If you spent any time in Houston during the nineties, you know that the Compaq Center Houston TX wasn't just a building. It was the soul of the city. Honestly, it’s rare to find a structure that has undergone such a massive identity crisis—shifting from a raucous NBA arena where Hakeem Olajuwon dominated the paint to a global megachurch led by Joel Osteen.
It sits right there off Southwest Freeway. You've probably driven past it a thousand times.
But most people forget the grit. Before it was the Compaq Center, it was The Summit. Opening its doors in 1975, it cost about $18 million to build, which sounds like pocket change in today's world of multi-billion dollar stadiums. Back then, it was cutting edge. It was the first arena in the United States to feature a closed-circuit television system for replays on the scoreboard. That was a big deal.
The name change happened in 1998. Compaq Computer Corp, which was a powerhouse back then (long before the HP merger), paid $20 million for a ten-year naming rights deal. That’s how we got the Compaq Center Houston TX. It was a name that symbolized Houston’s status as a tech and energy hub.
Two Rings and a Dream
The Houston Rockets. That’s really what this place is about for a lot of us.
The "Clutch City" era didn't happen at the Toyota Center. It happened here. In 1994 and 1995, the Compaq Center—still widely called The Summit by locals who refused to update their vocabulary—was the loudest place on earth. When the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic in '95, the building nearly shook off its foundation.
- Rudy Tomjanovich’s famous "Never underestimate the heart of a champion" speech? That energy was born in this locker room.
- Hakeem’s "Dream Shake" became legendary on this specific hardwood.
- Mario Elie's "Kiss of Death" three-pointer against Phoenix happened on the road, but the fans waiting back at the Compaq Center for the team's return made it a home-court moment.
It wasn't just basketball. The Houston Aeros brought hockey to the humid swamps of Southeast Texas. People actually showed up to watch the ice. It’s kinda weird when you think about it, but the Aeros won the Turner Cup there in 1999. The building was versatile. It had to be.
The Night the Music Lived
Beyond the sports, the Compaq Center Houston TX was the primary concert stop for every major touring act. If you were a big deal between 1975 and 2003, you played here.
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Led Zeppelin performed here in 1977. It was one of their last North American shows. Queen, David Bowie, Prince—they all stood on that stage. Bruce Springsteen famously played a massive set here in 1978 that is still bootlegged by collectors today.
The acoustics weren't perfect. It was a concrete box, basically. But the intimacy was something you don't get at the massive NRG Stadium. You were close. You could see the sweat.
The circus came every year. Monster trucks tore up the floor. It was a blue-collar arena for a blue-collar city that was rapidly becoming a global metropolis.
The Great Transition: From Courts to Pews
By the early 2000s, the Rockets wanted out. They wanted luxury suites. They wanted more revenue streams. The Compaq Center was "outdated" by modern NBA standards, which usually just means it didn't have enough places to sell expensive sushi.
When the Toyota Center opened in 2003, the Compaq Center Houston TX faced a weird crossroads. Usually, buildings like this get the wrecking ball. They implode them on a Sunday morning while people watch from the highway.
But Lakewood Church had a different plan.
The transition was a massive civil engineering project. It cost roughly $95 million to renovate the arena into a sanctuary. Think about that—the renovation cost five times more than the original construction of the building. They had to add five stories to the top of the parking garage and completely overhaul the interior to move away from the "sports" feel.
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- They added a massive stage where the scoreboard used to hang.
- The locker rooms became offices and nurseries.
- The concession stands were replaced by bookstores and cafes.
In 2005, it officially opened as Lakewood Church. It’s now one of the largest church buildings in the country, seating over 16,000 people per service. Whether you’re religious or not, the sheer scale of the repurposing is a feat of urban planning. It saved the building from becoming another parking lot.
Why the Compaq Center Still Matters to Houston's Identity
Houston is a city that loves to tear things down. We don't have a lot of zoning laws. We don't always value history. We demolish the old to make way for the shiny.
The Compaq Center is an exception.
It represents the transition of Houston from an oil-and-gas town to a diverse, multi-faceted mega-city. The fact that the same floor held Hakeem Olajuwon and later became a center for global televangelism is just... uniquely Houston. It’s weird. It’s big. It’s ambitious.
The building also highlights the shift in the city's geography. In the 70s and 80s, the Greenway Plaza area was the place to be. As the city expanded outward, the arena stayed central, serving as a landmark that everyone recognizes. Even if you call it Lakewood now, if you say "The Compaq Center" to anyone over the age of 35, they know exactly where you're talking about.
Technical Specs of the Original Build
- Total Seating for Basketball: 16,285
- Total Seating for Concerts: Roughly 17,000 depending on stage setup
- Architects: Lloyd Jones Brewer & Associates
- Location: 3700 Southwest Freeway
What Most People Get Wrong About the Name
There’s often confusion about the naming rights. Compaq didn't own the building. The city did. Compaq just paid for the privilege of having their logo on the side. When the Rockets moved out, the name technically stayed for a short period until the lease with Lakewood began.
Also, people often confuse the Compaq Center with the Summit and think they were two different buildings. They weren't. It was a rebrand. Same walls, same seats, different sign.
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It’s also worth noting that for a brief window in the late 90s, the venue was one of the busiest in the world. In 1997, it was ranked among the top five arenas in the U.S. for ticket sales. It wasn't some struggling venue; it was a victim of the "new stadium" boom that swept through professional sports at the turn of the millennium.
Visiting the Site Today
If you want to see the Compaq Center Houston TX today, you go to Lakewood Church. You can actually go inside. The general layout is still visible if you know where to look. The steep incline of the seating bowls—designed to keep fans on top of the action—is still there.
It’s a strange feeling.
You stand in the lobby where thousands of people once lined up for playoff tickets and now you're surrounded by high-def screens and polished marble. The energy has shifted from "Go Rockets" to something entirely different, but the bones of the building remain.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs and Visitors
If you're interested in the legacy of the Compaq Center, here is how you can actually engage with that history:
- Visit Greenway Plaza: Walk the underground tunnels nearby. This area was the heartbeat of Houston's corporate world during the Compaq Center's heyday. You can still feel the 1970s "Space City" vibe in the architecture.
- Check the Rockets’ Archives: The Toyota Center has various displays and historical markers dedicated to the "Clutch City" years. Much of the memorabilia there was originally housed or earned at the Compaq Center.
- The Lakewood Tour: You don't have to be a member to see the building. They have services throughout the week. Go inside just to see the scale of the conversion. Looking up at the ceiling where the rafters used to hold championship banners is a trip for any sports fan.
- Research the 1994/95 Rosters: To truly appreciate what happened in that building, look into the stats of guys like Otis Thorpe, Robert Horry, and Sam Cassell. They weren't just players; they were the guys who made that building a fortress.
The Compaq Center Houston TX isn't coming back. The Rockets aren't moving back to the 59. But the building stands as a rare example of Houston keeping its history alive, even if it had to change its clothes to do it.
Next Steps for Deep Diving into Houston History
To get the full picture of how the Compaq Center fits into the city's evolution, look into the history of the Astrodome. The two buildings shared a similar "modernist" spirit but met very different fates. While the Compaq Center found a second life, the Astrodome remains a "Ghost of Houston," sitting empty. Comparing the two provides the best possible look at how this city handles its most famous landmarks.