Houston Dynamo FC facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Orange Crush El Naranja |
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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 based in 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 team.
For their first six years, the Dynamo played at Robertson Stadium at the University of Houston. In 2012, they moved to Shell Energy Stadium. This stadium was built just for soccer games in downtown Houston.
The Houston Dynamo have won the MLS Cup twice. They won in their first two seasons, 2006 and 2007. They also won the U.S. Open Cup twice, in 2018 and 2023. The team has been a runner-up in the MLS Cup twice and the Supporters' Shield once.
Contents
- The Dynamo's Journey: How the Club Started
- Team Colors and Badge
- Where the Dynamo Play: Stadiums
- Who Are the Dynamo Fans?
- How to Watch and Listen to the Dynamo
- Players and Staff
- Youth Teams and Affiliates
- Team Achievements
- Team Records and Statistics
- Player Awards and Honors
- Images for kids
- See also
The Dynamo's Journey: How the Club Started
On November 16, 2005, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that the owners of the San Jose Earthquakes could move their team. He mentioned Houston as a great place for an MLS team.
On December 15, 2005, MLS announced that all Earthquakes players and coaches would move to Houston. The Earthquakes' name and records stayed with the league for a future team. The Houston Dynamo officially started on December 16, 2005. Houston's Mayor Bill White and other city leaders welcomed the team. Coach Dominic Kinnear and players like Pat Onstad and Wade Barrett were given cowboy boots and hats.
The team decided to play and train at Robertson Stadium at the University of Houston. Oliver Luck, a former football player, became the team's first president and general manager. He helped bring the MLS team to Houston.
Early Wins: Becoming Back-to-Back Champions
The new Houston team was first called Houston 1836. This name honored the year Houston was founded. But some people, especially from the Mexican community, did not like the name. They felt it celebrated the Texas Revolution. So, the team changed its name to the Houston Dynamo.
The Dynamo played their first game on April 2, 2006, at Robertson Stadium. They beat the Colorado Rapids 5–2. Brian Ching scored four goals in that game. The Dynamo finished their first season in second place in their conference. They made it to the MLS Cup final.
The 2006 MLS Cup final was a tough game. It went into extra time and then a penalty shootout. Houston beat the New England Revolution 4–3 on penalty kicks. This made them the 2006 MLS Cup champions! This win also let them play in the 2007 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Winning Again: The 2007 MLS Cup
In 2007, Houston played in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. They won a quarterfinal game but lost in the semifinals to a Mexican team.
The Dynamo started their 2007 MLS season with strong defense. They had a great comeback later in the season. They went eleven games without losing and set an MLS record for not letting opponents score for 726 minutes.
Houston finished second in the regular season. They made it to the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs. They beat FC Dallas and the Kansas City Wizards to reach the MLS Cup final again. For the second year in a row, they faced the New England Revolution. Houston won 2–1 with a goal from Dwayne De Rosario. They became back-to-back MLS Cup champions!
New Owners and More Challenges (2008–2010)
In 2007, MLS wanted each owner group to own only one team. The Dynamo's owners, AEG, also owned the Los Angeles Galaxy. So, AEG began talks to sell the Dynamo. 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 a Japanese team. They also played in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup again.
In the 2008 MLS season, the Dynamo finished first in their conference. But they lost in the playoffs to the New York Red Bulls. In 2009, they had an 11-game unbeaten streak early on. They made it to the Western Conference final but lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The 2010 season was tough for the Dynamo. Key players left, and others got injured. They finished 7th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs for the first time.
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 key 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 played against the Los Angeles Galaxy but lost 1–0.
In 2012, the Dynamo moved into their new home, Shell Energy Stadium. They had a great first year there, not losing any home games. In the playoffs, they beat the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City. This sent them to their second straight MLS Cup final.
Another Cup Final Rematch
The Dynamo faced D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Finals. They won the series and advanced to the MLS Cup for the second year in a row. Again, they faced the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The MLS Cup 2012 was in Los Angeles. The Dynamo scored first, but the Galaxy came back to win 3–1. The Dynamo were runners-up for the second time.
The Dynamo continued their strong home record in 2013. They had a 36-game unbeaten streak at home, which ended in May 2013. They made the playoffs again. They beat Montreal Impact and the New York Red Bulls in exciting games. This sent them to the Conference Championship for the third year in a row.
