The Houston Texans history only dates back to 2002. as an expansion team joining the NFL. Since then, the Texans have grown into a hugely valuable business worth over $5 billion. This article takes a deeper look at the Houston Texans franchise value, the team owners, and NRG Stadium.

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A Brief History of the Houston Texans

The Texans began playing in 2002 after being created as the NFL’s 32nd team. Their first home game was played on September 8, 2002 against the Dallas Cowboys. They lost 19-10 that day, but have had many big wins since.

Some key milestones for the Texans include making the playoffs for the first time in 2011. They won their first playoff game in 2016 against the Oakland Raiders. In 2019, they picked up star quarterback Deshaun Watson which led to strong progression for the team before he was ultimately traded to the Cleveland Browns.

C.J. Stroud has been a welcomed replacement to Watson at QB with many placing high hopes on the Texans’ offense in years to come.

The 22-year-old Houston Texans team had one of its best seasons in 2023, securing the AFC South Division as well as a first-round playoff win under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.

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The Texans’ Ownership: A Family Affair

The man who made the Texans possible is Bob McNair. He formed Cogen Technologies in 1984 which he eventually sold to Enron in 1999.

Bob McNair wanted to bring the NFL back to the city of Houston after the Oilers left the city to become the Tennessee Titans in 1996, McNair formed Houston NFL Holdings in 1998. He was awarded the 32nd NFL franchise on October 6,1999. He stayed on as owner until his passing in 2018 at age 81.

When Bob McNair died, ownership passed to his wife Janice McNair. Janice McNair’s eldest son, Cary McNair fought in court to have his mother declared incapacitated in an attempt to appoint himself as a guardian for her and her estate. He was unsuccessful but a few years later ownership of Texans would be transferred again.

Janice’s other son, Cal McNair was named principal owner of the Texans in early 2024. Previously he operated as CEO and chairman.

How Much are the Houston Texans Worth?

According to Forbes , the Houston Texans have an estimated value of $5.5 billion valuation as of late 2023. This ranks them as the 12th most valuable team in the 32-team NFL.

The Texans’ large market, lucrative stadium, and sponsorship deals all help drive their high valuation. The city of Houston has over 7 million people in its metro area. That means lots of potential fans and customers.

The future projected valuation for the Texans by 2028 is expected to be around $8.4 billion.

What is the operating income of the Texans?

Operating income measures how much profit a business makes from its main operations after expenses. For NFL teams, this covers revenues from tickets, concessions, merchandise and media contracts.

The Texans posted operating income of $195 million in 2023, according to public data. While down from pandemic-impacted 2020, their operating income has trended up in recent years.

NRG Stadium: A Key Piece of the Texans’ Empire

A big reason for the Texans’ high value is their impressive home stadium, NRG Stadium. This state-of-the-art venue opened in 2002 at a cost of $352 million. It has hosted two Super Bowl games already.

NRG Stadium generates major revenue from its special features. These include a retractable roof, luxury boxes, restaurants, and one of the world’s largest scoreboards. All these premium amenities allow the Texans to charge top prices.

NRG Park consists of NRG Stadium, NRG Center , NRG Outdoor Spaces, and NRG Arena. Each area caters to unique business, performance, and exhibition event needs adding much more income potential during the Texans off season.

A Look Forward at the Houston Texans’ Franchise Value

As the Texans move forward, their franchise value could keep climbing at a rapid pace. Getting star players and winning more games would fuel even more fan excitement and ticket sales. Long-term media deals could also boost future revenues.

Another potential growth area is NRG Stadium itself. If renovations or a new stadium are built in coming years, that would significantly increase the team’s net worth. With solid management, the Texans may soon join the elite $4 billion franchise value club.