Houston Dynamo Football Club will observe June 16 in two matches

HOUSTON (June 17, 2024) – Houston Dynamo Football Club (HDFC) today announced plans to observe Juneteenth in two matches at Shell Energy Stadium. The organization will celebrate Juneteenth with a mix of sport, culture and community involvement, honoring the importance of this day and promoting inclusion and diversity.

HDFC has partnered with Juneteenth United Statesthe oldest non-profit Juneteenth advocacy organization in the United States, to host a series of events on the day of the Houston Dynamo game at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday, June 19 and the Houston Dash game on Saturday, June 22.

“Juneteenth USA is proud to collaborate with the Houston Dynamo Football Club to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrate the resilience of Black communities,” said Jason Edwards, president and president of Juneteenth USA.

Houston Dynamo FC will host Seattle Sounders FC at Shell Energy Stadium on the federal holiday, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans will be greeted by the Texas Southern University and Sterling High School marching bands as they enter Shell Energy Stadium for the evening. Additionally, both teams will wear the recently announced “I AM #19” jersey during warmups. The jersey recognizes the importance of Juneteenth, celebrates all players as agents of change and unites around the work that remains to be done.

“Juneteenth represents a pivotal moment in American history, and we are honored to partner with Juneteenth USA to mark this occasion through our games,” said Ashley Clinkscale, vice president of communications and public relations for Houston Dynamo Football. Club. “We believe it is important to use our platform to amplify the importance of Juneteenth and promote unity and diversity within our community and our sports.”

In-game elements include a special appearance from 97.9 The Box’s Keisha Nicole as honorary co-host of the match. OG Ron C, Houston hip-hop legend and co-founder of Houston’s Swishahouse Records, will perform a set of his hits during halftime.

The Dash will commemorate Juneteenth by wearing a special pre-match warm-up jersey before their match against the San Diego Wave FC at 6:30 p.m. CT, Saturday, June 22 at Shell Energy Stadium. The pre-match top was designed in collaboration with the Black Women’s Player Collective. After the game, Michelle Alozie, Jyllissa Harris and Croix Soto will be available to meet with a local youth sports team to share their journey to the professional game.

Local Black-owned and operated businesses will be highlighted throughout both matches at Shell Energy Stadium, and the organization will also recognize members of STRIVE, Houston Dynamo FC’s Black employee support group.