However, they lost to Sporting Kansas City in the Conference Championship. Even so, 2013 was a good year for the team. In 2014, the Dynamo signed USMNT midfielder DaMarcus Beasley. But they did not make the playoffs that year.
Recent Years: New Ownership and Success (2015–Present)
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In 2015, the Dynamo moved back to the Western Conference. They did not make the playoffs. At the end of 2015, Gabriel Brener became the main owner.
The team changed coaches a few times. In 2017, they made the playoffs for the first time since 2013. They reached the Western Conference Finals but lost to Seattle Sounders FC.
In 2018, the Dynamo won their first U.S. Open Cup title! They beat the Philadelphia Union 3–0 in the final. This win allowed them to play in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. However, they missed the MLS playoffs that year.
The Dynamo played in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2019. They won their first round but lost in the quarterfinals. They also played in the first Leagues Cup. The team struggled in the league and missed the playoffs again.
In 2020, Tab Ramos became the new head coach. The team signed new players like Darwin Quintero and Marko Maric. But they finished last in their conference during the shorter COVID-19 season. They missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years.
In June 2021, Ted Segal bought the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash teams. He has invested a lot in the clubs and Shell Energy Stadium. One of his first big changes was bringing back Dynamo legend Pat Onstad as the General Manager.
On March 2, 2022, the Dynamo made their biggest player signing ever. They brought in Héctor Herrera as a designated player. Paulo Nagamura was coach for most of 2022, but he was replaced by Kenny Bundy as interim coach.
Ben Olsen became the head coach for the 2023 season. He led the team to 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 again!
On July 16, 2024, former US Men's National Team star Tim Howard joined the Dynamo's ownership group. He wants to help soccer grow in the United States.
Team Colors and Badge
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.
After winning the MLS Cup in 2006, a star was added above their 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. Its six sides represent the club starting in 2006 and the six original parts of the city. The logo also shows Houston's bayou system with channels in the design.
What Does "Dynamo" Mean?
The name "Dynamo" was announced on March 6, 2006. It refers to Houston's strong energy industry. It also honors a past Houston soccer team called the Houston Dynamos. The team president, Oliver Luck, said "Dynamo" means someone who never gets tired or gives up. This name shows Houston as an energetic and hard-working city. The team colors, orange, white, and "Space City" blue, are also symbols of Houston.
The team was first going to be called Houston 1836. This name was chosen after an online survey. 1836 is the year Houston was founded. But some people linked 1836 to the Texas War of Independence from Mexico. Because of these protests, the name was changed to the Dynamo.
In 2020, the club officially added "Football Club" to its name, becoming Houston Dynamo FC.
Where the Dynamo Play: Stadiums
The Dynamo have played in a few stadiums:
- Robertson Stadium: 2006–2011 (Capacity: 32,000)
- Reliant Stadium: 2006 (Hosted one MLS game)
- Carl Lewis Track & Field Stadium: 2006 (Hosted one U.S. Open Cup game)
- Aggie Soccer Stadium: 2007, 2011 (Hosted some cup games)
- Shell Energy Stadium: 2012–present (Capacity: 20,656)
Shell Energy Stadium: The Dynamo's Home
On December 2, 2010, plans were made for a new soccer stadium in downtown Houston. It opened on May 12, 2012, with a game against D.C. United.
Construction of the stadium began in February 2011. The stadium gives fans clear views from every seat. It has a walkway that goes all around the stadium, with easy access to food and restrooms.
In 2022, the Houston Dynamo Football Club announced big upgrades to Shell Energy Stadium. They installed new mesh seats throughout the stadium. This made it the first soccer-specific stadium in America with mesh seating everywhere. A new air-conditioned club area was also added on the east side. This "East Club" offers premium food and drinks.
Besides soccer games, the stadium also hosts Texas Southern University football games and concerts. It's part of a sports area downtown, near Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center.
The stadium's name has changed a few times. It was first BBVA Compass Stadium, then BBVA Stadium, then PNC Stadium. On January 17, 2023, it became Shell Energy Stadium.
