Compaq Center
1999-2003

From 1975 to 2003 the Compaq Center served as a multi-purpose sports arena for various professional teams in Houston, most notably the NBA's Houston Rockets. The Compaq Center was also home to the graduation ceremonies of every high school in the Fort Bend Independent School District.
It was known as The Summit until 1998, when the technology firm Compaq bought naming rights to the building. In 2003 the Toyota Center opened as the new professional sports venue in Houston and the Rockets and all of the other teams and events that viewed the Compaq Center as home moved there. Shortly after 2003, the name was dropped and the building was leased out to Lakewood Church for use as its main facility. Lakewood Church purchased the building outright in 2010 from Warren Buffett.
Content is from the site's 1999-2003 archived pages and other outside sources.

Over the years the Compaq Center was home to many important and memorable moments in the lives of millions of individuals and the entire city as a whole.

Enjoy a nostalgic trip back.....

"Back in the day, this was the premiere venue for every major event, including sports, entertainment, and conventions. In 2008, my company participated in an internet services exhibition and we introduced our smart apps to monitor your health. But it was a very unusual service exhibiting here that caught my attention back then. In those days, Google was worshiped and could do no wrong. So it was strange to see a booth for a service that offered to remove negative search results from Google. They claimed that if there was a negative news story or a bad review on page one of a Google search for your name, they could remove it to protect your reputation. They were so far ahead of the curve that no one paid attention to them at this event. But fast forward a few years and there's a booming business trying to address all the problems Google is causing with unwanted associations being made in their search results." Mitch Michaels, TrendLine

Lakewood to buy former Compaq Center for $7.5M

The city is poised to sell the former Compaq Center to Lakewood Church for $7.5 million, one of a string of real estate sales city officials hope to use to help close a lingering budget shortfall.

City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed sale Wednesday, which would end a 30-year lease signed in 2001 by the megachurch's leader and television pastor Joel Osteen. Lakewood, which has the largest congregation in the United States with more than 40,000 attending services each week, made a lump-sum $11.8 million prepayment for the lease to use the 606,000-square-foot building — former home to the Houston Rockets — which sits on seven acres in the Greenway Plaza area along the Southwest Freeway.

Bob Christy, the city's director of real estate, said the complex lease arrangement, coupled with the fact that the city was scheduled to receive no income from the property for the next 23 years, makes the payment a good deal.

“With a property we can do nothing with, to me it just makes an awful lot of sense to take those present dollars today and be done with it,” Christy said. “It's a very fair deal for the city and one that makes some sense given that this property is tied up and off the books for many, many years to come.”

30-year option

Under the terms of the lease, Lakewood has an option in 2031 to extend the lease by an additional 30 years, paying $753,333 a year, beginning in 2034, for a total of more than $20 million. City documents say the sale price represents the present value of those future lease payments and the residual land value.

Christy said two independent appraisers hired by the city valued the property at $7.7 million, given the lease.

Lakewood spokesman Donald Iloff said the church has invested more than $80 million since 2001, to renovate the facility, not including operations costs.

Changes include rebuilding a basketball floor into a sanctuary with a floor that inclines upward and laying half-a-million square feet of carpet on a concrete floor, he said.

“We see a benefit in being our own landlord, which I think everybody would like to do. This made good sense,” Iloff said.

Number of factors
Marty Aaron, a real estate appraiser who specializes in religious facilities, said that while he could not determine whether the sales price was good or bad without reviewing the appraisals, taxpayers should consider a number of factors when weighing the deal.

“When the untrained eye looks at this, they're going to wonder how Lakewood Church purchased the Compaq Center for $7.5 million, when this is not really an arms-length sale from the city to Lakewood Church,” Aaron said. “Lakewood Church put a phenomenal amount of money into the facility after the lease was initially structured, and it's really not fair that someone else would get the benefit of that. ... Converting it back to a stadium-oriented facility would probably cost as much or more than it took to turn it into a church, and right now there are probably not very many organizations that would be willing to step forward and do that.”

