[00:00:16]
HOW Y'ALL FEELING RIGHT NOW? MAN, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, I GO BY THE NAME OF TRADE OF TRUTH.
UM, AND RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT.
AND THE REASON I SAY IT'S VERY SPECIAL IS BECAUSE IT'S MOMENTS LIKE THESE THAT WE NEED OUR CITY TO STEP UP AND CARE OUR YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE, YOU KNOW? AND IT'S, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP THEM THRIVE AND BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE.
BUT I WANNA SEND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE WORLD CUP FOR THEM COMING AND MAKING THE IMPACT THAT THEY'RE DOING AND CARING.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA BE REVITALIZED PARKS DOING DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE WITHIN THE CITY.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS AND IT'S ABOUT US DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO SHOW.
HOUSTON IS EVERYTHING THAT WE EMBODY TO SHOW THE WORLD.
NOW, ONE THING I WANNA SAY, MAN, IT'S A, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT GROWING THE GAME.
SOCCER'S NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING OUT THERE, KICKING THE BALL, IT'S ABOUT GETTING OUT THERE WITH, WITH TEAMS, GETTING OUT THERE WITH, WITH, UM, SHALL I SAY, FAMILY WITH LOVE.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE KIDS, I CAME UP IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND I SEEN A LOT OF KIDS COME UP AND SOME OF THEIR PARENTS WASN'T, WASN'T ABLE TO BE OUT THERE TO SUPPORT THEM OR BE OUT THERE TO, TO PUSH THEM OR, OR HAVE THEIR BACK AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, WHETHER IT MAY BEEN TO HARDSHIP WORK OR OTHER THINGS.
BUT GUESS WHAT? THESE SOCCER TEAMS, THEY BROUGHT TOGETHER FAMILY, THEY BROUGHT TOGETHER COMMUNITY, THEY BROUGHT TOGETHER TEAMWORK.
AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY COUNTS RIGHT NOW, MAN.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT ME.
I WANT Y'ALL TO MAKE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR FUTURE RIGHT NOW, MAN.
AND ONE THING THAT'S MOST DEFINITE, IT'S ABOUT GROWING THE GAME, MAN.
AND EVERY DAY THAT WE DO THIS, WE GONNA REPRESENT HOUSTON TO THE END.
BUT I'M GONNA LET THEM TALK ONE TIME, MAN, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT SOME VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR Y'ALL.
TODAY IS A HOPE AND ACCESS A CHANCE FOR ALL OF US TO PLAY.
TODAY IS ABOUT BELONGING AND HAVING A TEAM THAT BELIEVES IN YOU.
IT'S ABOUT DISCIPLINE AND GROWING STRONGER EVERY DAY.
IT'S ABOUT CONFIDENCE AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY AND A PATH TO SOMETHING BIGGER.
AND NOW WELCOME THE PRESIDENT TO THE HOUSTON WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE.
Y'ALL MAKE SOME NOISE FOR CHRIS.
WE'RE TWO MINUTES INTO THIS PRESS CONFERENCE AND WE CAN ALREADY SEE THE IMPACT THAT THE GAME HAS ON THE YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WONDERFUL WELCOME.
UH, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY ON THIS GREAT OCCASION.
THE HOUSTON 2026 WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE IS DRIVEN BY LEGACY.
AND TODAY YOU'LL SEE HERE AND LEARN ABOUT ONE OF OUR MOST AMBITIOUS AND IMPORTANT LEGACY INITIATIVES.
OUR MISSION IS TO LEVERAGE THE POWER OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE AND TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY LONG AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE BLOWS THIS SUMMER.
AND TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT IS ALL ABOUT THAT IN ALIGNMENT WITH FIFA.
THE HOST COMMITTEE BUILT ITS LEGACY PILLARS AROUND GROWING THE GAME, DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS, AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING INITIATIVES AROUND EACH OF THESE PILLARS ALONGSIDE SEVERAL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS.
BUT TODAY WE ARE FOCUSED ON GROWING THE GAME.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, OUR GROW THE GAME COMMITTEE ANALYZED ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE HOUSTON SOCCER COMMUNITY.
WE CONCLUDED THAT A LACK OF A LACK OF ACCESS TO THE GAME FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IS A BIG CHALLENGE AND AN ISSUE THAT WE WANTED TO PRIORITIZE.
