NRG Stadium is a multi-purpose retractable-roof stadium located at 1 NRG Parkway in Houston, Texas, that opened on August 24, 2002. Built at a cost of approximately $352 million and designed by HOK Sport (now Populous), it became the permanent home of the Houston Texans NFL franchise from the very first season and quickly established itself as one of the most versatile large-capacity venues in the United States.
The stadium made history as the first NFL facility built with a retractable roof, a feature engineered to keep Houston’s notorious summer heat and humidity at bay. With a seating capacity of 72,220 — expandable to around 80,000 for major occasions — NRG Stadium has hosted everything from Super Bowls and WrestleMania to the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, cementing its reputation as a true all-purpose entertainment hub.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Team(s): Houston Texans (NFL)
- Opened: August 24, 2002
- Capacity: 72,220 (expandable to ~80,000)
- Construction Cost: $352 million
- Super Bowls Hosted: XXXVIII (2004) and LI (2017)
- Notable First: First NFL stadium built with a retractable roof
A Roof That Changed the Game
NRG Stadium’s signature feature is its retractable roof, whose two large panels split apart at midfield and can open or close in as little as seven minutes. This innovation made it the first NFL stadium designed from the ground up with a retractable roof, a blueprint that influenced venues built in the years that followed. The playing surface is Hellas Matrix Helix artificial turf, and the stadium spans roughly 1.9 million square feet.
The stadium is part of the broader NRG Park campus, which also includes NRG Center (a large convention and exhibition hall) and NRG Arena. NRG Energy secured the naming rights in a 32-year, approximately $300 million deal signed in 2000 — one of the longest-running stadium naming agreements in North American professional sports.
Marquee Moments on the Big Stage
NRG Stadium has hosted two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XXXVIII in February 2004 and Super Bowl LI in February 2017 — the latter famous for the New England Patriots’ historic comeback from a 28–3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons, making it the first Super Bowl ever decided in overtime. WrestleMania 25 packed the stands in 2009, and the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship brought elite college football to Houston.
In 2026, the stadium serves as a host venue for the FIFA World Cup under the temporary designation ‘Houston Stadium,’ with seven matches scheduled. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the largest rodeos in the world, has filled the arena every spring since 2003, making NRG Stadium one of the few venues that seamlessly transitions between NFL games, international soccer, and rodeo competition.
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NRG Stadium FAQs
What NFL team plays at NRG Stadium?
The Houston Texans have played their home games at NRG Stadium since the franchise’s inaugural 2002 NFL season.
Does NRG Stadium have a retractable roof?
Yes. NRG Stadium was the first NFL stadium built with a retractable roof. The two roof panels split at midfield and can open or close in as little as seven minutes.
Which Super Bowls has NRG Stadium hosted?
NRG Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII in February 2004 and Super Bowl LI in February 2017 — the first Super Bowl to go to overtime, won by the New England Patriots over the Atlanta Falcons.
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Photo: Carlos.dkfi / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.