[2] Houston did not field a professional team from 2000 to 2005 but the city's ability to draw big crowds for friendlies placed it in the conversation to land a Major League Soccer club.
[4] In the long run, what we want to do is see what the depth of the soccer market is here and what kind of success we can have.Houston Texans Chief Development Officer Steve Patterson (whose organization was looking to bring an MLS franchise to Houston) spearheaded efforts to host a U.S. vs. Mexico friendly in May 2003, a rematch of the two nations historic round of 16 encounter at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, as the first soccer match at Reliant Stadium.
[4] The 69,582 attendance set a new record for a soccer match in Texas (surpassing the 63,500 for Netherlands vs. Brazil at the Cotton Bowl in a 1994 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal)[4] and became the third largest crowd for a United States men's national team friendly.
"On December 15, 2005, Major League Soccer announced the relocation of the San Jose franchise, along with all players and coaches under contract, to Houston.
According to MLS, AEG had invested more than $20 million in the Earthquakes since purchasing the team in 2003 and suffered significant losses during that period because of its stadium deal.
Mayor Bill White joined city council members, Harris County officials, local soccer organizers and fans in welcoming team coach Dominic Kinnear and players Pat Onstad and Wade Barrett with cowboy boots and hats.