AND AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW, YOUTH SOCCER IS A PLAY TO PAY TO PLAY SPORT IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT'S VERY COSTLY FOR PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN HOUSTON.
MOST OF THE PAY-TO-PLAY OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN THE SUBURBS IN PLACES LIKE FRIENDSWOOD, KATY TOMBALL, SUGARLAND, AND THE WOODLANDS MAKING ACCESS A CHALLENGE.
THESE ISSUES HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO THE GAME FOR OUR UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN HARRIS COUNTY.
WHILE THESE, WITH THESE THINGS IN MIND, WE SET OUT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS THE FOCAL POINT OF OUR GROW THE GAME STRATEGY.
AND AFTER YEARS OF WORK, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN INITIATIVE THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING AND IMPACTFUL LEGACY PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL FIFA WORLD CUP HOST CITIES.
AND WHEN I SAY YEARS OF WORK, I MEAN IT.
LITERALLY IN THE SUMMER OF 2019, WE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ALONGSIDE OUR FRIENDS FROM FC BYRON MUNICH WHEN THEY WERE HERE TO PLAY A FRIENDLY MATCH AGAINST ROYAL MADRID.
AND WE ANNOUNCED THEN OUR INTENTIONS TO CREATE A PROGRAM CALLED FREE KICK SOCCER.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE OUR FRIENDS FROM
[00:05:01]
BYRON MUNICH HERE BACK TODAY FOR A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING WHILE IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.TODAY WE CAN OFFICIALLY SAY THAT FREE KICK SOCCER IS READY FOR TAKEOFF FREE KICK SOCCER IS A STRONG COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, THE YOUTH SOCCER COMMUNITY, THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY, THE HOUSTON 2026 WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE, IMPACT HOUSTON 26, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION, AND THE HOUSTON DYNAMO AND DASH.
SO WHAT IS FREE KICK SOCCER? IT'S AN INITIATIVE CREATED BY THE HOST COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO THE GAME FOR THE UNDERSERVED YOUTH OF HARRIS COUNTY.
FREE KICK SOCCER WILL LEAD TO THE REFURBISHMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF 23 FULL SIZE SOCCER PITCHES ACROSS SIX HARRIS COUNTY PARKS.
THESE FIELDS ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE REFURBISHMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF THESE 23 SOCCER PITCHES IS FUNDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCTS 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR.
AND A RESULT OF THE LEADERSHIP FROM HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ELLIS GARCIA RAMSEY, AND BRIANIS, THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF MAYOR WHITMEYER TRANSFERRED TWO CITY PARKS TO HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT TWO, WHICH HELPED PROVIDE EQUAL FIELD ACCESS ACROSS THE COUNTY FOOTPRINT.
THE SIX PARKS INCLUDE BLUE RIDGE, GEORGE BUSH, MOODY, ALISSON BAYTOWN, AND KEITH WEISS.
I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ELLIS GARCIA RAMSEY, AND BRIANIS AND MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR THEIR VISION, SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS PROGRAM.
WITH THESE 23 NEW SOCCER PITCHES IN PLACE, THE NEXT PART OF FREE KICK, SOCCER'S BRINGING ORGANIZED SOCCER TO THEM TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE HOST COMMITTEE WORKED WITH THE AREA'S TOP YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS TO RUN CLUB OPERATIONS AT THESE SIX LOCATIONS.
THESE FIVE CLUBS INCLUDE ALBION, HURRICANE BAYTOWN SAINTS, GFI ACADEMY, HTX SOCCER, AND SG ONE COMBINED.
AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.
THESE CLUBS WILL INVEST APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION ANNUALLY INTO THE FREE KICKS PROGRAM AND PROVIDE 1,200 CLUB SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UNDERSERVED YOUTH OF THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE INVESTMENT FROM OUR CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS TO DEVELOP THESE FIELDS COMBINED WITH THE INVESTMENT FROM THESE CLUBS TO OPERATE ON THEM AND TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS IS HOW WE ARE BRINGING ORGANIZED CLUB SOCCER TO UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROVIDING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ACCESS TO IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH OF THESE CLUBS FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DAN HILL FROM ALBION, ALEJANDRO CORTEZ FROM BAYTOWN SAINTS, JOEL BURGESS FROM GFI ACADEMY, RANDY EVANS FROM HCX SOCCER, AND ALEX PARRA FROM SG ONE.
THANK YOU TO ALL THESE CLUBS FOR COLLABORATING ON THIS PROGRAM.