Houston Sports Park: Training Ground
The Dynamo's training facility is called Houston Sports Park (HSP). It opened in 2011. It has seven soccer fields, lights, and parking. Four fields are just for the Dynamo, the Houston Dash, and visiting teams. The other fields can be rented by the public. This park is about 10 miles south of Shell Energy Stadium.
Who Are the Dynamo Fans?
The first Dynamo game on April 2, 2006, had 25,462 fans. Attendance grew throughout their first season. For the 2006 season, they averaged almost 19,000 fans per home game. Dynamo fans even traveled to the 2006 MLS Cup final in Frisco, Texas, helping to sell out the stadium.
There are four official fan groups: El Batallón, Texian Army, Bandera Negra, and The Surge.
Meet Dynamo Diesel: The Mascot
In 2007, the Dynamo looked for a mascot. They asked students to draw ideas. The winning design was an orange-haired fox named Dynamo Diesel. He was introduced on April 3, 2007. Dynamo Diesel helps with the team's marketing and community events.
Rivalries: Who Do the Dynamo Play Against?
The Houston Dynamo's main rival is FC Dallas. Their games are called 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.
How to Watch and Listen to the Dynamo
Since 2023, you can watch every Dynamo match on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app.
You can also listen to Dynamo games on the radio. ESPN Houston 97.5 FM broadcasts games in English. TUDN Radio Houston 93.3 FM broadcasts games in Spanish.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Who Has Coached the Dynamo?
| Name | Nationality | Time as Coach | Games | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominic Kinnear |  United States |
Dec 16, 2005 – Oct 25, 2014 | 288 | 112 | 90 | 86 | 38.8 |
| Owen Coyle |  Republic of Ireland |
Dec 9, 2014 – May 25, 2016 | 46 | 14 | 21 | 11 | 30.4 |
| Wade Barrett (interim) | United States |
May 28, 2016 – Oct 26, 2016 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 18.2 |
| Wilmer Cabrera |  Colombia |
Oct 28, 2016 – Aug 13, 2019 | 93 | 32 | 39 | 22 | 34.4 |
| Davy Arnaud (interim) | United States |
Aug 14, 2019 – Oct 24, 2019 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 33.3 |
| Tab Ramos | United States |
Oct 25, 2019 – Nov 4, 2021 | 57 | 10 | 26 | 21 | 17.5 |
| Paulo Nagamura |  Brazil |
Jan 3, 2022 – Sep 5, 2022 | 29 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 27.6 |
| Kenny Bundy (interim) | United States |
Sep 5, 2022 – Nov 8, 2022 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 40.0 |
| Ben Olsen | United States |
Nov 8, 2022 – present | 49 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 40.8 |
General Managers
| Name | Nat | Time as GM |
|---|---|---|
| Dominic Kinnear | United States |
2005–2014 |
| Matt Jordan | United States |
2014–2021 |
| Pat Onstad |  Canada |
2021–present |
Who Owns the Team?
- AEG (2005–2015)
- Gabriel Bener (2008–2022)
- Oscar De La Hoya (2008–2022)
- Ben Guill (2015–2022)
- Jake Silverstein (2015–2021)
- Ted Segal (2021–present)
- Lyle Ayes (2022–present)
Coaching and Executive Staff
| Executive Team | |
|---|---|
| Majority Owner & Chairman |  Ted Segal |
| Owner/Vice Chairman | Lyle Ayes |
| Minority Owner | James Harden |
| Minority Owner | Tim Howard |
| Houston Dynamo Football Club President | Jessica O'Neill |
| General manager |  Pat Onstad |
| Technical director | Asher Mendelsohn |
| Assistant general manager | Nick Kowba |
| Director of methodology |  Ben Bartlett |
| Coaching Staff | |
| Head coach | Ben Olsen |
| Assistant coach |  Juan Guerra |
| Assistant coach |  Aurélien Collin |
| Assistant coach |  Adin Osmanbašić |
| Assistant coach | Tim Hanley |
| Head video analyst | Carlon Carpenter |
| Sports performance director/fitness coach |  Paul Caffrey |
| Head of sports science |  Alex Calder |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Anthony Narcisi |
| Director of sports medicine | Craig Devine |
| Head athletic trainer | Matt Murphy |
| Assistant athletic trainer | Juan Castano |
| Assistant athletic trainer | Brandi Neeley |
| Physical therapist | Micah Kust |
| Massage therapist | Ivan Diaz |
| Scouting coordinator & analyst |  Sebastian Romero |
| Player care manager | Martha Carvajal |
Youth Teams and Affiliates
The Houston Dynamo Academy started in 2007. It helps young players develop their skills. On February 27, 2009, Tyler Deric became the first player from the Dynamo Academy to sign with the main team.
