The MLS Dynamo after "six years of playing at Robertson Stadium" are “bringing in cash at a franchise-record pace” with their new BBVA Compass Stadium, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Dynamo President Chris Canetti said that with Dynamo Soccer LLC and Dynamo Stadium LLC “taken into consideration, revenues have essentially doubled from last year.” Former Astros Owner Drayton McLane said, "It changes everything when you move to a great new facility. ... It gets people excited. People that have not been going to Dynamo games start coming to games.” The Dynamo have “traditionally averaged around 17,000 fans per game,” but this year they are “optimistic about selling out the team's 20 games in the 22,000-seat stadium.” The season-ticket base has “gone from around 5,000 last year to more than 10,000 with five weeks until the stadium opens.” Canetti hopes to “sell 12,000 season tickets this year, which would rival the Astros and Rockets' season-ticket bases.” The Dynamo “had not engaged in any seven-figure business partnerships other than the jersey sponsorship with Houston-based recycling company Greenstar” before this year. Now at BBVA Compass Stadium, the team has “seven founding partnerships worth at least $1 million locked into either three- or five-year contracts.” Canetti said that he “expects to end up with 10 founding partnerships” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/5). Ortiz noted Canetti “beams when he shows off the latest pictures from BBVA Compass Stadium, which is coming along quite nicely heading into the May 12 opener.” Canetti said, “Everything’s on target.” The team is scheduled “to hold their first practice at the stadium” on May 5, which will also “be open to season-ticket holders.” Stadium employees “will be allowed to move into the south building on April 16” (CHRON.com, 4/4).
