Ryan Walsh, CEO, The Harris County–Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA)
In an interview with Invest:, Ryan Walsh, CEO of The Harris County–Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA), discussed his strategic vision for enhancing Houston’s status as a premier global sports destination. He emphasized organizational efficiency, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and maximizing major sporting events’ economic impact on the broader community. “Our job is to make sure that Houston is seen as a premier destination for global sporting events,” said Walsh. “We want to make sure our venues are seen as first-in-class and world-class.”
Could you share your top priorities in this new role, and how your experience at Energy Park is shaping your approach?
Some of the priorities I’ve had in the nine months I’ve been here are, first, to take a look at the organization. Is it the most efficient organization it can be? So, taking a look, as they say, under the hood.
Other priorities are strengthening relationships with our stakeholders, including the various venues, teams, the city, and the county, making sure the relationships are as strong as possible. It’s making sure that people understand that the Harris County Houston Sports Authority is a resource, not just for the teams and the venues, but also for the community.
Our job is to make sure that Houston is seen as a premier destination for global sporting events and that we continue attracting those sports events to Houston. We want to make sure our venues are seen as first-in-class and world-class, so working with those venues to make sure they have the resources they need and help them plan for the future.
What makes Harris County, Houston, and its sports assets a uniquely attractive location, especially compared to similar markets?
Houston is unique in that we have some fantastic venues and teams, but we also have a supportive corporate community and a community that gives back. Part of the uniqueness of Houston is that the owners of our major sports teams are Houstonians. Their lives and families are in Houston. They see Houston as the asset, not just a place to do business.
This allows us to celebrate Houston as a premier destination for sports. We also have an economy that supports what we do, with the cost of living, restaurants, hotels, and two fantastic airports that allow us to bring in large groups of people. There are many benefits to Houston that other cities don’t have. We’re capitalizing on that. Our role is to make sure people see Houston and Harris County as a whole — not just the venue, team, or sport, but everything Houston has to offer.
Can you speak to the ripple effects of major sports events this past year, such as job creation, hotel bookings, or local business growth?
Sports touch every single person’s life. That’s important to note, especially as we start looking at the economic impacts of what sports bring to the city. Whether it’s the AAU Junior Olympics, which had an economic impact of $90 million, or the World Cup we’re hosting next summer, with an estimated impact of $1.5 billion, all of that touches every single person’s life in some way.
Whether you’re a shop owner, a hotel owner, or you work at the hotels, we all benefit from these major sporting events. All of these events that come to Houston make our city better. Continuing to embrace the richness that this brings to the city allows us the opportunity to showcase Houston, and it is an excellent time to be doing that. There are so many great events on the horizon. It’s this continuation of showcasing the best of Houston and Harris County, so we can continue enriching the community.
What major trends are reshaping sports and venue management—from fan experiences to technology and sustainability—and how are you responding to them?
The experience you might see at a sports venue today has changed, even from five years ago. The trend is changing to more experiential experiences, where it’s more about being there. It’s become more of a social engagement. You’re not just there to watch the event, but you’re there to spend time with your friends and your family.
The technology aspect is obviously taking a large role. A lot of your tickets are now digital on your phone. Your phone is your ticket, as they say. It even trickles down into the concessions. Instead of the belly-up style, it’s now what they call a grab-and-go style. You walk in, you grab what you want, you leave. Not only does it speed up the service, but the venue owners have found that the spend increases. Technology is affecting every aspect of sports. What’s next, who knows? The industry is going to have to be flexible and pivot.
Are there any planned improvements or maintenance initiatives for your facilities, and what strategies are you using to manage maintenance across all properties?
We’re fortunate that the tenants, the teams, are responsible for most of the CapEx and R&R in these facilities. Now, what we do is help with the financing of some of these activities and some of the planning as well.
It has been reported that the Astros are planning some improvements, and the Rockets are thinking about some. I believe there are some improvements planned by the Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium. You can certainly see the improvements at NRG Stadium, and NRG Park is also planning the future.
You’re going to see these facilities continue to maintain and improve their first-class condition and the world-class condition of these facilities. We’re here to work alongside them and make sure they have the resources and the capacity to do that in any way we can.
How are you collaborating with local government and community organizations to elevate sports programs and ensure the benefits reach beyond the teams and venues?
The Sports Authority was created to finance the venues here in Houston. We’ve adopted the role of the sports marketing agent to help sell the city of Houston as a premier global sports destination. That’s a fantastic path the organization is on.
At the end of the day, we were created by the city and the county. But really, our constituents are the community. We are here to serve. We are a resource. We are a public entity. What we do is give back, whether it’s the legacy programs we’re creating through the World Cup or other events. We make sure the community is informed and that we’re transparent and accountable.
What is your outlook for Houston in sports and tourism, and what are your top priorities for the next two to three years?
At the end of the day, Houston is a global destination for sporting events. There’s a reason we keep getting the Final Fours and the Super Bowls. 2026 is going to be a banner year for sports in Houston, between the World Baseball Classic, the Sweet 16, and the World Cup.
This city is uniquely capable of doing big events well, not just from the sports authority side, but from our other partners.
As for my priorities, I want to see this organization be the premier sports commission in the country. I want us to become a fantastic and transparent resource for our community. Our team is the best in the business. We’ll keep working to make sure our facilities are first-class and our venues are the most marketable, so that people continue to see us as that destination. We will also continue to support and promote our community, which is what makes Houston and Harris County great.
