Houston, also known as the Bayou City, Space City and the Energy Capital of the World, might be adding another title as it is rapidly gaining recognition as an international sports city. After years of bidding for and hosting small-scale events, the Houston region has successfully secured and will host a series of major sporting events in the upcoming years, including the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2025, 2027 and 2031 AAU Junior Olympic Games. Houston also recently hosted the NCAA Final Four, LPGA Chevron Championship in The Woodlands, and has been announced as a host city for several 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup matches.  According to a recent report from OLBG, Houston is the sixth most valuable sports city in the U.S. in terms of revenue generated from NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS teams and predicted revenue growth, but it is projected to move into the top five by 2030. Speculations abound that Houston may soon welcome an NHL team, as reported by the Houston Chronicle, which could further bolster its rankings.  Despite Houston's wins, the city was ranked No. 29 in a recent evaluation of the 50 best cities for sports business by the Sports Business Journal, behind Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Criticisms revolved around Houston's sprawling nature and lack of walkability. Another concern raised was the relative freshness of its venues, with three of its major stadiums—NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, and Toyota Center— having been constructed in the early 2000s. Shell Energy Stadium is the newest major stadium, opened in 2012.   Beyond the 350-acre complex housing NRG Center, NRG Arena and the Astrodome, the absence of appealing establishments such as restaurants, bars, and hotels for visitors detracts from Houston's identity as a sports city, according to Houston First CEO Michael Heckman.   To address this, Houston First and organizations like the South Main Alliance's Main Street Coalition are actively exploring comprehensive plans to develop the area and attract commercial developers to this currently underdeveloped region.   Currently, NRG Park has plans to revamp its complex over a period of several years while Minute Maid Park has recently completed upgrades to its video display technology as part of a new partnership with Samsung, in addition to its 8,500-square-foot team store constructed at center field and new food options.  The Houston Astros are also set to embark on a mixed-use development adjacent to Minute Maid Park, encompassing a hotel, an entertainment center, restaurants, an indoor tailgating area, and a walkway connecting the development to the ballpark's club level.  In an interview with the Houston Business Journal, Heckman stated that “the trend [for cities] is to create these entertainment districts around the sports and entertainment complexes. For us, I think it's a phenomenal opportunity to learn lessons from the others that have done this around the country, but also to make it uniquely Houston.”  While there are currently no definite plans, NRG Park CEO and Executive Director Ryan Walsh believes that the area around the complex is “really ripe for development. Give it five years... I think you're gonna see a lot of change in this area.”  Learn more about living in Houston.

HOUSTON — Houston’s trade ties with its global partners have largely recovered from the impacts of the pandemic, according to the Greater Houston Partnership’s latest Global Houston report.  The analysis documents how Houston’s international activity in 2022 continued to set records: The Houston-Galveston Customs District continues to rank first in the country in tonnage handled (exports and imports) with over 382.8 million metric tons. For the first time in history, the Houston-Galveston Customs District ranked first in total value with $372.6 billion, which typically ranks second behind Los Angeles/Long Beach. Exports topped $191.8 billion, well above the previous record of $140.8 billion set in 2021. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is back at pre-pandemic levels and continues accelerating. The Partnership documented 44 business expansions from companies headquartered overseas in 2022, up from 33 in 2021. In 2020, only 13 non-U.S. firms announced plans to expand or relocate operations in the region. International migration surged to 47,400, accounting for the largest share (38%) of the region’s population growth in 2022. International air traffic continues to edge closer to pre-pandemic levels. The Houston Airport System handled 10.4 million international passengers in 2022, up from 7.3 million in 2021 but still below the pre-COVID peak of 12.0 million in 2020.  The Port of Houston set a record for container traffic, handing nearly 3.2 million loaded TEUs (twenty-foot-equivalent units), a 17.9% increase over 2021. “The international metrics demonstrate Houston’s ties global economy continues to strengthen, positioning the region for continued growth despite global economic headwinds,” Partnership Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski said. According to the report, the ongoing war in Ukraine, persistent inflation, and rising interest rates are key factors that continue to be speedbumps to growth but are not considered outright obstacles. “Any slowdown caused by macro forces will likely impact Houston only marginally,” Jankowski said. “Houston’s economy will continue to expand, create jobs, and attract new residents to the region.”   Other data included in the report reflects Houston’s influence as a global business hub:  Houston has trading relationships with more than 200 countries. The value of exports via the district has exceeded imports every year since 2013. Over 1,700 foreign-owned firms have an office, factory, distribution, or service center in Houston.  Nearly 150 Houston-headquartered companies operated subsidiaries outside the U.S.  Another section of the Global Houston report provides additional statistics and information about Houston’s international business ties and ranks the region’s top 20 trade partners. The value of goods and services traded increased among all leading partners in 2022, continuing the trend of growth. Top 10 Houston trade partners and the value of trade in 2022:  Mexico -- $32.1 billion, up from $21.6 billion in 2021. China -- $31.9 billion, up from $24.8 billion in 2021.  South Korea -- $24.6 billion, up from $16.2 billion in 2021.  Brazil -- $20.1 billion, up from $16.8 billion in 2021.  Netherlands -- $19.1 billion, up from $13.4 billion in 2021.  United Kingdom -- $16.4 billion, up from $9.9 billion in 2021. India -- $15.7 billion, up from $13.9 billion in 2021. Germany -- $15.0 billion, up from $12.0 billion in 2021. Japan -- $14.4 billion, up from $11.5 billion in 2021. Singapore -- $13.6 billion, up from $5.9 billion in 2021. View the trade profiles report here.  ### Greater Houston Partnership  The Greater Houston Partnership works to make Houston one of the best places to live, work and build a business. As the economic development organization for the region, the Partnership champions growth across 12 counties by bringing together business and civic-minded leaders who are dedicated to the area’s long-term success. Representing more than 950 member organizations and approximately one-fifth of the region’s workforce, the Partnership is the place companies come together to make an impact. Learn more at Houston.org.   CONTACT:           Brina Morales                                                 Director, Communications      bmorales@houston.org       (c) 832-287-5089