PRE-K SOCCER IS ORGANIZED AND MANAGED BY WHAT'S CALLED IMPACT HOUSTON 26, WHICH IS THE HOUSTON 2026 WORLD CUP HOST COMMITTEE'S LEGACY ARM AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION.
CORPORATE SUPPORT OF IMPACT HOUSTON 26 WILL HELP FUND THIS PROGRAM WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE IMPACT HOUSTON 26 CORPORATE PARTNERS.
YOU'LL SEE SCROLLED, UH, ON THIS SCREEN HERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND THANK YOUS NEED TO GO OUT TO THE PROJECT LEADERS FROM THE HOST COMMITTEE WHO INCLUDE OUR CHIEF LEGACY OFFER ME, OFFICER MEEL DAVIS, OUR GROW THE GAME COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHARLES TREMMEL AND DYNAMO REPRESENTATIVE ADAM FERRIS.
AND THANKS TO OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM OF JOSH SANDERS, DIANA PATINO, TAMMY VALEZ, AND FRANCIS NUGENT, WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS PROJECT AS WELL.
AND TO OUR LEADERS AT THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY AND THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION, CHAIRMAN JUAN GARCIA AND CEO RYAN WALSH.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE OF LEVERAGING THE POWER OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP TO HELP MAKE BIG THINGS HAPPEN AND TO HELP MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE.
I'M CERTAIN THAT THIS INITIATIVE DOES NOT COME TOGETHER WITHOUT THE WORLD CUP COMING TO HOUSTON.
WE LEVERAGE THIS MOMENT TO MAKE BIG THINGS HAPPEN.
AND IN CLOSING, I KNOW THAT IN HOUSTON WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO OUTDO THE COMPETITION AND BE THE BEST.
AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO GROWING THE GAME, THIS PROGRAM ACROSS THE 16 HOST CITIES WILL STAND UP THERE IN TERMS OF SIGNIFICANCE AND LEGITIMATE IMPACT, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN.
YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME AND THE HOST COMMITTEE.
AND HERE'S TO FREE KICK SOCCER.
AND OH, BY THE WAY, WE'RE ONLY 104 DAYS AWAY FROM THE FIRST MATCH OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP AGAIN OUR FRIENDS FROM FROM BYRON MUNICH WHO WERE HERE WITH US FROM THE BEGINNING.
JULIA WILLER, WHO'S THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AMERICA'S FOR FC BYRON MUNICH.
[00:10:02]
THANK YOU CHRIS.ALMOST SEVEN YEARS AGO, IN JULY, 2019, AS CHRIS JUST MENTIONED, FC BAIN WAS PLAYING THE ENERGY NRT STADIUM.
WHAT HE DIDN'T MENTION IS THAT WE WON THAT GAME AGAINST REAL MADRID THREE ONE
SO WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND ALONGSIDE HOUSTON AS THE INTENT FOR THE FREE KICKS PROGRAM WAS ANNOUNCED DURING ITS BID FOR THE WORLD CUP HOST CITY.
THAT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL FOR US AS BIO MUNICH, BECAUSE FOR US IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY COME IN AND OUT CITIES, BUT REALLY TO LEAVE A LEGACY OR TO CREATE MEANINGFUL MOMENTS.
BECAUSE FOR US, THIS IS MORE THAN IMPORTANT.
IT IS ABOUT A GAME OF OUR KIDS.
TODAY'S SUPPORTING THE VISION TO GIVE HOUSTON KIDS, NO MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND, A CHANCE TO PLAY, TO LEARN, BUT ALSO TO DREAM STANDING HERE ALONGSIDE THE NEXT GENERATION, THE YOUNG ATHLETES IN THE MAKING, WE CAN SEE THAT VISION IS ALREADY COME TO LIFE.
FOOTBALL IS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE, BUT THE GAME BEGINS LOCALLY IN ITS NEIGHBORHOODS AND PITCHES JUST LIKE THIS.
WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT HOUSTON TO SEE THE FREE KICK INITIATIVE COME TO LIFE AND OFFICIALLY LAUNCH TODAY AT FC BAIN'S 126TH BIRTHDAY.
IT IS REALLY FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR STARTING ALL OF THIS SEVEN YEARS AGO.
SEEING IT COME TO LIFE TODAY IS REALLY MEANINGFUL.
