Sports fans in Houston have long been familiar with the names of their beloved teams, but how exactly did these names come to define the city’s sports identity? As a journey through the franchise lexicon reveals, it’s a history peppered with contests, tributes to local industry, and sometimes controversy.
The Houston Astros, now an ingrained part of the city’s zeitgeist, had their beginnings in a name-the-team contest and were originally christened the Colt .45s in homage to the gun that symbolized the Old West. However, after facing pressure from the Colt Firearms Company for a share of the merchandising revenue, team owner Roy Hofheinz made the switch to 'Astros' on Dec. 1, 1964, a nod to the city’s role as a space industry hub and to coincide with the move into the Astrodome, according to the Houston Chronicle. "This is the space capital of the world and we believe that the domed stadium will make it the sports capital of the world," Hofheinz told an unsuspecting group of reporters during the announcement.
Transitioning from hardcourt to gridiron, the Houston Texans' name was selected over options like the Stallions and Apollos. The name Texans isn't without its critics for creative bankruptcy, but it stuck because, according to team founder Bob McNair, "Our name and logo embody the kind of pride and achievement that help make our area special," as per a 2020 nickname announcement. McNair had also eschewed 'Stallions' out of concern over a potential equine oversaturation in the NFL, with existing teams like the Broncos and Colts already bearing horse-related names, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
The NBA's Houston Rockets carried their name with them from San Diego, where they were established after another name-the-team contest. Despite Houston’s space fame, it was actually San Diego's connection to the NASA Atlas rockets that influenced the final decision, reported Chron.com. "The winning entry seemed an almost perfect match for two reasons," author Dan Fulop explained in his book about team founder Robert Breitbard. Meanwhile, the city’s MLS team, Houston Dynamo, had to switch gears quickly after their original name, Houston 1836, met backlash due to its historic connotations. Dynamo, referring to the energy industry and endless endurance, stood out as a more inclusive rallying point.
On the women's side, the Houston Dash's formation came with a preference for brevity and echo of their MLS counterparts, although a trademark issue thwarted the inclusion of 'Dynamo' in their name. "The terms 'Dynamo' and 'Dash' are synonymous in terms of their meaning and their reference to speed and generation of energy," Edgar Veliz, then-director of communications for both squads, outlined the link between the names. As for the company man’s preferences, ex-Houston Dynamo and Dash president Chris Canetti was the brains behind the nomenclature and had a penchant for alliteration.
Last on the field, but certainly not least in terms of character, were the Texas Terror, later rebranded the Houston Thunderbears of the Arena Football League. This name, which included Frankenstein’s monster in its logo, was short-lived and is often remembered for its unique melding of horror motifs with the inherently brutish nature of football.
