Toyota Center is the downtown Houston arena that has served as the home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets since it opened in October 2003. Built 32 feet below street level at the request of then-owner Leslie Alexander, the arena required what was reportedly the largest excavation in Houston history to construct, moving roughly 31,500 cubic yards of dirt before the steel ever went up.
Named for the automaker’s $100 million naming-rights deal, Toyota Center replaced the Compaq Center as the Rockets’ home and opened with a Fleetwood Mac concert before hosting its first Rockets game later that October against the Denver Nuggets. Beyond basketball, the arena has also housed the AHL’s Houston Aeros and the WNBA’s Houston Comets, and it is slated to undergo a roughly $180 million renovation ahead of serving as a host venue for the 2028 Republican National Convention.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Houston Rockets (NBA), formerly Houston Aeros (AHL) and Houston Comets (WNBA)
- Location: 1510 Polk Street, Downtown Houston, Texas
- Opened: October 6, 2003
- Capacity: About 18,104 for basketball, up to 19,000 for concerts
- Architects: Populous (formerly HOK Sport), Morris Architects, John S. Chase Architects
- Construction Cost: About $235 million
- Notable Fact: Built 32 feet below street level, requiring the largest excavation in Houston history
A Downtown Landmark Built Below Grade
Unlike most modern arenas, Toyota Center’s playing surface sits well below street level, a design choice driven by Leslie Alexander that gave the building a lower overall profile downtown but demanded an enormous excavation effort before construction could begin. The arena opened its doors on October 6, 2003, with a concert from Fleetwood Mac, followed weeks later by the Rockets’ first game in their new home against the Denver Nuggets.
The venue’s title comes from a naming-rights agreement in which Toyota paid $100 million, one of the largest such deals for a U.S. sports arena at the time. In 2012, the arena added a massive 58-by-25-foot video scoreboard, billed as the largest of its kind in an indoor arena when installed.
More Than Basketball
Toyota Center has hosted a wide range of tenants and events over the years, including the AHL’s Houston Aeros through 2013 and the WNBA’s Houston Comets from 2004 to 2007, with the Comets franchise set to return to the city in 2027. The arena regularly books major touring concerts and has also hosted college basketball and other large-scale entertainment events drawing crowds up to 19,000.
Looking ahead, the arena is undergoing a roughly $180 million renovation, including a new 20,000-square-foot glass atrium, in preparation for serving as a venue for the 2028 Republican National Convention, expected to bring around 50,000 visitors to Houston.
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Toyota Center FAQs
When did Toyota Center open?
Toyota Center opened on October 6, 2003, with an inaugural concert by Fleetwood Mac.
What is the seating capacity of Toyota Center?
The arena seats about 18,104 for Houston Rockets basketball games and can hold up to roughly 19,000 for concerts.
Why is it called Toyota Center?
The arena is named for Toyota, which paid $100 million for naming rights, one of the largest such deals in U.S. sports arena history at the time.
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Photo: Ed Uthman from Houston, TX, USA / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.