Welcome to Toyota Center

I knock arena off my bucket list few days ago. I went to Houston Rockets preseason game taking on Shanghai Sharks. Outside the arena they got statue of Hakeem Olajuwon jersey with his accomplishments.

The logo on display at the main entrance.

Rockets team motto for the season is "Run as One" as it splashed in front of the arena. Can they with James Harden, CP3, Melo, Gerald Green, and maybe James Enthis III?

The doors opened hour before the game. No program or even a roster sheet was given out. The rafters filled with retired jersey numbers of Rudy T, Calvin Murphy, Moses Malone, The Glide, The Dream, CD, and Yao. Also along where two champions they won in 94 and 95 and the defunct WNBA Houston Comets.

The upper level of arena featured encased lockers of former star Rockets which includes Elvin Hayes, Ralph Sampson, Steve Francis, T-Mac, and former owner Leslie Alexander. They still have the hardwood floor from The Summit (which is now Joel Osteen mega-church).

Since they didn't have roster sheets only way fans figure who's playing for the Sharks from the announcer. Two notable players on Sharks were former Rockets player Luis Scola and BYU star Jimmer Fredette. Scola got a welcome back video tribute during the game. Melo and Clint Capela didn't play.

Once tipoff happen it was no contest as Rockets blew through the team hitting 3s everywhere especially Harden along with JE3 and PJ Tucker. Zhou Qi of the Rockets left the game with sprain knee. Jimmer Fredette was a machine playing the entire game scoring almost half of Sharks points but was missing more his share. They were up so big that they gave Harden, CP3, and Enthis entire 4th quarter off and it was preseason garbage time for the Rockets. Meanwhile I moved down from upper level to lower level and ushers didn't mind due to amount of empty seats. Then again it was preseason game.

As usual Rockets defeat Sharks in dominating fashion. Nice to see international team even if its exhibition game.

It's a good arena to catch a game. Like to watch a regular season game there some day.