Arena Digest - Toyota Center / Houston, Texas

Year Opened	2003
Capacity	18,300 (Basketball)
Architect	HOK Sport+Venue+Event / Morris Architectures
Web Site	www.houstontoyotacenter.com
Phone	713/758-7200
Anchor Tenants	Houston Rockets (NBA) / Houston Comets (WNBA) / Houston Aeros (AHL)
Parking	Accessible parking is located on the first and third levels of the Toyota Tundra parking garage adjacent to the arena. Accessible parking in the arena garage is available on an event-by-event basis. Accessible parking is also available on the surrounding independent surface lots, and on Clay St. between Jackson and Chenevert.
Directions	1510 Polk Street, Houston, TX 77002. From The North Via State Route 59: Take 59 South bound towards downtown. Exit Downtown Destinations/Jackson Street. Turn Right on Franklin Street. Turn Left onto La Branch. The Toyota Center main entrance is at La Branch and Polk Street. From The North Via Interstate 45: Take I-45 South bound towards downtown. Exit McKinney. Turn Left onto McKinney. Turn Right onto La Branch. The Toyota Center main entrance is at La Branch and Polk Street. From The South Via State Route 59: Take 59 North bound towards downtown. Take the Polk Street/Downtown exit. Turn Left on Polk Street. The Toyota Center main entrance is at La Branch and Polk Street. From The South Via Interstate 45: Take I-45 North bound towards downtown. Take the Scott/Downtown exit. Continue on the elevated portion of St. Joseph. Turn Right on Austin. Turn Right on Dallas. Turn Right on La Branch. The Toyota Center main entrance is at La Branch and Polk Street. From The East Via Interstate 10: Take I-10 West bound towards downtown. Exit San Jacinto/Main. Turn Left on Rusk. Turn Right onto La Branch. The Toyota Center main entrance is at La Branch and Polk Street. From The West Via Interstate 10: Take I-10 East bound towards downtown. Exit Smith Street. Travel South on Smith. Turn Left on Rusk. Turn Right onto La Branch. The Toyota Center main entrance is at La Branch and Polk Street

History
In early 2003, due to the area’s poor air quality, the city of Houston lost out on a bid for a Toyota manufacturing facility. To compensate for Houston’s loss, Toyota granted naming rights for the new downtown sports arena.

HOK Sport+Venue+Event designed Toyota Center in conjunction with locally based Morris Architects. The structure features large open windows and some of the most comfortable chairs of any arena. A unique aspect of Toyota Center is the playing surface. Set nearly 32-feet below street level it is the largest lower level of any facility in the country.

Since opening its doors on October 6, 2003, for a Fleetwood Mac concert, the Toyota Center has been home to the NBA’s Houston Rockets, the WNBA’s Houston Comets, and the AHL’s Houston Aeros.