SO FOR NOW, I'M PROUD NOW TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE NEXT SPEAKER WHO YOU ALL KNOW AND WE ADMIRE HIS WORK, THE MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
YOU KNOW, I CAN SPEND THE REST OF THE MORNING ACKNOWLEDGING INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR CORPORATE WORLD.
CERTAINLY I'M GONNA GET TO MY PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY IN A MOMENT, 'CAUSE I'M GOING SPEND A LITTLE TI MORE TIME WITH THEM.
BUT SO MANY AGENCIES AND GROUPS OR REPRESENTATIVES HERE TODAY, CERTAINLY THE SPORTS AUTHORITY ONE, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY BLESSED IS THE PROPER WORD TO HAVE YOU SHOWING THE STABILITY, INCLUSIVENESS OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.
AND OF COURSE, RYAN WASH AND HIS TEAM DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT GONNA NAME ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I COULD START, I SEE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I COULDN'T DO MY WORK WITHOUT THEM AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR REPRESENTATION OF THEIR DISTRICTS IN THIS GREAT CITY.
YOU KNOW, I REGULARLY POINT OUT WHAT A GREAT CITY WE HAVE.
BUT LIKE ALL GREAT CITIES, WE HAVE CHALLENGES.
BUT TODAY, IN REAL TIME, WE'RE SHOWING HOW HOUSTON IS MEETING ITS CHALLENGES, THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR PARTS, THE INCLUSIVE, THE COALITIONS WE'RE BUILDING.
GIVE IT UP TO CHRIS OR HIS WORK.
AL ALMOST HATE TO SEE THIS, THE WORLD CUP COME TO AN END BECAUSE
SO LET ME GET RIGHT TO THE POINT.
WE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS, COALITION, BUILDING, INCLUSIVENESS.
SENATOR ELLIS, YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA APPROACHED ME ABOUT THIS ICONIC PARK THAT IS HAS SUCH A RICH HISTORY, BUT ALSO SOME DARK DAYS WHEN WE HAD THE JOE COMPASS TAURUS, UH, TRAGEDY.
SO TO BRING IT TO LIGHT TODAY AND SHOW WHAT THE BRIGHT FUTURE LOOKS LIKE FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, TOM RAMSEY, YOU AND I HAVE SHOWN YOU CAN WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH.
AND COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP.
SO LET ME CLOSE BY ON BEHALF OF 2.3 MILLION HOUSTONIANS AND THE 700,000 THAT DRIVE TO HOUSTON EACH AND EVERY DAY TO WORK PROJECTS LIKE THIS, THE SUCCESS OF THE WORLD CUP IS GONNA GET THAT 700,000 TO REALIZE THEY NEED TO LIVE IN HOUSTON, NOT JUST WORK IN HOUSTON, BUT TO LIVE IN HOUSTON.
YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE THE BATON AND RUN WITH IT.
AND I WILL CLOSE WITH THIS REALLY HEARTFELT EXPRESSION TO ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
SEAN TEAR THE DA'S OFFICE, PROVIDING SAFETY.
I COULD GO ACROSS THIS GREAT GROUP THAT'S COMING TOGETHER THIS MORNING.
THIS IS WHY WE RUN FOR OFFICE.
THIS IS WHY I WAS WILLING TO LEAVE THE SENATE.
[00:15:01]
PUT US IN A POSITION TO MAKE GREAT APPOINTMENTS.OUR BEST DAYS ARE STILL IN FRONT OF US FIXING TO DO THE BASEBALL CLASSIC THEN FLEET WEEK AND THEN WORLD CUP.
AND IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF HOUSTON'S BRIGHT FUTURE.
OH, HOW THE HELL DID I GET THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING RODNEY ELLIS? YOU GOTTA BE READY THOUGH.
THE GENTLEMAN, THE PUBLIC SERVANT THAT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.
I WEAR MY HEART UPON SLEEVE, LIKE BIG YOU.
LET'S GIVE IT UP TO MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
YOU KNOW, UH, UH, A RUNNING JOKE TO MY COLLEAGUES ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS THAT, UH, I WENT TO COLLEGE ON A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP.
NOW I KNOW THE OTHER POLITICIANS HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M THE ONLY POLITICIAN WHO WENT TO COLLEGE ON A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP, BUT I KNOW I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT WENT TO COLLEGE ON ONE AND NEVER WENT ON THE VEIL.