Net proceeds from the sale will go directly into the general fund, which has an $11.9 million budget shortfall this fiscal year. The projected gap for next fiscal year is $99.5 million.

Compaq Center - at the heart of Houston's vibrant sports and entertainment scene - is one of America's premier arenas. Four major sport teams and a host of touring family shows call Compaq Center home, and the arena is a regular stop on the international concert circuit. In addition, civic, cultural and other events are held at Compaq Center year-round.

Capital improvements taking place - new seats, new signs, new scoreboards, new lights, a new sound system and a whole new look - have added to the building's great tradition as one of Houston's favorite places to play.

PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND BOX OFFICE HOURS
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:30am - 5:00pm	BOX OFFICE HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY 10:00am - 5:00pm

Houston Rockets

NBA Houston Rockets

WNBA Houston Comets

AHL Houston Aeros

2003 Events On Sale Now

EVENT	DATE	TIME	TICKETS
Comedy Soul Festival	11/15/03	7:15pm	$41.35, $51.35, $61.35
ZZTop	11/22/03	7:30pm	$45, $55, $65
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/26/03	7:30pm	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/28/03	2:30pm	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/28/03	7:30pm	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/29/03	11:30am	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/29/03	3:30pm	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/29/03	7:30pm	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/30/03	1:30pm	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures"	11/30/03	5:30pm	$12, $17, $23, $35, $50

*Any child over 12 months old will need a ticket to enter Compaq Center.

The above schedule of events is subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Building Features

Seating Capacity:
17,072 In the Round
17,064 Proscenium Full House
11,521 Procenium Full House, Front of Stage Only
9,576 Proscenium Half House
6,700 Proscenium Theater

Full masking curtain.

Seating capacities listed do not include seating held for production purposes.

Floor Size:
85' x 200' (17,000 sq. ft.) Floor is 6" thick concrete with load capacity of 200lb/sq. ft. Ice floor has 72 hour freeze time. Anchor inserts available.

Lighting:
Combination incandescent and metal halide lighting with shutters for quick on-and-off switching. Metal halide system illuminates the arena for television production. Television lighting provides 85 to over 250 foot-candles. House lights controlled from the sound room or backstage by house electricians.

Electrical:
Two 5 wire, 400 amp per leg, 3 phase 120-208v. fused disconnect located backstage. Two 5 wire, 200 amp per leg, 3 phase 120-208v. fused disconnect located backstage. One 5 wire, 200 amp per leg, 3 phase 120-208v. fused disconnect located on the northeast and southeast catwalks Designated house electrician must make all connections.

Spotlights:
Twelve 2,000W Zenon Super Troopers with Clear Com intercom system connected to lights, sound boards, spotlight positions and backstage.

Sound:
Public address type sound cluster with broadcast stereo quality speakers located over center of arena.

Rigging:
"H" beams are 81' from floor in a square grid pattern with approximately 57' between beams in both directions. All rigging plans, including desired hanging points and associated weights, side and plan view drawings must be submitted to the Compaq Center Operations Department before tickets go on sale. Safeties required on all points over seating areas.

Staging:
Stageright staging 80' wide x 40' deep with an option of 48" to 74" high with two 12' sound wings. 85Ì long Stageright crowd support barricade.

Forklifts:
Two Hyster Model 60, 4,000lb capacity with 14' rise.

Zambonis:
Two model 500 with all hockey and ice show accessories.

Loading Dock:
Located on the west side of the arena off Timmons Lane. Dock entrance is 30' wide x 14' high, ramp door into arena is 16' wide x 24' high, two dock doors 10' x 10'. Parking space for five 48' tractor-trailers at dock.

Dasher Wall:
Permanent hockey dasher walls around arena floor.

Backstage Dining:
Crew dining is adjacent to east end of dressing room hallway.

Dressing Rooms:
Total of nine, including two large team rooms with shower facilities, six regular dressing rooms with shower facilities and one dressing with sink only.

