Houston Dynamo set to Open BBVA Compass Stadium as the First Downtown Major League Soccer Venue

Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo will have a new space to call home when BBVA Compass Stadium officially opens Saturday, May 12. The core of Houston’s East Downtown Redevelopment Plan, the 22,000-seat stadium was designed by Populous as a soccer-specific facility for the Dynamo but has the flexibility to accommodate multi-use events such as football, lacrosse, rugby and concerts. It will also serve as home stadium for Texas Southern University football.

The design approach of BBVA Compass Stadium makes use of simple and common materials that refer to downtown Houston’s industrial heritage while creating a distinctive civic landmark in an emerging urban neighborhood. A tessellated exterior skin mediates the scale of its context while defining a bold architectural statement in the Houston Skyline.

“Houston already has Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center and Reliant Stadium, so the bar for BBVA Compass Stadium was pretty high,” said BBVA Compass Stadium designer and Populous Associate Principal Jeff Spear. “For the Dynamo, Populous wanted to create a home that would express the unique personality of soccer and the neighborhood – a place the team and fans would be excited to call home.”

Composed of geometrically expanded metal sheets and orange polycarbonate infill – a color that represents the Dynamo brand – this continuous exterior surface surrounds the stadium and provides a dynamic sense of enclosure while enhancing the spectator experience. Completed with a $65 million construction cost, the stadium has 22,000 seats, 33 suites and 343,500 total square feet.

“Not only does BBVA Compass Stadium have a captivating appearance, but it’s also a functional and exciting space for soccer matches and a variety of other events,” said Spear.

BBVA Compass Stadium is Populous’ third Major League Soccer stadium in the United States.

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