SERIOUSLY, I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE WORLD CUP COMING TO HOUSTON, AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT IS A SPORT WHERE MOST OF THE KIDS WHO PLAY DON'T LOOK LIKE ME, UNFORTUNATELY, DON'T SPEAK SPANISH.
WE PUT ALL OUR KIDS IN SPORTS, WHICHEVER ONE THEY WANTED TO CHOOSE SINCE THEIR DAD HAD A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP, OUR SON DID JOIN A SOCCER TEAM.
AND MAYOR, HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO LOOKED LIKE HIM ON THAT SOCCER TEAM.
AND I WOULD CALL MY PREDECESSOR L FRANK LIST, SAY, MAN, WHY ALL OF THESE SOCCER TOURNAMENTS SO FAR OUT? THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
THE WORLD CUP WILL BE HERE FOR 21 DAYS, IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS COLLEAGUES DURING THOSE 21 DAYS.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND.
AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT ALL OF US AT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND WITH THE STRONG CORPORATE SUPPORT OF FRIENDS, WE'RE GONNA DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN SO THAT WHEN THE NEXT WORLD CUP COMES TO HOUSTON IN 10 YEARS, THOSE KIDS WHO PLAY WILL REFLECT THE GREAT DIVERSITY OF HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND NOW IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO BRING UP ONE OF MY GREAT COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE FIVE OF US ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION'S BOARD, BUT COMMISSIONER, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
WELCOME ADRIAN GARCIA TO THE STAGE WITH SOME GREAT MUSIC.
WELCOME TO NORTH SIDE HOUSTON, GIVE IT UP FOR THE KIDS FROM ALDEEN, THE PHENOMENAL BAND, THE PRIDE.
THEY ARE THE PART OF THE PRIDE OF PRECINCT TWO.
AND I JUST WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS PARK.
AND MAYOR, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE CREATED TO HELP BRING THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TOGETHER TO MAKE MOODY PARK THE GREAT PARK THAT IT CAN BE AND WILL BE.
AND THAT IS MY COMMITMENT TO YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
AND TO EVERYONE ELSE, TO MY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE HERE IN MOODY PARK, WHEN I REFLECT ON THE DAYS BEFORE I JOINED ELECTED OFFICE, I WAS A HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER HAVING TO COME HERE AND SOFTEN CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN SOCCER LEAGUES AND UH, SOFTBALL LEAGUES BECAUSE THE FIRST GAMES OF SOCCER EVER PLAYED IN HOUSTON WERE BEING PLAYED RIGHT HERE IN MOODY PARK.
AND SO TO HAVE THIS MOMENT TAKE PLACE RIGHT HERE IS VERY FULL CIRCLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE ARE ALL GONNA WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOCCER CAN BRING WILL REACH ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT COUNTY AND CITY.
AND THAT'S WHY GROWING THE GAME IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR, UH, FOR THE HOUSTONIANS.
THIS IS HISTORIC MOMENT THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT THE WORLD CUP IS BEING PLAYED RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
BUT ALL THIS COULDN'T UH, HAPPEN.
AND ALTHOUGH EVERYBODY'S PROBABLY GONNA SING THEIR PRAISES, LET'S GIVE IT UP AGAIN TO JUAN GARCIA AND TO RYAN WAL
[00:20:01]
AND TO CHRIS CONNET, THE INCREDIBLE HOST COMMITTEE FOR ALL OF THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK.AND I GOTTA THROW THIS ONE OUT.
TOM COLLABRO, WHERE ARE YOU TOM? UH, A HOUSTON RETIRED HOUSTON POLICE OFFICER WHO IS HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS EVENT IS SAFE AND SECURE FOR US AND FOR ANYBODY WHO'S COMING TO VISIT THE GAME.
AND SO, LOOK, I I'M JUST GOING TO CLOSE WITH THIS.
GROWING THE GAME IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID IT, RIGHT.
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SPORT COULD LEAD TO A YOUNG PERSON FROM THIS COMMUNITY ULTIMATELY REPRESENTING THE GREAT COUNTRY OF THE UNITED STATES IN A WORLD CUP AND SOME OTHER PART OF THE WORLD.
AND SO CREATING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AND SO AGAIN, I AM SO IMMENSELY EXCITED AND PROUD OF THIS OCCASION.
BRIEF WORDS IN SPANISH
AND NOW IT IS MY HONOR TO WELCOME A KID FROM CROCKETT, TEXAS WHO HAS GONE ON TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE ENGINEERING CAREER AND NOW AN INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SERVANT.