Security:
Local off-duty police officers, private uniformed security service, and peer tee-shirt security.

Ticket Office:
Full-service ticket office providing computerized ticketing, remote outlets and telephone order service for all events. Daily ticket office with (5) five windows located at Timmons Lane entrance and event ticket office with sixteen windows located at lower Edloe entrance. Daily Will Call ticket. Ticket Windows open 10:00am to 5pm Monday-Friday, with extended hours on event days.

Contact Info

Bryan Blaum
General Manager
713-843-3915

Concert Tickets on sale at Compaq Center Box Office 3 days after the first day of sale.
Children who have celebrated their 2nd birthday must have a ticket to enter, This ticket policy may vary on designated family shows.
Cash only on day of event.
Smoking is prohibited in all areas of Compaq Center for all events.
Compaq Center is ADA compliant. Assistive listening systems available. Inquire at Customer Service Booth or call 713-843-3900.

EVENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

ANIMALS
Guests may not bring animals into Compaq Center. Exceptions include guide, sign and signal dogs that aid guests with disabilities.

CAMERAS AND RECORDING DEVICES
Compaq Center allows still cameras with or without flash attachments and with lenses that are 90mm or less if permitted by the show. Personal audio and video recording devices are not permitted during events. Houston Rockets and Houston Comets observe the above House policy on still cameras. Houston Aeros allow all cameras.

CARRY IN ITEMS
The following items are not permitted in Compaq Center: Bottles or cans Food, Coolers, Back packs, Frisbees and beach balls, Laser pointers, Any noise making devices, Fireworks, Illegal drugs and alcohol, and Weapons or dangerous devices of any type.

All patrons, employees, and entertainers will be subject to a search of personal belongings. Anyone that refuses to turn over unauthorized items, or refuses to be searched, will not be allowed access to Compaq Center.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Guests who fail to abide by Compaq Center's policies along with state and federal law are subject to ejection from the facility. Any guest who is violating these policies will be asked to correct their behavior, if they fail to do so in a timely manner ejection or arrest will occur. Individuals who have been ejected must vacate the property or be subject to arrest on trespassing charges.

EJECTIONS
Guests that are ejected are no longer welcome at Compaq Center for that night. Any attempts at re-entry could result in arrest for trespassing.

ELEVATORS
Elevators to the Suite Level of Compaq Center are located on the concourse on the East End of the facility.

FIREARMS/WEAPONS
No persons except local, state and federal law enforcement officials are permitted to bring weapons of any kind into Compaq Center. Guests with a weapon and a concealed handgun permit are not allowed to enter Compaq Center. Anyone with a weapon will be instructed to return to his or her vehicle or make other arrangements. Weapons will not be checked into the security office. Guests who refuse to follow this policy will be given a refund on their tickets and asked to leave the premises.

FIRST AID
A first aid station is located on the floor level. Trained medical personnel are on site for every public event appearing in Compaq Center. Event staff will contact medical personnel when needed.

FOOD & BEVERAGE
Guests may not bring food and beverages into Compaq Center.

GIVEAWAYS/PROMOTIONS
Compaq Center and the presenter of the event collectively establish procedures for giveaways.

GUEST APPEARANCE
Guests entering Compaq Center must be properly attired with shoes and a shirt.

GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES
Accessible Entrances: Lower Edloe entrance on the East Side of Compaq Center. Timmons Lane entrance on the West End of Compaq Center.

Assistive Listening Devices: Available upon request at the Customer Service Booth on the concourse outside Section 113.

Telecommunications Display Devices (TDD): TDD minicom IV with four rows of keys and a built-in printer port available upon request at the Customer Service Booth on the concourse outside Section 113. TDD public telephone hookup available at the phone banks located outside Sections 122 and Section 108.

Closed Captioning: Available for designated performances of select shows or by special request. Special requests must be made two weeks prior to the event.

Parking: Timmons Lane circle drive for guest drop-off or parking with appropriate vehicle registration. Greenway Plaza W2 Garage located at Timmons and Norfolk is available for properly registered vehicles.

