The Summit opened on November 1, 1975, at 3700 Southwest Freeway in Houston, Texas, serving as the home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets for nearly three decades. Built for roughly $18–27 million, the glass-enclosed arena represented a new generation of American sports venues — spacious, modern, and purpose-built for television-era professional basketball.
Over its 28 years as a sports arena, The Summit hosted some of the most memorable moments in Houston sports history. The Rockets captured back-to-back NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995 within its walls, and the building also served the Houston Comets WNBA franchise and the Houston Aeros hockey club. Renamed Compaq Center in 1998, the arena closed to sports in December 2003 when the Rockets relocated to the new downtown Toyota Center.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas
- Opened: November 1, 1975
- Closed (as arena): December 1, 2003
- Capacity: about 16,285 (basketball)
- Primary Tenant: Houston Rockets (NBA, 1975–2003)
- NBA Finals Hosted: 1981, 1986, 1994, 1995
- Renamed: Compaq Center (1998–2003)
- Architect: Kenneth Bentsen Associates / Lloyd Jones Associates
Championship History
The Summit became synonymous with Houston basketball greatness. The arena hosted the NBA Finals four times — in 1981, 1986, 1994, and 1995. The 1994 and 1995 Finals were the most celebrated: Hakeem Olajuwon led the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles on The Summit’s hardwood, making it the site of the only championships in Rockets franchise history.
Beyond basketball, The Summit also hosted the 1989 Royal Rumble — the first pay-per-view edition of that WWE event — along with championship boxing and major concerts throughout its run. ZZ Top played the final concert at the venue on November 22, 2003, closing an era of Houston entertainment history.
Aftermath and Legacy
After the Rockets departed for the Toyota Center, the building sat dormant before Lakewood Church acquired it in 2004. Following a $95 million renovation, it reopened in July 2005 as the Lakewood Church Central Campus, which grew into one of the largest congregations in the United States.
The Summit was never demolished. Its modernist glass-and-steel shell still stands along the Southwest Freeway, a physical landmark of Houston’s sports heritage. Though its mission shifted from playoff basketball to Sunday services, the building’s bones endure as a quiet monument to the Rockets dynasty that once called it home.
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The Summit FAQs
When did The Summit open and close as a sports arena?
The Summit opened on November 1, 1975, and closed as a sports venue on December 1, 2003, when the Houston Rockets moved to the new Toyota Center downtown.
How many NBA Finals did The Summit host?
The Summit hosted four NBA Finals: 1981, 1986, 1994, and 1995. The Houston Rockets won back-to-back championships there in 1994 and 1995.
Was The Summit demolished?
No. Rather than being torn down, the building underwent a $95 million renovation and reopened in July 2005 as the Lakewood Church Central Campus, where it still stands today.
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Photo: BrandonDJAdams1994 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.