NOT ONLY AS A MAYOR OF A CITY INSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY, BUT NOW COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY OF PRECINCT THREE.
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY A SONG YOU'D HEAR IN EAST TEXAS, BUT IT'S OKAY.
I TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S BLUE SKIES IN HARRIS COUNTY IN HOUSTON TODAY.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE OVER THE NEXT, UH, NEXT FEW MONTHS AS SOCCER COMES TO, COMES TO HARRIS COUNTY, COMES TO HOUSTON.
WE'RE THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN THE USA.
MANY, MANY OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS.
WELL, NOW THE WORLD'S GONNA BE LOOKING AT US.
NOW THE WORLD'S GONNA PAY ATTENTION TO US.
AND I THINK THE STORY WE'VE GOT TO TELL, AND MAYOR WHITMEYER REFERRED TO IT, THE DIVERSITY THAT WE'VE GOT TO TELL THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS REFERRED TO, THOSE ARE WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SEE.
WE'VE GOT SOCCER BEING PLAYED THIS WEEKEND IN BUROUGHS PARK AND LINDSEY LIONS PARK IN MEYER PARK IN DICE PARK.
AND, AND LET'S DON'T FORGET, I SEE MY FRIEND ALEJANDRO BACK THERE, IT'S GONNA BE AT THE BAYTOWN SOCCER LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND.
THERE ARE GAMES BEING PLAYED, THEY'RE BEING ENCOURAGED.
YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE KIDS FIND WHEN THEY GO TO THOSE GAMES? THEY GET A LITTLE HOPE, THEY GET A LITTLE ASSURANCE THAT YEAH, PEOPLE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
IF KIDS CAN PLAY TOGETHER, WHY CAN'T ADULTS WORK TOGETHER? I THINK THAT IS A STORY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE.
WHEN WE GROW THE GAME, WHEN WE DO WHAT WE DO OUT HERE ON THE SOCCER FIELD, IT'S GONNA MEAN A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO A LOT OF FOLKS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I WOULD GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD AND BRAG ON MY COLLEAGUES, UH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS GARCIA, AND BRIANIS, OUR INVESTMENTS THAT WE MADE JUST IN PRECINCT THREE LAST YEAR.
$1.2 MILLION TO FIX RESTROOMS TO DEAL WITH, WITH, UH, WITH, UH, THE FIELDS AND THE OTHER, OTHER MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES.
NEXT YEAR WE'LL SPEND 2.2 MILLION.
THAT'S WHY WE, UH, ARE SO EMBRACING OF GROWING THE GAME.
WELL DONE, UH, CAN, UH, UH, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
I I CAN'T IMAGINE YOUR LIFE OVER THE NEXT, UH, NEXT FEW WEEKS.
BUT LISTEN, THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HARRIS COUNTY, FOR HOUSTON TO, UH, UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A LOT OF KIDS' LIFE.
AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE, MY PARTNER, MY BUDDY, MY PERSON THAT SITS BY ME ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
[00:25:21]
YOU SAVED MY HEART FROM THE FADE.WE'RE HERE TODAY AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, LED BY OUR MAYOR, WHITMEYER AND ALL OF THE LEADERS.
THANK YOU TO MY AMAZING COLLEAGUES, COMMISSIONERS, ELLIS GARCIA, AND RAMSEY.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING CHRIS CONNET, RYAN WALSH, SCHWAN GARCIA, AND ALL THE TEAM.
RYAN AND I WERE IN DC EARLIER THIS WEEK AND FIFA IS SAYING THAT HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY, WE'RE AT THE TOP OF THE PATH OF ALL HOST CITIES AND WE ARE LEADING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TO EVERYONE, THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TO GET TO CELEBRATE, GROW THE GAME, BECAUSE THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT.
AND WHEN WE OPEN UP ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO PLAY SOCCER, WHAT WE ARE GIVING THEM IS MORE THAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A GAME.
IT'S TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY ON A TEAM, TO LEARN THAT DISCIPLINE, THAT PURPOSE, THAT FOCUS, THAT UNITY THAT COMES WITH BEING ON A TEAM.
SO AS WE CELEBRATE THE OVER A THOUSAND YOUTH THAT WILL HAVE THESE BARRIERS BROKEN DOWN AND THE GATES OF OPPORTUNITY OPENED, I HOPE THAT TODAY AND ALWAYS HERE IN HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, WE CAN DOUBLE DOWN ON PLAYING AS A TEAM BECAUSE IT IS IN UNITY BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, BETWEEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PUBLIC SECTOR AND BEYOND.