Wheelchairs: Wheelchairs are available upon request at the Customer Service Booth on the Concourse outside Section 113. Wheelchairs are for transportation from the doors to a guest's seat. Wheelchairs may not be used for the duration of the event. Wheelchairs are not available for use outside the Compaq Center.

INTOXICATED GUESTS
Intoxicated guests are not admitted at any time. Persons denied entry into the facility would be offered a full refund from the Box Office. Intoxicated patrons are subject to ejection from the event or arrest.

LOST AND FOUND
Lost and found items are kept in the security office or the Event Manager's office for 90 days. Any items found before, during, and after an event will be turned into the security office or Event Manager's office. Call 713.843.3917 to retrieve lost articles.

PARKING
US Hwy. 59 South exit Buffalo Speedway. Event parking: Follow signs to Greenway Plaza Parking Garage. Non-Event parking: Proceed on southbound feeder road, right on Timmons Lane. Parking located on Circle Drive near the box office windows. Administrative office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. Box office hours are Monday through Friday 10a.m. to 5p.m.

PROJECTILES
Throwing projectiles inside Compaq Center will not be tolerated. Offenders will ejected without warning.

RE-ENTRY
Compaq Center has a no reentry policy whereby guests who enter the facility for an event with an admission ticket and then leave the facility are not allowed back into the building.

SMOKING
In compliance with City of Houston Ordinance No. 86-1311, Compaq Center is a smoke-free facility. Anyone observed smoking inside the facility will be asked to extinguish the item immediately. Any person who refuses to comply with the policy shall be subject to ejection from the facility and may be issued a citation. A smoking area is provided outside the building.

TICKETING
Concert Tickets on sale at Compaq Center Box Office 3 days after the first day of sale. Children who have celebrated their 2nd birthday must have a ticket to enter, This ticket policy may vary on designated family shows. Cash only on day of event.

Take US 59 to the Buffalo Speedway Exit (located between the West Loop and Downtown). Proceed along the US 59 southbound feeder road. For event parking, follow signs to Greenway Plaza Parking Garage. For non-event parking, proceed on southbound feeder road, right on Timmons Lane. Parking located on Circle Drive near the box office windows. Box Office hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm Monday - Friday.

WILL CALL WINDOWS:

Timmons Lane Will Call Window is on the west side of Compaq Center. Hours 10am - 5pm, Monday - Friday. Parking available on the Circle Driveway located on Timmons Lane.

Edloe Street Box Office Will Call Windows are located on the east side of Compaq Center. Windows opens 90 minutes prior to the beginning of an event. Access Edloe Will Call from the Greenway Plaza Parking Garage located under Greenway Plaza. Enter the Parking Garage from Richmond Avenue, Buffalo Speedway or from the Hwy. 59 feeder road between Buffalo Speedway and Edloe Street.

When purchasing group tickets for events at Compaq Center you'll receive great discounts off regular ticket prices. The benefits don't stop there. Compaq Center's Group Sales department offers personal service, advanced ticket reservations and priority seating for groups with no service charge!

Group Sales Guidelines

A group must consist of 20 or more tickets per show and group discounts are available only on group discount performances.
Orders can only be placed through the Compaq Center Group Sales Department.
Tickets may be purchased in person, by phone or by mail.
To purchase tickets in person call 713-843-3922 for an appointment.
Orders will not be filled until full payment is received.
Orders require a minimum of 2 business days for processing.
Orders are filled on a best seating available basis at time of payment.

The Compaq Center Group Sales Department (713-843-3922) can assist you with the following events:

Barney's Colorful World - October 10-12, 2003
Disney On Ice "3 Jungle Adventures" - November 26-30, 2003

For Aeros Group Sales call 713.974.PUCK
For Rockets Group Sales call 713.627.DUNK
For Comets Group Sales call 713.627.WNBA

A Compaq Center Group Sales representative is available to discuss the many events offering group discounts. For further assistance with your group planning, contact the Compaq Center Group Sales Department at 713-843-3922 or [email protected].

