Toyota Center ( Houston ) The Toyota Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Houston , Texas . It is named after the Japan ese automobile manufacturer Toyota . The arena is home to the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association , the principal owners of the building , and the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League . Rockets owner Leslie Alexander first began to request a new arena in 1995 , and attempted to release the Rockets from their lease at The Summit , which ran until 2003 . However , he was denied by arena owner Chuck Watson , then - owner of the Aeros , who also wanted control of a new arena . The two sides agreed to equal control over an arena in a deal signed in 1997 , but the proposal was rejected by city voters in a 1999 referendum . It was not until the city and the Rockets signed an amended agreement in 2001 , excluding the Aeros , that the proposal was accepted . Construction began in July 2001 , and the new arena was officially opened in September 2003 . The total costs were $ 235 million , with the city of Houston paying the majority , and the Rockets paying for enhancements . Toyota paid $ 100 million for the naming rights . History . In May 1995 , several Texas sports teams , including the Houston Rockets , proposed legislation that would dedicate state tax revenue to build new arenas . Although the bill was failed in the Texas House of Representatives , Rockets owner Leslie Alexander announced he would continue to study the possibility of constructing a new arena in downtown Houston , saying the 20 - year old Summit arena was too outdated to be profitable . Although the Summit ' s management said they could renovate the building for a small part of the cost of a new arena , the Rockets began talks with the city of Houston on a possible location for an arena . They also negotiated with Houston Aeros and Summit owner , Chuck Watson , to release them from their contract with the Summit , which ran until 2003 . As the negotiations continued into 1996 , a panel appointed by Houston mayor Bob Lanier reported that building a new arena was " essential to keep pro sports in Houston " . After Watson rejected a contract buyout proposal of $ 30 million , the Rockets filed a legal challenge against their lease , stating the " need to be able to buy out " of the lease . However , the city of Houston filed a counterclaim to force the Rockets to stay at the Summit , saying that if the Rockets did not honor their contract , then they might " have no incentive to honor any new agreement with the city of Houston to play in a new downtown sports arena " . The validity of the lease was eventually upheld , and in April 1997 , Lanier announced that the Rockets and Watson would have to agree to share control of the new arena equally , or lose access to it altogether . After both parties agreed to the terms , a bill that authorized increased taxes to pay for a new arena was signed into law in July , by then - Governor George W . Bush . However , after the National Hockey League decided not to consider Houston as a location for an expansion team because of the indecision over the new arena , Lanier said that he would not have a referendum in November . The Rockets began an appeal in January 1998 against the court order to stay at the Summit , but then dropped it in May , because they felt that a new arena would be ready by the time they finished their lease . In January 1999 , recently elected mayor Lee Brown guaranteed a referendum on the issue before the end of the year . After several months negotiating with the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority , the Rockets finalized a deal to pay half of the construction costs , and a referendum was set for November 2 . The deal was approved by Brown and the Houston City Council , but Watson started an opposition group against the referendum , saying the arena was " not in Houston ' s interest " . On November 3 , the results of the referendum were announced , and the arena proposal was rejected by 54 % of voters . Alexander said " we never thought we would lose " and that they were " devastated by the loss " . After the vote , NBA commissioner David Stern said " if there ' s not a new building . . . I think it ' s certain that the team will be relocated . " The Houston Sports Authority had not planned to meet with the Rockets until after the NBA season ended , but after the Rockets began to talk to other cities about relocation , they resumed talks in February 2000 . Although the Rockets continued to negotiate with Louisville , Kentucky . a funding plan for the arena in Houston was released in June . A final agreement was proposed on July 6 , and both the Rockets and mayor Brown agreed to the terms . After the city council approved the deal , the proposal was placed on the November referendum ballot . Leading up to the vote , the Rockets stressed that there would be " no new taxes of any kind " , although opponents said the new arena would raise energy consumption , and also contended that the public would pay for too much of the costs of the arena . Contributions for the campaign for the arena included donations of $ 400 , 000 from Reliant Energy , and a total of $ 590 , 000 in loans and contributions from Enron and Ken Lay , who the Rockets said was a " tireless " force in the campaign . On November 8 , the arena was approved by 66 % of voters . Construction . According to the agreement signed , the city of Houston bought the land for the arena and an adjoining parking garage , which was near the George R . Brown Convention Center , and paid for it by selling bonds and borrowing $ 30 million . Morris Architecture designed the 750 , 000 square foot building , and Hunt Construction was contracted to build the arena . A building formerly owned by Houston Lighting and Power Company was demolished to make way for the arena , and two streets were closed for the duration of the construction . A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 31 , 2001 , and construction continued for 26 months . At the request of Alexander , the arena was built 32 feet below street level , so fans would not have to walk up stairs to reach their seats . To sink the arena , $ 12 million was spent to excavate 315 , 000 cubic yards of dirt over four months , which was the largest excavation in Houston history . Concrete was poured for the foundation throughout the summer of 2002 , and structural work began in October . The roof was set on in December , as work continued inside , with a peak workforce of 650 . In September 2003 , a ribbon - cutting ceremony was held to mark the official opening of the arena . The total cost of construction was $ 235 million , with the city paying $ 182 million , and the Rockets adding $ 43 million for additions and enhancements . Arena interior . The arena can seat 18 , 300 for basketball , 17 , 800 for hockey , and 19 , 300 for concerts . The price for courtside seats to a Rockets game in the new arena were raised by as much as 50 % compared to prices in the team ' s old home , while upper - deck seat prices were lowered . It has 2 , 900 club seats and 103 luxury suites , and the 2 , 500 - space Toyota Tundra garage is connected to the arena by a private skybridge . Levy Restaurants manages concession services at the arena , and offers fast food on the main concourses , while also catering a VIP restaurant for suite - holders . Alexander personally chose colors for the restaurant to help customers feel " warm and comfortable " , and Rockets president George Postolos said that the Rockets looked " for a relationship with the people that attend events in our venue " . A 40 by 32 feet central scoreboard , which has four main replay screens and eight other full - color displays , hangs from the ceiling of the arena , and has the highest - resolution display of any North American sports facility . The arena has two additional displays located at each end of the court , and a " state - of - the - art " audio system . Sponsorship . In July 2003 , the arena was named the Toyota Center , after Toyota agreed to pay $ 100 million for naming rights , the fourth - largest deal for a sports arena in the United States at the time . The logo of the company was placed on the roof of the building , as well in other prominent places inside the arena , and the company was given " a dominant presence " in commercials shown during broadcasts of games played in the arena .