August 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Doug Vosik, senior vice president of marketing, communications, and ticketing, highlighted the Texans’ strategy to mirror Houston’s diversity and energy through a fan-led rebrand and inclusive gameday experience. “Fans wanted us to represent Houston more distinctly,” Vosik noted. Key efforts for the team include stadium modernization, enhanced digital content, and youth programs like girls flag football.
What makes Houston and NRG Stadium an ideal home for the Texans, and how do you stand out in the NFL landscape?
Houston is uniquely positioned as a city that offers numerous strong factors fueling both the community and the team. Houston is growing exponentially economically, demographically, and culturally. This growth translates into a dynamic business environment, which includes a strong corporate presence and a vibrant population. For a sports property, that’s ideal.
On the business side, we benefit from a robust corporate base, including numerous Fortune 100 and 500 companies with headquarters or regional offices here. This makes the city particularly appealing for partnerships and premium experiences.
On the brand side, we embrace our role as a reflection of Houston’s identity. As the most diverse city in America, we aim to ensure that every fan who walks into NRG Stadium sees something that represents them — their culture, music, food, or story. It’s a fun and meaningful challenge for our staff to create a Sunday experience that captures that diversity and energy.
How did the recent rebrand and uniform redesign come together, and what feedback have you received from fans?
This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. When I joined the Texans, Cal McNair made it clear that our internal culture was centered on fearlessly evolving and challenging everything. The rebrand was our chance to bring that internal mindset to life for the fans.
Early on, we simply talked to fans in casual settings — training camps, events — just to listen. We heard a consistent message: fans wanted us to represent Houston more distinctly, not just Texas. Many referenced Houston’s cultural symbols, like the light blue color tied to the city’s flag, NASA, and even local street signs and pop culture. They wanted to see that reflected physically in the brand.
We conducted more than 50 focus groups with everyone from longtime season ticket holders to fans in Mexico and across Texas. We also gathered quantitative data from more than 15,000 surveys. The message was clear: fans were ready for change. That feedback aligned with Cal’s directive and gave us the green light to move forward.
The result was four new uniforms, each designed to reflect a different aspect of fan feedback. The process wasn’t just about design; it was about truly listening and co-creating with our community.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about the NFL’s new “Rivalries” program, which brings a city-inspired uniform to each team. Some teams will debut their new uniforms this year. Ours is set to launch in 2026, when we can wear it against a division rival. It’s another great opportunity to deepen our connection with Houston’s identity and tell the city’s story through design.
What are the key trends shaping the fan experience in the sports industry?
There are three major trends. First is the evolving nature of brand identity. Younger fans want change; they want their team’s look and feel to evolve with the times. They’re open to updates in colors, uniforms, and logos in a way previous generations may not have been.
Second is the expectation that the fan experience extends beyond the game itself. Today, fans are rating everything, from parking and concessions to in-game entertainment and mobile ticketing. We use the NFL’s “Voice of the Fan” survey to gather feedback after every game. It’s no longer about a three-hour game; it’s a six-hour experience that starts the moment someone arrives on site.
Third is the importance of digital content. The days of relying on game highlights and press conferences are over. Fans want podcasts, behind-the-scenes features, and 365 days a year of content. We’ve become content machines to meet that demand.
What challenges is the organization facing, and how are you preparing for the future?
Our challenges are more about preparing for the future. Mike Tomon, our president, has been exploring what the stadium of the future looks like. NRG Stadium is fantastic, but it’s over 20 years old. We’re assessing how we can renovate and modernize the space to better meet fans’ expectations.
We’re also looking at building a new training center to improve the player experience. That would open up more space inside the stadium for fan-focused amenities. These efforts tie into a broader trend in sports: creating entertainment districts around stadiums that include retail, restaurants, and other attractions. These are the kinds of long-term projects we’re planning to ensure we continue to lead in fan and athlete experience.
How is the Texans organization approaching community and youth engagement in Houston?
The Houston Texans Foundation, led by Hannah McNair, has raised more than $50 million since 2002. Our approach today is hyper-local. Through conversations with community leaders and focus groups, we’ve shifted our strategy to target specific neighborhoods for more direct impact.
One of our flagship efforts is the Girls Flag Football Program, which we launched in 2023. The sport has exploded — more than 80 schools and 2,000 female student-athletes participated in our six-week season across Houston, Austin, and El Paso in 2025. Our goal is to make Texas the next state to officially sanction girls flag football as a high school sport. We’re making incredible progress on that front.
We also launched a Fan Council in 2023 to deepen our connection with fans. Our first group gave us invaluable feedback that shaped everything from our uniforms to our campaigns. A second group started earlier this year and continues to help us stay fan-centric.
Internationally, Mexico is a major focus. We have marketing rights there through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. We travel regularly to Monterrey and Mexico City for fan events and player visits. The fan response has been phenomenal.
What is your outlook for the team’s future in Houston and broader market opportunities?
Houston is an outstanding sports market. The community rallies around its teams like few others. We’ve seen a resurgence in fan enthusiasm, not just because of our rebrand and content but because of what’s happening on the field. The team is young and exciting. Players like C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson, and Nico Collins are becoming fan favorites and future legends.
We’re seeing synergy between business and football. That’s rare. Often, one side is thriving while the other is rebuilding. Right now, everything is growing together, and that makes it a special moment for the franchise.
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