More Background On CompaqCenter.com

CompaqCenter.com served as the official online presence of one of Houston’s most historically significant sports and entertainment venues during a pivotal period in the city’s cultural evolution. From the late 1990s through the early 2000s, the website functioned as a central hub for event information, ticketing, venue logistics, and public engagement for what was then known as the Compaq Center—formerly The Summit and later transformed into the home of Lakewood Church.

More than just a venue website, CompaqCenter.com captured a transitional moment in American arena culture: when major sports facilities were beginning to adopt the internet as a primary communication tool, yet still retained the operational structure of a pre-digital era. Its archived content offers a rare, highly detailed snapshot of how large-scale entertainment venues operated, marketed themselves, and served the public during the early years of online event promotion.

Origins and Ownership

From The Summit to Compaq Center

The building that would become the Compaq Center originally opened in 1975 as The Summit, a pioneering indoor arena designed by architect Lloyd Morgan and developed by Houston businessman Judge Roy Hofheinz. It was one of the first fully enclosed, air-conditioned arenas in the world and quickly became a landmark in Houston’s sports and entertainment scene.

In 1998, technology company Compaq Computer Corporation purchased naming rights to the venue, reflecting the dot-com-era trend of corporate branding in professional sports. The building was subsequently renamed Compaq Center, and CompaqCenter.com emerged as its official digital platform.

The website was active primarily from 1999 to 2003, coinciding with the final years of the arena’s operation as a major sports and concert venue before the Houston Rockets moved to the newly constructed Toyota Center.

Location and Urban Context

Geographic Setting

The Compaq Center was located in Houston’s Greenway Plaza district, adjacent to U.S. Highway 59 (Southwest Freeway) near Buffalo Speedway and Edloe Street. This placement made it accessible from downtown Houston, the Galleria area, and surrounding suburbs.

The venue sat on approximately seven acres, surrounded by office buildings, hotels, and structured parking facilities. Its central location allowed it to function as a multipurpose destination for:

Professional sporting events
Concert tours
Family shows
Corporate and civic gatherings
High school graduations
Trade shows and conventions

The proximity to major highways and business districts helped make it one of the most heavily trafficked entertainment venues in Texas for nearly three decades.

Role in Houston Sports History

Home to Major League Teams

During its tenure, the Compaq Center served as home to several major professional sports franchises:

Houston Rockets (NBA) – The team played here from 1975 until 2003, winning two NBA championships (1994, 1995) while the arena was still known as The Summit.
Houston Comets (WNBA) – One of the league’s most dominant teams, winning four consecutive championships from 1997–2000.
Houston Aeros (AHL) – A prominent minor league hockey franchise.

The venue’s adaptability allowed it to host basketball, hockey, and large-scale touring productions with equal effectiveness.

The Website as a Digital Command Center

Purpose and Structure

CompaqCenter.com functioned as a centralized operations portal for:

Event calendars and ticket listings
Seating configurations and capacities
Venue policies and guest services
Technical specifications for touring productions
Group sales coordination
Accessibility and ADA information
Box office hours and directions

Unlike modern arena websites, which often rely on third-party ticketing platforms and social media integrations, CompaqCenter.com was largely self-contained. It provided exhaustive, operationally focused information meant to serve both the public and event organizers.

Venue Specifications and Capabilities

One of the most notable features of CompaqCenter.com was the level of technical transparency it provided. The site included detailed engineering and production data rarely published for public venues at the time.

Seating and Layout

17,072 – In-the-round configuration
17,064 – Proscenium full house
11,521 – Proscenium with front-of-stage seating
9,576 – Half-house configuration
6,700 – Theater-style setup

This flexibility allowed the venue to accommodate everything from NBA games to intimate concert performances.

