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LET’S GO DYNAMO!

If you’re looking for an exciting and family-friendly activity in Houston, attending a Houston Dynamo soccer game with your kids is a fantastic option. Held at Shell Energy Stadium, the games offer a high-energy atmosphere, engaging entertainment, and a chance to introduce children to the world of Major League Soccer (MLS). Whether your family is made up of die-hard soccer fans or you’re just looking for a unique way to spend the weekend, a Dynamo match delivers unforgettable fun for all ages.

If you have any bit of admiration for sports at all, and you live in or are traveling to the Houston area, you’ve got to hit up a Dynamo game. No exaggeration, it’s the most fun I’ve had at any professional sports game.

Each sport has its own type of fan, and I’m not downplaying any other crowd, but I have found my people among the soccer crowd. Think loud and passionate. (This does not equal me in most any other setting but put me in the bleachers (or the like) and this very much is me, haha.)

Soccer, (aka football in other countries), really could be called the world’s sport. It is the game of choice among most other countries. That’s not necessarily what the US is known for. (I think the US is mainly known for baseball and football, what do you think?) Thus, others may be much more familiar with soccer than I. Big bear and middle bear have played soccer for years, we’ve watched the World Cup once, but this was my first in-person professional soccer game….. and it did not disappoint!

Shell Energy Stadium

Firstly, the stadium is brilliant, which makes sense, being that it just opened in 2012. There are only two levels of stadium seats which means it’s hard to find a bad spot to sit. Given that my family lives on a decently tight budget, we usually opt for the cheapest seats in a stadium which would usually mean the “nose-bleed” section. Not so at Shell Energy Stadium! Every seat feels like you’re close to the action. The grass is bright green, the screens are huge, and the views are superb. It feels like you spent more money on your seat than you actually did. (Brilliant!)

Dynamo Game Atmosphere:

Ahh, the atmosphere of a place affects one’s experience immensely in my opinion. Think about it. You could watch a movie in your room on your phone, or you could choose to go to the theater to watch a movie in a reclining chair on a huge screen with several other people. The atmospheres make a difference and it can add or take away from your experience. I (have found) that I love soccer culture largely because of the atmosphere at the stadium.

I was unaware that soccer fans show their support for their teams by wearing scarves. It’s a thing! And when your team scores a goal you see fans all around the stadium raise their scarves and wave them vigorously. My family and I couldn’t help but think about Harry Potter and quidditch tournaments with their various team scarves. So fun!

Dynamo Game Fanfare:

The fanfare at a Dynamo game is over the top! Live percussion, y’all! You can hear and see drummers drumming, giving the game a live-sound-track. It reminded me of a high-school football game but on a much bigger scale. The celebratory lights cannot be overlooked though. Fireworks are shot off with every goal and sometimes at the beginning of the game too. LED-like lights form a perimeter around the field and light up almost giving a fire-like effect when the teams come back on the field after half-time. Again, it feels like you paid more money than you did to witness it all.

To add to the experience, was the amount of HUSTLE given by the players. I’m not great about watching slow-paced games. I want to watch the ball moving constantly and action happening fast. To prove my point, at the end of the game, I watched as all the players, on both teams, either sunk to their knees or took a hunched over position. It was as if they had given all they had in the last 90+ minutes and they were finally able to stop and take a long breather. It was pretty incredible.

I cannot close out this post without giving an honorable mention to the Houston’s women’s team, DASH. My family and I watched one of their games a few weekends before we were able to see the Dynamo game. It did not have as large of a crowd or the fanfare that accompanied the men’s team but it was still fun to watch. In all sincerity, I feel like I saw more aggression (in a good way) from the women players than the men. They were not kidding around. The athleticism was fun to watch, it just lacked the atmosphere that I thoroughly enjoyed at the Dynamo game.

Budget Note: On Food and Parking at Shell Energy Stadium

There is only one con about the Dynamo game for me. The food prices are outrageous. We paid $18 for three tiny tacos. I think this is probably normal with most stadium food, and we did not try out every food vendor there, but as we walked around looking for something cheaper, we were unable to find better. My advice, either eat beforehand, wait to eat after, or grab a large popcorn to hold every one over!

Hear me out, if you want to reduce your stress and chaos with kiddos, it’s essential to consider parking options. The stadium offers on-site parking in Lots B and C, located on the northern side of the venue. These spots are limited and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early is advisable. Parking in these lots typically starts at $30 per car .

For more affordable options, several off-site parking facilities are available within walking distance of the stadium. For instance, 1515 San Jacinto St offers parking for as low as $7, and 114 Travis Street provides spots starting at $5 . (These spots are our go-tos!)

If you’re considering public transportation, the METRORail’s EaDo/Stadium Station on the Green and Purple Lines drops you off right in front of Shell Energy Stadium, offering a convenient alternative to driving . This can be especially helpful for families with young children, as it eliminates the need to navigate parking altogether.

Remember to plan ahead, arrive early, and consider all available options to make your family’s visit to a Houston Dynamo game enjoyable and hassle-free. Need another Houston family fun idea? Check out my other article here!

Have you ever been to a Houston Dynamo game? What was your experience? I’d love to hear in the comments below!