The University of Houston, as a Big 12 campus, has greatly upgraded its athletic facilities in recent years to truly reach the level of a Power Four university. While TDECU Stadium was renamed and renovated back in 2014, the Cougars unveiled a complete revamp of the basketball program facilities with the modern Fertitta Center in 2019 for both men's and women’s teams. It also hosts women’s volleyball. Houston also built an adjacent training facility called the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility, featuring state-of-the-art facilities for an elite program.
The football program reach the level of fellow Big 12 schools, and while it had a new indoor practice facility that has been in use since 2017, there had not been a true multifaceted building for Houston.
That all changed when plans for a brand new football operations center were officially unveiled, and construction began in December 2023. After more than a year and a half of waiting, the $130 million Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center at the University of Houston was officially opened. All the construction on the scoreboard side of the stadium was complete, and the team was allowed to move in and use some of the completed facilities on July 28.
This building features everything modern college football demands, and is truly up to the Big 12 football level that Houston has been trying to reach. While there is much anticipation for results on the field, the facilities might have reached a good stage. Besides state-of-the-art sports performance centers, a weight room, academic support services suite, new locker rooms, and flex and office spaces for support staff and coaches.
Additionally, it adds additional premium seating to the stadium with 14 suites, a 450-seat club section, and a 300-seat terrace facing the field. All the bells and whistles are there.
There is a unique feature in this operations center that others may not rival. It’s called the “car wash”.
The Car Wash feature of the new University of Houston football building. From here, the players go right into a. 45 degree cold plunge pool to promote recovery. pic.twitter.com/AdNU9IlWBh
— Chris Baldwin (@ChrisYBaldwin) August 22, 2025
It starts the recovery process early after a hot and long practice on the field. From here, the players go straight into the plunge pool. It allows the student-athletes to then truly work on themselves in the weight room and be more effective.
Overall, while the $130M facility may have cost less than other Big 12 schools, it certainly meets the mark in quality and facilities available. Houston and head coach Willie Fritz look to take advantage this season with a revamped roster and this brand new operations center connected to the stadium.