Floor and Rigging

Floor size: 85’ x 200’
Concrete depth: 6 inches
Load capacity: 200 lbs per square foot
Rigging grid height: 81 feet
Multiple rigging points with safety-certified support

Lighting and Sound

Combination of metal halide and incandescent lighting
Broadcast-quality illumination
Centralized sound cluster for arena-wide coverage
TV-ready lighting for professional sports and concerts

Backstage and Production Support

Nine dressing rooms
Crew dining facilities
Two Zambonis for ice events
Multiple forklifts
Dedicated loading dock with tractor-trailer access
Full-service ticketing and will-call systems

These features made Compaq Center one of the most technically advanced arenas of its time.

Events and Programming

Sports

Houston Rockets (NBA)
Houston Comets (WNBA)
Houston Aeros (AHL)

Entertainment

Major concert tours
Disney on Ice
Family entertainment productions
Comedy festivals
Religious and civic events

Community Use

The arena regularly hosted:

High school graduations
Charity events
Trade shows
Cultural exhibitions
Religious gatherings

The site’s event listings from 2003 reflect a steady calendar of performances and public events, reinforcing the venue’s role as a community anchor.

Guest Experience and Policies

CompaqCenter.com provided unusually thorough documentation of guest policies, reflecting a pre-digital emphasis on in-person service and clear rules.

Highlights Included:

ADA accessibility details
Assistive listening devices
Wheelchair access points
Security procedures
Prohibited items lists
Firearms and safety policies
Lost and found procedures
Parking and transportation instructions

The clarity and completeness of these policies helped establish consistent expectations and reduced friction for attendees.

Transition to Lakewood Church

Sale and Conversion

After the Houston Rockets moved to Toyota Center in 2003, the building’s future became uncertain. In 2001, Lakewood Church—led by Joel Osteen—had entered into a long-term lease. In 2010, the City of Houston sold the property to Lakewood Church for $7.5 million.

The decision was financially strategic for the city:

The lease structure limited revenue potential
The building required substantial maintenance
Conversion costs for alternative uses were high
Lakewood had already invested heavily in renovations

Lakewood reportedly invested over $80 million converting the arena into a modern worship center while preserving much of the original structural framework.

Cultural and Historical Significance

The Compaq Center represents several overlapping historical trends:

1. The Rise of Corporate-Named Arenas

The naming rights deal with Compaq reflected the late-1990s technology boom and the increasing commercialization of sports venues.

2. Transition from Analog to Digital Operations

CompaqCenter.com exemplifies the early internet era when venues first began publishing detailed operational content online rather than relying solely on printed programs or phone-based ticketing.

3. Adaptive Reuse of Urban Infrastructure

The transformation from sports arena to megachurch remains one of the most prominent examples of adaptive reuse in American urban development.

4. Houston’s Entertainment Legacy

For decades, the venue served as the epicenter of Houston’s professional sports, live entertainment, and civic gatherings.

Audience and Public Perception

The website catered to a diverse audience:

Sports fans
Concertgoers
Touring production managers
Event promoters
Families
Schools
Religious organizations
City officials

Public sentiment toward the Compaq Center remains largely nostalgic. For many Houstonians, it represents:

NBA championship memories
First concerts
Graduation ceremonies
Landmark city events
A pre-digital era of live entertainment

Legacy of CompaqCenter.com

Although the website itself is no longer active, archived versions remain valuable historical artifacts. They reveal:

How major venues operated before modern CMS platforms
The level of operational transparency once expected
The evolution of ticketing and event marketing
The technological transition of large-scale entertainment venues

In retrospect, CompaqCenter.com stands as a digital time capsule—preserving not just a building’s schedule, but the operational mindset of an entire era.

CompaqCenter.com was far more than a venue website. It was a comprehensive public interface for one of America’s most important sports and entertainment arenas during a time of rapid technological and cultural change.

From hosting championship teams and global performers to serving as the digital front door of a Houston landmark, the site documented the life of an arena that shaped generations of memories. Today, its legacy lives on through archived pages, personal recollections, and the continued use of the building itself—now transformed but still deeply woven into the fabric of the city.

CompaqCenter.com

Compaq Center 1999-2003