Upcoming Houston Texans dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The Texans: Houston's Expansion Franchise
The Houston Texans play their home games at the retractable-roof stadium in Reliant Park, south of downtown Houston, from preseason in August through the regular season that ends in early January. The NFL awarded Houston its 32nd franchise on October 6, 1999, and the Texans began play in 2002, filling the gap the Houston Oilers left when they moved to Tennessee after the 1996 season.
The franchise is young by NFL standards, and its identity is built around a few things: a full-time home in the AFC South (the division it shares with the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans), a deep steel blue and battle red color scheme, the fight song "Football Time in Houston" and Toro, the blue bull mascot. The McNair family has owned the team from the start: Bob McNair until 2018, Janice McNair until 2024 and Cal McNair since.
On the field, the Texans have won the AFC South eight times (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024) and have not yet reached a Super Bowl. For years they were the only franchise without a road playoff win; that ended in the 2025 postseason.
Reliant Stadium: Layout and Where to Sit
The stadium opened in August 2002 as Reliant Stadium, carried the NRG Stadium name from 2014, was branded Houston Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and, as of the 2026 NFL season, has returned to the Reliant Stadium name. Locals use all three names, so expect any of them on maps, parking passes and ticket listings. It seats 72,220 for football and was the first NFL stadium built with a retractable roof; the two roof panels part at the 50-yard line and take about seven minutes to move.
Because the roof is usually closed in Houston's early-season heat, sun and rain matter far less here than at an open-air stadium. Your choice comes down to height, angle and budget.
- Lower bowl. The sideline sections between the 20-yard lines are the premium inventory. Rows in the teens and twenties are the sweet spot; the first few rows sit at field level, where players, staff and cameras along the sideline can block the far side of the field.
- Club level. The middle tier carries club seating with indoor lounge access, wider seats and shorter lines. Sideline club seats give the best balance of height and proximity in the building.
- Upper deck. The value tier. Lower rows of the upper sideline sections give a clean, television-style view of play developing; the top rows of the upper corners are the longest climb and the farthest seats from the field.
- End zones. End zone seats in the lower bowl are fun for red-zone action and the pregame tunnel run, but you lose depth perception on plays at the other end. Upper end zone seats are usually the least expensive way in.
For a first visit, a sideline seat in the lower rows of the upper deck or the back half of the lower bowl gives the most game for the money. Families with young children often prefer an aisle seat on the club level, where restrooms and concessions are closer and less crowded.
Which Texans Home Games Draw the Most Demand
A Texans home slate typically includes one or two preseason games in August, eight or nine regular-season games from September through early January, and a home playoff game in years the team wins the division. Resale prices move with the opponent, the time slot and the standings.
- Tennessee Titans. Many Houston fans still see the franchise that left as the Oilers as the chief rival, and the twice-a-year meeting carries that history.
- Dallas Cowboys. The in-state game, played for the "Governor's Cup," draws heavy traveling support from North Texas and is consistently one of the toughest tickets when it comes to Houston.
- Division games late in the season. Meetings with the Colts and Jaguars in December often decide the AFC South, so demand rises if the race is close.
- Prime-time games. Night kickoffs on Thursday, Sunday or Monday draw a louder crowd and usually firmer prices.
- Marquee visitors. Opponents with national followings bring their own fans and lift demand across the stadium.
Early-season games against non-division opponents, and preseason games, are usually the easiest and least expensive seats to find. Late-season games can swing in either direction: a playoff race tightens supply, while a lost season softens it, sometimes in the final days before kickoff.
Getting to Reliant Park: Rail, Parking and Rideshare
The stadium sits in Reliant Park off the South Loop (Interstate 610) next to the Astrodome, south of downtown. METRORail's Red Line stops at Stadium Park/Astrodome station, which makes the train the simplest option from downtown, Midtown, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center; expect packed trains right after the final whistle.
Reliant Park is surrounded by large surface lots, and the team's parking map shows walk times to the gates that range from about 30 minutes to more than an hour, depending on the lot. Season parking holders take the closest lots, so buy single-game parking in advance and plan your walk. Rideshare drop-off works, but post-game pickup lines are long; walking to a nearby business or waiting out the crowd is often faster.
As of the 2026 season, gates open two hours before kickoff, tickets are mobile-only, and a clear-bag policy (clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags no larger than about 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag) is enforced. Check the team's stadium page for the current policy before you go.
Tailgating and the Gameday Scene
Tailgating is the core of a Texans game day. The Reliant Park lots fill hours before kickoff with grills, smokers, tents and televisions, and the cooking leans heavily on Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex. Arrive early if you want the full experience, and check the team's current lot hours and rules, which set when lots open and what equipment is allowed.
Inside, the roof traps sound, so a full house is loud on third down. Toro's pregame entrance, the team's run out of the tunnel and "Football Time in Houston" after scores are part of the ritual. Air conditioning under a closed roof also makes a September game far more comfortable than it would be outdoors in Houston.
Following the Texans on the Road
Division road games are the easiest trips for Houston fans. Indianapolis offers a walkable downtown with hotels close to Lucas Oil Stadium. Nashville puts the stadium across a pedestrian bridge from Broadway. Jacksonville is an easy weekend on the Florida coast, though the Jaguars' stadium is under renovation, with reduced capacity in 2026 and a move to Orlando for 2027.
The Texans have also appeared in the NFL's international series; the Jaguars' 2026 schedule lists an October game against Houston at Wembley Stadium in London. For any road game, buy early when a team in the middle of a stadium project has fewer seats to sell.
History and Notable Moments
The Texans opened their first season in 2002 with a win over the Dallas Cowboys in the new stadium, a rare start for an expansion team. The first division title and playoff berth came in 2011, followed by back-to-back AFC South crowns. Further titles followed in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, and consecutive titles in 2023 and 2024 marked a new run of contention.
The building has its own résumé. It hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and Super Bowl LI in 2017, WrestleMania 25, the College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2024 and seven matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Every winter it becomes the main arena of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and each December it hosts the Texas Bowl.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Houston Texans play?
The Texans play at the retractable-roof stadium in Reliant Park in Houston. It opened in 2002 as Reliant Stadium, was NRG Stadium from 2014 and, as of the 2026 season, carries the Reliant Stadium name again.
Is the roof open during Texans games?
The stadium has a retractable roof, and the team decides before each game whether to open it. In Houston's heat and humidity it is often closed, so most seats are climate-controlled.
What is the best way to get to a Texans game?
METRORail's Red Line stops at Stadium Park/Astrodome station next to Reliant Park, which avoids game-day parking traffic. If you drive, buy parking in advance and expect a walk of up to an hour from distant lots.
Which Texans home games are hardest to get tickets for?
Games against the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, prime-time kickoffs and late-season division games with playoff stakes draw the most demand. Early-season and preseason games are usually easier to buy.
Does the stadium have a clear-bag policy?
Yes. As of the 2026 season a clear-bag policy is in effect, and tickets are mobile-only. Check the team's stadium page for the current list of allowed bags before you go.