The Sam Houston Bearkats will play their 2025 home football schedule at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston while their home facility, Bowers Stadium, is renovated, it was announced Monday.
Sam Houston have played one contest in the facility before, a 50-6 victory over Texas Southern in 2012. The stadium has since changed names with a change in the primary naming rights sponsor.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our program and our fans,” Sam Houston Director of Athletics Bobby Williams said in the release. “Playing at Shell Energy Stadium will provide a top-tier venue for our student-athletes to showcase their talent and for our fans to experience a dynamic, world-class atmosphere. We’re grateful to Shell Energy Stadium for their partnership in bringing the Bearkats to Houston for the 2025 season.”
The Bearkats’ home, Bowers Stadium, is in the midst of an overhaul to the press box structure, which would have resulted in a smaller capacity and reduced amenities for the 2025 campaign. Shell Energy Stadium, the current home of Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash along with Texas Southern football, seats nearly 21,000 fans and recently hosted the Stagg Bowl. The Stagg Bowl is the Division 3 national championship contest.
“Playing in such a great stadium like Shell Energy Stadium with this team is an honor,” Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo said in the release. “These guys have been working hard all off-season, and I can’t wait to see what this team accomplishes in front of our Bearkat faithful, all decked out in their orange. The energy from our fans will make this an unforgettable season.”
Shell Energy Stadium is just over one hour from Sam Houston’s campus in Huntsville, Texas.
Come to Shell for answers.
Shocking that this is announced just 5 months out from the start of the season.
Northwestern made their announcement they were to play on campus last year in April as well:
https://www.insidenu.com/2024/4/10/24126763/breaking-northwestern-to-play-2024-and-2025-home-games-at-modified-martin-stadium
I guess Sam Houston State won’t be playing their annual home game at NRG Stadium this season since they’re going to be playing at Shell Energy Stadium for the entire 2025 season.
Creighton Rabs Sam Houston State will be excellent playing their Temporary home games at Shell Energy Stadium do not be concerned about it buddy.
No military academies or OOC Texas opponents on this year’s schedule for Sam Houston might explain it too. The UNLV contest might have been a candidate but there is a concert that weekend being hosted.
No issue with that Rev. however I have lots of respect for CFB Fans in Lone Star State(Texas).
As a Sam Houston Alum, I realize that there are a lot of things needed to upgrade Bowers Stadium, but this is a little disappointing that the games are moved and the primary focus is on the press box.
It wasn’t an annual home game in Houston though @Creighton, it started as the annual rivalry game with Stephen F. Austin that was moved when things got ugly after the 2009 game in Nacogdoches and the two schools took turns basically hosting the game. Although I don’t think the SHSU made a firm commitment to playing a game at NRG every year, there are, naturally, a lot of SHSU Alums in Houston, so placing those games against Air Force and Texas State probably was a good thing that way, but I feel for the most part that college football was made to play at campus sites. Most of the time, it’s in a big stadium that can’t be filled half full and all the electricity of the game is removed by empty chairs.
That’s just my opinion, however, and I for one am still disappointed that SHSU chose to make the jump to the FBS.
Just curious JM, why are you disappointed that Sam Houston decided to move up to FBS? Your school had just won the FCS title.
Full disclosure: I work security at NRG Stadium, so that’s one less potential shift for me, hence my comment.