Houston Dynamo Football Club today announced its matchday activations to recognize Juneteenth at Shell Energy Stadium, highlighting community members and organizations from around the city.
The Houston Dash will recognize Juneteenth on Saturday, June 17 when they host OL Reign, while the Houston Dynamo will recognize the holiday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, June 21, which will also be a 713 Night presented by Bud Light. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The Dash and Reign will both wear a Juneteenth-themed t-shirt pregame, as will all NWSL teams across the league. The shirt was designed in partnership with the Black Women’s Player Collective and a portion of the proceeds from the t-shirt sales will go toward an organization focused on cultivating Black soccer culture and providing access to the sport. The shirt will be available in the team store starting on Saturday, June 17.
Dynamo and Dash Charities will auction a Juneteenth jersey designed by Gianni Lee and signed by the entire Dynamo roster. The funds raised from the auction will benefit The Forge for Families. The auction opens on MLSAuction.com at 11 a.m. CT on June 14 and closes on June 28.
Prior to kickoff of each match, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” widely considered as the Black National Anthem, will be performed by local singer-songwriter Shonnie Murrell at the Dash match and soul artist Rudey Barnes at the Dynamo match.
To support initiatives that continue to grow soccer throughout the Houston community, the Club will host a private Juneteenth soccer clinic at Houston Sports Park on June 15 in partnership with Texas Southern University and The Forge for Families, a program whose mission is to holistically equip families to fulfill their God-given potential. Dynamo players Mujeeb Murana and Brooklyn Raines and Dash player Nichelle Prince, along with staff from the Club and TSU’s women’s soccer team will facilitate a two-hour training and educational program for local youth to develop their skills both on the pitch and in the community. Additionally, clinic participants and members of The Forge for Families will receive tickets for the Dash match on June 17 against OL Reign.
The club will recognize Juneteenth USA on Saturday, June 17 when the Dash host OL Reign. Juneteenth USA is the oldest Juneteenth nonprofit advocacy organization in the country. The organization was founded in 1985 with the purpose of raising awareness of Juneteenth and to elevate the history, art and history of the holiday.
