ouston Dynamo Football Club today announced its matchday activations to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage

    Photo credit: Houston Dynamo FC


HOUSTON (Wednesday, May 17, 2023) – Houston Dynamo Football Club today announced its matchday activations to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month at Shell Energy Stadium, highlighting members of the community, fans and players of AAPI heritage.

 

The Houston Dash will host AAPI Heritage night when they face San Diego Wave FC on Saturday, May 20, while The Houston Dynamo will host on Saturday, May 27 versus Austin FC. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT.

 

“I think it’s awesome that we have AAPI month,” Dash defender and Honolulu, Hawaii native Caprice Dysdasco, said in this video feature. “It is amazing that little girls can look up to someone who looks like me. I never had that. It’s really important that I can represent my culture on the field.”

 

The Club partnered with local Chinese American artist Terence Tang to design and create custom artwork to celebrate different Asian cultures. Merchandise, including T-shirts and patches, with the design will be available at the team store beginning Thursday, May 18. Tang brings viewers behind the design in this video feature.

 

Multiple AAPI organizations will be recognized throughout the matches. To learn more about either of the below groups, fans are welcome to meet with representatives from the organizations inside the stadium gates on the concourse:

  • The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) is a volunteer-driven organization of community advocates that strives to meet the current and evolving needs of a diverse population through a comprehensive continuum of programs targeting different life stages of AAPIs with a focus on developing advocacy, leadership, and civic engagement participation of AAPIs.
  • The Filipino American National Historical Society & Organization of Chinese Americans promotes understanding, education, enlightenment, appreciation and enrichment through the identification, gathering, preservation and dissemination of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States.

 

As part of HDFC’s expanded local food offering at Shell Energy Stadium this season, delicious food options will be available from Roostar Vietnamese Grill, a visionary brand that serves custom banh mi sandwiches, alongside authentic noodle and rice dishes in a festive environment reminiscent of the true Vietnamese street vendor scene. Owned and operated by University of Houston alum Ronnie and Linda Nguyen, this video highlights what fans can expect to have their mouths watering on gamedays.

 

Vinny’s Pizza was also added to the stadium food options this season and offers a signature take on a diverse menu of New York-style pizza. The EaDo restaurant is part of Agricole Hospitality and co-owned by culinary director Vincent Huynh, a first-generation American son of a Vietnamese refugee.

 

Dash fan Jake Smookler will be honored as SeatGeek’s member of the match at halftime of Saturday’s matchup versus San Diego. The Maui, Hawaii, native has Korean heritage and found a connection with Texas sports teams beginning in 2006 when he found out that Hawaiian native Brian Ching was on the Dynamo roster. Smookler’s current favorite Dash players are Dydasco and Makamae Gomera-Stevens, two AAPI players that he feels connected to.

 

Dynamo fan Jackie Ming, whose favorite all-time player is DaMarcus Beasley, will be honored as SeatGeek’s member of the match at halftime of Houston’s May 27 matchup versus Austin. A season ticket member for almost a decade, Ming’s favorite matchday tradition is eating Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant close to Shell Energy Stadium.

 

Families will be able to enjoy activities and entertainment in Diesel’s Corner, including an origami station, face painting station, balloon artist station and gaming kiosks.

 

Fans can use access code “aapi23” to purchase tickets for both the Dynamo and Dash matches (offered through those specific links) to receive an exclusive Asian American Pacific Islander Patch.

 

For more information about HDFC’s AAPI Heritage nights, visit HoustonDynamoFC.com/AAPI-Heritage-Night.

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