City: Houston - TICKETS

Capacity: 71,500

Opened: 2002

Tenant(s): Houston Texans (American football), Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show

Gold Cup Stage: First round, July 9

Past Gold Cup(s): 2005, 2007

Field Surface: Grass

The Gold Cup will return to Reliant Stadium for a third straight time in 2009, enhancing its image as a major soccer destination. While primarily the home of the National Football League's Texans, the $352 million facility with a retractable roof has hosted soccer games since nearly its opening, beginning with a United States-Mexico friendly in 2003 that attracted a crowd of 69,582. The annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo routinely draws the biggest crowds in March, regularly attracting nearly 2 million for the 20-day event in the stadium complex. The record crowd of 73,459 was set in March for a concert by Miley Cyrus during the rodeo, while a game between FC Barcelona and 10-time Mexican league champion America drew 70,550 in 2006. The United States and Mexico also drew 70,103 for a friendly in February 2008.