HCHSA Newsletter | September 2022

NEWSLETTER

HCHSA NEWSLETTER #WeAreHoustonSports

SEPTEMBER2022

NATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS Houston Sports Hall of Fame Abilities In Motion Adapted Sports DAY HARRIS COUNTY - HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY’s 25TH ANNIVERSARY! AAU Junior Olympic Games

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Imperial Red Company

@NBOTB

2022 NATIONAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS

EIGHT OF THE NATION’S BEST MARCHING BANDS BROUGHT THE HBCU SPIRIT AND PASSION TO NRG STADIUM The 2022 National Battle of the Bands (NBOTB) once again packed the house at NRG Stadium.

Over 40,000 fans from across the nation gathered together to see 8 of the best HBCU marching band’s spirited and passionate performances. To make things even better, the evening culminated with an electric performance

by GRAMMY®-nominated hip-hop artists Quavo & Takeoff.

The weekend also featured several other events including the “Back on the Yard Kickoff” Step & Stroll, the Emerging Experience Entrepreneur Conference presented by JP Morgan Chase, and an HBCU

S.T.E.M College Fair.

The NBOTB takes pride in its efforts to create positive educational, cultural, and economic impacts to the city of Houston. This year over 3,000 area youth were provided tickets to attend the HBCU S.T.E.M. College Recruitment Fair and the NBOTB event. This opportunity allowed local students not only an opportunity to experience HBCU culture and spirit but access to educational opportunities and resources. Along with supporting local area youth, the NBOTB is also a proud supporter of local minority-owned businesses. In 2021 NBOTB helped provide over $100,000 in revenue for 2

minority-owned businesses in Houston by contracting with them for various products and services.

NBOTB once again supported local minorityowned businesses in the lead-up to the 2022 NBOTB and will continue to do so for years to come.

Photos include Pra

NEWSLETTER

airie View A&M University, Southern University, Quavo & Takeoff’s performance, meal donation to the homeless, HBCU S.T.E.M College Fair, the 3 Emerging Experience Entrepreneur Conference presented by JP Morgan Chase, and the “Back on the Yard Kickoff” Step & Stroll.

Imperial Red Company

2022 HOUSTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME

HOUSTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 RECEIVE THEIR RINGS AND HAVE THEIR PLAQUES UNVEILED ON THE WALK OF FAME The Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 was inducted on September 13 and received their HOF Rings and plaques on the Walk of Fame. Roger Clemens, Sheryl Swoopes, and Clyde Drexler, all wore the number 22 during their time in Houston, shared the day with friends and family at the House of Blues.

Celebrations started with each Hall of Famer imprinting their hand onto their portraits.

Handprints are Houston artist Opie Otterstad’s unique alternative to athletes writing their signatures onto his work.

Kevin Eschenfelder from AT&T Southwest hosted the event inside the House of Blues as the Class of ‘22 saw their HOF rings for the first time. Fred Cuellar of Diamond Cutters International presented the rings while explaining the design and various gems. From there, the festivities moved outside to the Houston Sports 4

Walk of Fame, where their plaques were unveiled.

If you’d like to see the Walk of Fame for yourself, you may do so at any time. The walk begins at Caroline St. and continues west on the GreenStreet Plaza, covering two total blocks.

While there, fans may also interact with the virtual Houston Sports Hall of Fame kiosk adjacent to the House of Blues.

@HoustonSportsAwards

NEWSLETTER

Photos include Houston Sports 2022 Hall of Fame Class with their plaques, Hall of Famers signing paintings at the VIP reception, 5 and Class of 2022’s rings.

INAUGURAL ADAPTED SPORTS DAY September brought about the launch of another HCHSA community endeavor. We have partnered with TIRR Memorial Hermann to form the initiative entitled “Abilities in Motion,” which specializes in bringing adaptive sports opportunities to local adults and children in the Houston area.

The inaugural event

was hosted at The Zone in South Houston with the help of Paralympian instructors. Attendees were introduced to wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, pickleball, and recumbent cycling with the hopes of adding new activities in the future.

