houston Dynamo Football Club.
Team Achievements
Domestic Titles
League
- MLS Cup
- Champions (2): 2006, 2007
Cups
- U.S. Open Cup
- Champions (2): 2018, 2023
Season Highlights
This table shows the Dynamo's performance in recent seasons.
Season | League | Position | Playoffs | USOC | Continental / Other | Average attendance |
Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
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Div | League | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Conf. | Overall | Name(s) | Goals | ||||||
2018 | 1 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 38 | 1.12 | 9th | 17th | DNQ | W | DNQ | 16,906 | ![]() |
25 | |
2019 | MLS | 34 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 49 | 59 | −10 | 40 | 1.17 | 10th | 19th | Ro16 | CONCACAF Champions League
Leagues Cup |
QF
QF |
15,674 | ![]() |
15 | ||
2020 | MLS | 23 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 21 | 0.91 | 12th | 25th | NH | MLS is Back Tournament | GS | 5,279 | ![]() |
7 | ||
2021 | MLS | 34 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 36 | 54 | −18 | 30 | 0.88 | 13th | 25th | NH | DNQ | 12,220 | ![]() |
11 | |||
2022 | MLS | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 36 | 1.06 | 13th | 25th | Ro16 | DNQ | 16,426 | ![]() |
14 | |||
2023 | MLS | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 51 | 38 | 13 | 51 | 1.5 | 4th | 9th | SF | W | Leagues Cup | Ro16 | 15,029 | ![]() ![]() |
15 |
1. Avg. attendance includes statistics from league matches only.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches.
Team Records
International Tournaments
The Dynamo have played in several international tournaments. They reached the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup twice. They have also played in the CONCACAF Champions League five times, reaching the quarterfinals three times.
Career Records (MLS Regular Season)
Season Records (MLS Regular Season)
- Most Goals in a Season:
Mauro Manotas – 19 (2018)
- Most Assists in a Season:
Brad Davis – 16 (2011)
- Most Shutouts in a Season:
Tally Hall – 12 (2013)
Player Awards
League Awards
MLS Best XI (Top Players)
- 2006: Dwayne De Rosario, Ricardo Clark
- 2007: Dwayne De Rosario, Eddie Robinson
- 2009: Geoff Cameron, Stuart Holden
- 2011: Brad Davis
- 2023: Héctor Herrera
MLS All-Star Selections
Many Dynamo players have been chosen for the MLS All-Star Game, including:
- 2006: Brian Ching, Dwayne De Rosario, Eddie Robinson, Ricardo Clark
- 2007: Brian Ching, Dwayne De Rosario, Ricardo Clark
- 2008: Brian Ching, Dwayne De Rosario, Pat Onstad
- 2009: Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Geoff Cameron, Pat Onstad, Stuart Holden
- 2010: Brad Davis, Brian Ching
- 2011: Brad Davis, Corey Ashe, Geoff Cameron, Tally Hall
- 2012: Brad Davis, Geoff Cameron
- 2013: Brad Davis, Corey Ashe
- 2015: DaMarcus Beasley
- 2017: DaMarcus Beasley
- 2018: Alberth Elis
- 2023: Héctor Herrera
Other League Awards
- Goal of the Year: 2006: Brian Ching
- Save of the Year: 2009: Pat Onstad
- Fair Play Player award: 2017: DaMarcus Beasley
Team Awards
Season | MVP | Defensive Player of the Year | Newcomer of the Year | Young Player of the Year | Players' Player of the Year | Ref |
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2006 | ![]() |
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2007 | ![]() ![]() |
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2008 | ![]() |
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Not Awarded | |
2009 | ![]() |
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Not Awarded | |
2010 | ![]() |
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Not Awarded | |
2011 | ![]() |
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Not Awarded | |
2012 | ![]() |
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2013 | ![]() |
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2014 | ![]() |
Not Awarded | ![]() |
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2015 | ![]() |
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2016 | ![]() |
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2017 | ![]() |
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2018 | ![]() |
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2019 | ![]() |
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2020 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
2021 | ![]() |
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2022 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
2023 | ![]() |
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2024 | ![]() |
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Attendance Records
Average Season Attendance
Season | Regular Season | MLS Playoffs |
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2006 | 18,935 | 20,274 |
2007 | 15,883 | 30,530 |
2008 | 16,939 | 30,053 |
2009 | 17,047 | 27,465 |
2010 | 17,310 | DNQ |
2011 | 17,694 | 24,749 |
2012 | 20,982 | 21,395 |
2013 | 19,923 | 21,395 |
2014 | 20,117 | DNQ |
2015 | 20,621 | DNQ |
2016 | 19,021 | DNQ |
2017 | 17,500 | 17,319 |
2018 | 16,906 | DNQ |
2019 | 15,674 | DNQ |
2020 | 4,857 | DNQ |
2021 | 12,220 | DNQ |
2022 | 16,426 | DNQ |
Highest Attended Matches
Attendance | Date | Match | Notes |
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30,972 | 11/10/07 | HOU vs. KC | 2007 Western Conference Final |
30,588 | 10/7/07 | HOU vs. LA | 2007 Regular Season Match |
30,361 | 10/18/08 | HOU vs. LA | 2008 Regular Season Match |
30,088 | 11/2/07 | HOU vs. DAL | 2007 Western Conference Semi-final |
30,053 | 11/9/08 | HOU vs. NY | 2008 Western Conference Semi-final |
See also
In Spanish: Houston Dynamo Football Club para niños