The Dynamo Academy trains at Houston Sports Park.
The Dynamo also have a team called Houston Dynamo 2. This team plays in MLS Next Pro, a league for younger professional players. They play their games at SaberCats Stadium at Houston Sports Park.
The Dynamo are also connected with the Houston Dash. The Dash is a professional women's soccer team in the NWSL. Both the Dynamo and Dash are run by Houston Dynamo Football Club.
Team Achievements
Major Trophies Won
- MLS Cup
- Champions (2): 2006, 2007
- U.S. Open Cup
- Champions (2): 2018, 2023
Team Records and Statistics
Top Players in Dynamo History (Regular Season)
- Most Games Played: Brad Davis (271 games)
- Most Goals: Brian Ching (56 goals)
- Most Assists: Brad Davis (104 assists)
- Most Shots: Brad Davis (473 shots)
- Most Wins (Goalkeeper): Pat Onstad (53 wins)
- Most Shutouts (Goalkeeper): Pat Onstad (37 shutouts)
- Most Saves (Goalkeeper): Pat Onstad (384 saves)
Best Single Season Records
- Most Goals in a Season:
Mauro Manotas – 19 (2018) - Most Assists in a Season: Brad Davis – 16 (2011)
- Most Shutouts in a Season (Goalkeeper): Tally Hall – 12 (2013)
Player Awards and Honors
MLS League Awards
- MLS Best XI (Top 11 players in the league):
- 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 (Players chosen for the All-Star Game):
- 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
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Dwayne De Rosario |
Eddie Robinson |
Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
| 2007 | Brian Mullan, Pat Onstad |
Eddie Robinson |
Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
| 2008 | Brian Ching |
Bobby Boswell |
Geoff Cameron |
Stuart Holden |
Not Awarded | |
| 2009 | Brad Davis |
Geoff Cameron |
Cam Weaver |
Andre Hainault |
Not Awarded | |
| 2010 | Brad Davis |
Bobby Boswell |
 Lovel Palmer |
Danny Cruz |
Not Awarded | |
| 2011 | Brad Davis |
Andre Hainault |
 Adam Moffat |
Will Bruin |
Not Awarded | |
| 2012 | Brad Davis |
Bobby Boswell |
 Boniek García |
Will Bruin |
Boniek García |
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| 2013 | Tally Hall |
Kofi Sarkodie |
Andrew Driver |
 Warren Creavalle |
Ricardo Clark |
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| 2014 | Giles Barnes |
Not Awarded | Luis Garrido |
Luis Garrido |
Giles Barnes |
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| 2015 | Ricardo Clark |
DaMarcus Beasley |
 Raúl Rodríguez |
 Leonel Miranda |
Ricardo Clark |
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| 2016 | Alex Lima |
Joe Willis |
Andrew Wenger |
Mauro Manotas |
Alex Lima |
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| 2017 | Juan David Cabezas |
 Adolfo Machado |
Alberth Elis |
Mauro Manotas |
Alberth Elis |
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| 2018 | Mauro Manotas |
DaMarcus Beasley |
Alejandro Fuenmayor |
Alberth Elis |
Mauro Manotas |
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| 2019 | Matías Vera |
 Aljaž Struna |
Matías Vera |
Memo Rodriguez |
DaMarcus Beasley |
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| 2020 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
| 2021 | Fafà Picault |
 Teenage Hadebe |
Teenage Hadebe |
Griffin Dorsey |
Fafà Picault |
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| 2022 | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
| 2023 |  Héctor Herrera |
Steve Clark |
Artur |
Nelson Quiñónes |
Héctor Herrera |
Images for kids
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President George W. Bush and the 2007 Dynamo squad after the second MLS Cup victory
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Brian Mullan vs. the New York Red Bulls during the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals at Robertson Stadium.
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Houston players walk onto the pitch with kids prior to an April 2009 match with Colorado
See also
In Spanish: Houston Dynamo Football Club para niños
