Baytown, TX – If you live in Baytown, seeing a big concert, attending a major sports tournament, or hosting a large community event usually meant driving into Houston or another nearby city. Long commutes, traffic, and parking headaches were just part of the deal, but that’s about to change.
Baytown is officially moving forward with the ExxonMobil Baytown Events Center, a new multi-purpose venue designed to bring concerts, sports tournaments, and community events closer to home. The City Council on Jan 8 approved Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture to lead the design of the project. Only one council member, Ken Griffith from District 3, voted against it. This isn’t just an idea anymore, it’s happening.
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So what does that mean for Baytown residents?
Families won’t always have to drive into Houston for youth sports tournaments. While Baytown teams have made the trip before, soon more cheer competitions, basketball, volleyball, dance, gymnastics, and wrestling events can happen right at home, with less stress, lower costs, and more time to enjoy the game.
But it’s not just about sports. The Events Center will also host concerts, family shows, expos, meetings, and community gatherings, the events that bring people together and give a city its energy. Instead of watching these opportunities pass Baytown by, the city is creating space to host them.
“This is a $5 billion investment in the city,” said Baytown Council Member James Franco, District 4, during the meeting. “I’m seeing it happen in other places, and those agreements are what keep development going, keep jobs in cities, and keep them growing.” Franco also estimated that the project could generate around 4,000 jobs, highlighting the potential economic impact for Baytown.
According to City Manager Jason Reynolds, the project builds on years of planning and community input. He explained that in 2017-2018, Baytown conducted a Recreation Center Feasibility Study, bringing together residents from across the city. That group created an action plan that was adopted by the City Council, calling for a recreation center in 2021. These goals were later included in the 2021 Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan, and further reinforced by the City’s 2022 Strategic Plan, which incorporated extensive community feedback. Reynolds added, “All of these things are online. All of these things are public. This was heavily involved with citizens around Baytown, putting things together, talking about what they want.”
The City of Baytown says the ExxonMobil Baytown Events Center is designed to transform the city into a thriving hub of activity. The center aims to provide new cultural and economic opportunities, enrich the lives of families through sports and entertainment, and foster a prosperous and inclusive environment for all residents. The city adds that the center will expand educational opportunities and create a versatile entertainment venue that complements existing attractions. It will also invest in youth sports and celebrate local athletic traditions.
Located at Decker and Market Street, the city says the center will cover roughly 150,000 to 200,000 square feet. It will include a championship court, entertainment space seating 3,000 to 5,000, and 5,000 square feet of meeting space. “The ExxonMobil Baytown Events Center will be a pivotal development for our city,” said Baytown Mayor Charles Johnson. The city estimates the venue could attract more than 200,000 visitors each year, boosting local businesses and generating millions in tourism revenue.
The Events Center is supported by a $75 million economic development commitment from ExxonMobil. In addition to sports and entertainment, it’s expected to bring more visitors to the area, generate new opportunities for local vendors and entrepreneurs, and strengthen Baytown’s role in the Greater Houston Area.
Right now, the city is in the design and planning phase, working through timelines, costs, and community input. Construction decisions will come later, but approving the architect turns a long-term vision into real momentum.
Baytown’s new center will keep experiences local and create a space that serves families, youth, and the broader community for years to come. And for the first time, when a concert or major event comes to the area, the answer to “Where is it?” might just be: right here in Baytown.