While the athletes were in action on the courts, parents and guardians

were afforded the opportunity to hear presentations on using adaptive sports as a pathway to college as well as how to find financial assistance for necessary equipment for participation and how to get more involved.

Overall, the event was a success and especially enjoyable for the athletes who attended.

@AbilitiesInMotion

Photos include athletes playing sitting volleyball, pickleball, and wheelchair basketball. Top right photo is athletes attending Astros game.

WALK OF FAME FOUNTAIN UNVEILING Imperial Red Company

@HoustonSportsAwards

The Harris County - Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) concluded its 25th Anniversary celebration with the unveiling of the HCHSA Hall of Fame Fountain at the GreenStreet Promenade. The formal announcement of the 2023 Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class served to highlight the unveiling.

of Fame artist Opie Otterstad, was inspired by the Houston sports community. It features 13 Hall of Famers as well as some iconic Houston sports moments. This fountain will be a focal point for the Houston Sports Walk of Fame and is part of the continued efforts to build the Hall of Fame brand on GreenStreet.

The mosaic art installation on As the Walk of Fame conthe fountain, designed by Hall tinues 8to grow, so does the

Hall of Fame. The of the Houston Sp of Fame includes the most celebrate of the century - Br thews, Calvin Mur Elvin Hayes. Thes letes will be honor sixth annual Hous Awards presented ity at the Wortham Center on January

2023 Class ports Hall three of ed athletes ruce Matrphy, and se three athred at the ston Sports d by Insperm Theater y 25, 2023.

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Photos include HCHSA Hall of Fame Fountain, local University of Houston students with fountain artist Opie Otterstad, Houston sports 9 partners holding team jerseys, and Hall of Famer George Foreman.

Red Company HARRIS COUNTYImperial - HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY

CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE MADE THE LAST 25 YEARS POSSIBLE!

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HCHSA INTERN SPOTLIGHT

FRANCISCO

ERIC

AGUILAR

FERRUFINO

Intern Position Sports Marketing End Goal Sports Marketing Executive Fun Fact Caffeine addict

Intern Position Sports Marketing End Goal Communications Department in Sports Fun Fact I was a professional soccer player

2023 SPRING INTER

The Harris County – Houston Sports Authority is seeking sports industry. Our interns have an opportunity to gain alongside the HCHSA Team. If you or someone you

SPRING SEMESTER (JAN

EVENT SC

HOUSTON SPORTS AWARDS • NCAA MEN’S FINAL

**Eligible candidates must be enrolled as a full-time college/univer

BRANT

VICENTE

Intern Position Athlete Affairs End Goal Athlete Affairs Coordinator Fun Fact I am 5’9 and the tallest in my family

Intern Position Event Operations End Goal Operations Coordinator/Manager or Personal Trainer Fun Fact Love spicy food, struggle to tolerate it

DURDEN

RAMIREZ

RNSHIPS NOW OPEN

g multiple well-rounded students looking to excel in the n valuable knowledge and hands-on experience working u know is interested, click the link below to apply.

NUARY 9 - MAY 12, 2023)

CHEDULE

L FOUR • BROTHERS IN ARMS GOLF TOURNAMENT

rsity student and must receive academic credit for this internship**

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

THE AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES ARE COMING BACK TO HOUSTON! The AAU Junior Olympic Games are coming back to Houston! At a recent press conference, the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority announced that the AAU Junior Olympic Games will return to Houston in 2025, 2027, and 2031.

Houston will host the Games the second-most times in AAU Junior Olympic Games history with these additional dates.

AAU President & CEO Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, AAU Junior

Olympic Games Chairman Paul Campbell, and Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis were all in attendance, sharing their excitement and anticipation for 2025 and the years to come.

@AAU

Photos include HCHSA CEO Janis Burke, Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, AAU President & CEO Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, AAU Junior Olympic Games Chairman Paul Campbell, local AAU athletes Landen & Rodney, and HCHSA board.

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