Houston’s professional sports teams have the most electrifying names.
At this point, Most people know Houston for its strong energy, frustratingly variable weather, delicious food and lively politics, all of which reflect the city’s diversity. Sports also play a big role in H-Town’s reputation as a Texas stronghold: Our athletes recently showed what they could do at the Paris Olympics, winning multiple gold and silver medals for the United States. What makes Houston unique is reflected in our sports teams, and the stories of how they got their names are just as compelling.
The Houston Astrodome was essentially named after one of our sports teams.
Houston Astros
baseball
Did you know that our city’s best baseball team had a completely different name about 60 years ago? The team was originally called the Houston Colt .45s in 1962, and the name came about through a fan contest, a nod to the famous “gun that conquered the West.” In 1965, the Colt .45s moved into their new indoor stadium, the Astrodome – an architectural marvel at the time. To adapt to their new home, the team was renamed the Astros, a name reflecting Houston’s growing role in the aerospace industry. The name has stuck ever since, and the Astros continue to shine in Major League Baseball.
Houston Dash
football
As one of our city’s younger sports teams, the women’s soccer team is closely associated with its male counterpart, the Houston Dynamo. Introduced in 2014 as the first expansion team of the National Women’s Soccer League, the Houston Dash name reflects the speed, energy and power of the sport. The name is also a throwback to Houston’s early days when horses were our primary mode of transportation.
Houston Dynamo
football
Our Major League Soccer team hails from San Jose, California, where they were known as the San Jose Earthquakes – a name that harks back to the Bay Area’s seismic activity and is a fitting tribute to the region’s harrowing natural phenomenon. When they moved to earthquake-free Houston, they needed a new name and landed on Dynamo – perfect for an energy powerhouse that relies on oil and gas. And it suits the fast-paced action of soccer.
Houston’s professional basketball team is named after space travel.
Houston Rockets
basketball
Our NBA team has a title that fits Space City. The Houston Rockets were originally based in San Diego and were named after the city’s then-growing ties to space technology. The name was a perfect fit for H-Town – you know, all that space stuff – when the franchise moved to Houston in 1971. If you look closely at the logo, you can even see a rocket ship launching.
Houston Texans
football
When the Oilers left us for Tennessee in 1997, we were heartbroken and needed a new football team. We also needed a name that screamed Houston. So we became the Texans when our new team joined the National Football League in 2002. The name is like a big, bold statement about who we are. Simple, effective and proudly Texan.
Houston Volts
Padel
The Volts are the newest team in Houston, and you may not know them: They’re the city’s first professional padel association. Wondering what padel is? It’s a growing sport that combines elements of tennis and squash — similar to pickleball. Officially joining the Professional Padel League as the newest group in 2023, the Volts compete in the league against nine other national and international teams. The founder chose the name to appeal to Houston’s electrifying base, and the logo features mascot Zeus holding a lightning bolt, further pushing the energy theme.
