BBVA Compass Stadium will undergo enhancements throughout 2019 to improve the fan game day experience, stadium officials announced Monday.
The initiatives are a direct response to feedback from supporters, fans and additional stakeholders who met with Dynamo and Dash President of Business Operations John Walker last fall.
“We asked a number of our key stakeholders what we could do to improve their experience on match days and took those suggestions to our ownership group over the offseason. The fan experience is a priority for our club, starting with our owners, and we’re excited to begin implementing some of those upgrades,” Walker said. “This is the beginning of a process that we hope will include additional upgrades over the coming months and years as we continue to listen to our fans and work to deliver a world-class experience at every event.”
The stadium is currently installing an enhanced sound system throughout the facility, including the concourses, which will allow fans to stay engaged with the match no matter where they are in the building. Additionally, the club is installing smoke effects above each goal to give an added visual experience after Dynamo players score at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Fans looking to stay cool at Dynamo and Dash matches will enjoy three Big Ass Fans that will be installed on the roof of the east and west grandstand. These specially-designed oversized fans will create a consistent airflow throughout the seating areas, giving spectators a more comfortable viewing experience. Studies have shown that overhead fans can reduce the perceived temperature by up to 10 degrees.
A private Mother’s Room is being installed at Section 118 and will include private nursing areas, a changing table and a television to stay connected to the match. Also new in 2019, guests who may be sensitive to sound or may suffer from sensory overload will have access to a Sensory Room at Section 118. The Sensory Room is being constructed in collaboration with KultureCity, a 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on helping organizations become sensory inclusive through programming, training and dedicated spaces.
BBVA Compass Stadium will be the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer and the first athletic facility in Houston to install a permanent Mothers’ Room and a permanent Sensory Room.
“We are proud to be the first MLS stadium and the first in Houston to install a dedicated Mothers’ Room and Sensory Room,” said Stadium Executive Vice President and General Manager Juan Rodriguez. “Our goal is to make BBVA Compass Stadium the most welcoming and inclusive stadium in our community, as well as in our league, and part of inclusivity is being mindful of fans who may have unique needs and taking steps to give them the necessary space or resources to allow them to fully enjoy their time here.”
BBVA Compass Stadium was opened in 2012 as a LEED Silver facility and has been consistently upgraded and updated over the last six-plus years in order to continue delivering a superior guest experience. Before the 2016 MLS season, the BBVA Compass Vault was created as an exclusive fan experience at the bottom of the player tunnel, giving fans an up-close-and-personal opportunity to interact with their favorite players. The south concourse was upgraded prior to the 2017 season with the “Taste of EaDo” concession stands and the creation of the Heineken Star Bar. In 2018, the entire concourse was updated with a new look and feel, along with new menu offerings; and the Pitchside Patio was created on the south end line to provide a relaxed, yet intimate game-watching experience for large groups.