IT IS IN UNITY ACROSS POLITICAL AISLES.
IT IS IN UNITY THAT IS TEXANS AS HOUSTONIANS AS HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, THAT WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS.
IT'S ABOUT WINNING TOGETHER TO GROW, OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IMPACT, AND TO GROW THE LOVE THAT HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY IS BASED ON.
SO I AM SO PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY.
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS.
CAN WE GIVE IT UP? AND TO ALL OF OUR SPORTS PLAYERS NEXT TO US AS A FORMER TEACHER, IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE.
AND BY LEARNING TO PLAY ON A TEAM, WE KNOW THAT THE FUTURE OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY IS BRIGHT.
SO, SO PLEASE LET US GIVE IT UP.
SPEAKING OF PARTNERSHIPS, AND I WANNA THANK THE DYNAMO AND DASH BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER, BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS, DONATING PITCHES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THEY DO ALWAYS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE LEADERSHIP AND TEACHING US ALL TO WORK AS A TEAM.
JOIN ME IN WELCOMING JESSICA O'NEILL, OUR PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS FOR HOUSTON DYNAMO AND DASH.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO BE HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH COLLABORATION, UH, WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
I'M GOING TO TELL A BRIEF STORY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY ILLUSTRATE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND, AND I'M SPEAKING TO EVERYBODY, BUT I'M SPECIFICALLY TALKING TO THE YOUTH PLAYERS AND, AND KIDS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, THAT IS THE STORY OF MATTHEW ORANA AND LEAH CLANKEY.
OUR FIFTH MATTHEW IS 15, LEAH IS 21.
UH, THEY ARE HOUSTONIANS WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN THIS AREA.
UH, THEY WOULD, THEY HAVE PLAYED CLUB SOCCER.
MATTHEW WITH RISE AND LEAH WITH ALBION, WHO I UNDERSTAND IS HERE TODAY.
UM, THEY WOULD BE HERE WITH ME TODAY.
UM, THEY ARE AT SOCCER PRACTICE RIGHT NOW.
AND WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND IS THAT SOCCER PRACTICE IS THEIR JOB RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS WHO NOT JUST REPRESENT OUR CITY, BUT TO THE POINT THAT WAS MADE
[00:30:01]
EARLIER BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.THEY REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRIES.
MATTHEW HAS PLAYED FOR MEXICO'S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM.
LEAH HAS PLAYED FOR THE UNITED STATES YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM.
YOU BETTER BELIEVE THEIR DREAM IS TO REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRIES AT A WORLD CUP AS WELL.
THESE ARE PLAYERS FOR THE HOUSTON DASH IN THE HOUSTON DYNAMO FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THEY ARE TRAINING RIGHT NOW ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM HOUSTON SPORTS PARK.
THEY BOTH HOPE TO MAKE THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEBUTS AT SHELL ENERGY STADIUM IN FRONT OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
WE CANNOT IMAGINE A MORE SPECIAL MOMENT THAN THAT.
UH, MATTHEWS COULD ACTUALLY BE AS EARLY AS TOMORROW NIGHT IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT CROWD AS WE TAKE ON LAFC.
THEY ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT BE THE LAST.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT ACCESS.
YOU HEARD IT FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US TODAY TO ENSURE THAT THAT PIPELINE CONTINUES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY, EVERY SOCCER PLAYER WHO WANTS TO PLAY CLUB, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S COLLEGE, WHETHER THAT'S ACADEMY, HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
THANK YOU TO THE HOST COMMITTEE, THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERS, THANK YOU TO HARRIS COUNTY, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR MAKING SURE THAT IS POSSIBLE FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE NOW TO INTRODUCE RYAN WALSH, CEO OF THE HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY.
REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US AND THE PARTNERSHIP HERE IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANNA CALL UP, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER, THE COMMISSIONERS CHRIS CNET CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN.
IT REALLY IS, UH, EXCITING TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY TO CELEBRATE SUCH A HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE HERE IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
THE FREE KICK SOCCER PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED AND MANAGED BY IMPACT HOUSTON 26, THE LEGACY INITIATIVE OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 HOSTING COMMITTEE.
