Houston Dynamo FC will welcome MLS fans back to a revamped and newly named Shell Energy Stadium this weekend.

The upgrades include all-new mesh seating throughout the venue that’ll be up to 30 degrees cooler than traditional stadium seats. 

Also, a portion of Shell Energy Stadium’s east side has been reconfigured to create a new air-conditioned, premium all-inclusive area called the East Club.

The 21,000-seat stadium, previously PNC Stadium, is also home to the NWSL's Houston Dash.

As part of the naming rights deal, the Dynamo and Shell Energy are pursuing a variety of integrated energy and decarbonisation solutions at the stadium, while also collaborating on important community initiatives. 

This includes a near-term goal to reduce the club’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2026 from a 2018 base year.

Shell Energy has instituted a decarbonisation program at the stadium, starting with energy efficiency improvements to venue-wide LED lighting, on-site renewable energy via a rooftop solar array, renewable electricity, energy monitoring and management with a sub-metering system and installation of electric vehicle charging stations.

In advance of the new season, Dynamo has also announced partnerships with 10 local restaurants as part of a collaboration with world-renowned chef Hugo Ortega.

Ortega, who leads the match day culinary program at Shell Energy Stadium in collaboration with Levy, aimed to create a dining experience at the stadium that captures the eclectic flavours from Houston’s culinary community.

Club chief operating officer, Jessica O’Neill said: 

The Club is ecstatic to offer such a diverse array of flavours throughout the venue this year. We are counting down the days until we open the doors of Shell Energy Stadium and showcase a revamped food experience that will feel more authentic to Houston.

The new dining offerings will be located in different sections throughout Shell Energy Stadium and a full list is available below. The stadium will open to the public for the first time to Dynamo fans on March 18 and for the first time to Dash fans on March 26 for each team’s respective home openers.

@PanStadiaArena