IT WAS CREATED TO CELEBRATE AND EXTEND THE IMPACT THAT THIS EVENT IS GONNA HAVE LONG BEYOND THE MATCHES.
THIS PROGRAM WILL BE A PART OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY.
YOU KNOW, THIS PROGRAM DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT AND IT TOOK THE COLLECTIVE BRAIN POWER OF THE STAFF, THE HOST COMMITTEE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS AND RECOGNITION TO MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR YOUR TIRELESS SUPPORT AND EFFORT.
COMMISSIONERS ELLIS GARCIA RAMSEY, AND BRIANIS FOR EMBRACING THE IDEA AND PUTTING SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME, THEIR EFFORT AND HEART INTO THIS.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR JEWEL MAYOR WHITMEYER, IF I MAY BORROW THAT.
UH, CHRIS, HE'S GONNA HEAR THAT A LOT.
BY THE WAY, UH, CHRIS CONNET, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS HIS BIG IDEA AND HE TOOK THIS FROM THE BIG IDEA TO A REALITY AND HIS VISION IS GONNA HAVE SUCH A LASTING IMPACT IN OUR REGION FOR YEARS TO COME.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ARAMCO SITCO AND CHEVRON FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF SPECIFIC INITIATIVES AROUND THE GROW THE GAME PILLAR OF THE IMPACT HOUSTON 26.
YOUR INVESTMENT IN YOUTH ACCESS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT ENSURES THIS PROGRAM EXISTS AND WILL GROW AND THRIVE.
IF YOU GUYS WOULD ALL JOIN ME ON STAGE AS WELL, THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ARAMCO, CHEVRON, AND SITCO.
AND OF COURSE, A VERY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE HOUSTON DYNAMO DASH FOOTBALL CLUB.
AS MENTIONED, THEIR ROLE AS KEY ADVISORS IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FREE KICK SOCCER PROGRAM HELPED TO SHAPE AND GROW THIS INITIATIVE WELL BEYOND IMAGINATION.
THANK YOU FOR LENDING YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR DEEP ROOTS IN HOUSTON AND THE SOCCER COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
JESS, IF YOU WOULD ALSO JOIN US UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY SHINE BRIGHTER THAN ANY OTHER REGION, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION AND UNENDING EFFORT OF EVERYONE STANDING UP HERE TODAY WITH ME.
AND FINALLY, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO A FEW SPECIAL GUESTS WHO HELPED US CELEBRATE TODAY.
PLEASE, UH, WAVE AND BE RECOGNIZED.
ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY MAYOR CHARLES JOHNSON FROM THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, BAYTOWN, ELIZABETH BROCK, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR METRO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
THE BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE HARRIS COUNTY HOUSTON SPORTS AUTHORITY AND SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION ARE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR SHOWING UP IN FORCE AND THANK YOU AS WELL TO THE ALDE HIGH SCHOOL PEP BAND FOR PROVIDING THE ENTERTAINMENT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS MORE THAN A SOCCER INITIATIVE.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN ACCESS, IN EQUITY AND IN COMMUNITY.
THIS IS HOW WE TURN A GLOBAL MOMENT INTO A LASTING MOVEMENT.
SO I'LL CLOSE OUT TODAY WITH WHERE WE BEGIN.
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IS ABOUT GROWING THIS BEAUTIFUL GAME.THE LEGACY WE CHOOSE TO LEAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
LIKE THE KIDS ON THE PITCH AND THE YOUTH CLUB REPRESENTATIVES HERE TODAY.
HOPE, ACCESS, BELONGING, TEAM, DISCIPLINE, GROWTH, CONFIDENCE, LEADERSHIP, OPPORTUNITY AND DIRECTION.
THIS IS WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO GROW THE GAME IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
TREY, THE TRUTH, WHERE ARE YOU MAN? COME BACK UP HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR BELIEVING IN THESE KIDS AND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOR HOUSTON EVERY SINGLE DAY.
CAN I GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYBODY ON STAGE, MAN? WOO.
I WANT TO LEAVE ON THIS NOTE AND SAY IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT TODAY.
WHAT WE DOING IS FOR DARE TOMORROW.
SO ACE TIME, LET'S KEEP SHOWING UP AND WE GOING GROW THE GAME ON THE COUNT OF THREE.
CAN I GET EVERYBODY TO SAY GROW THE GAME? 1, 2, 3.
WHAT'S LOVE MAN? HOUSTON BABY.