MLS’s Houston Dynamo to Celebrate 20th Season With Commemorative Crest

On the anniversary of the franchise officially relocating to its new home, Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo has unveiled a commemorative crest marking the club’s 20th season in Texas.

It was on December 16, 2005, that Houston officially welcomed the former San Jose Earthquakes to the city. And on December 16, 2024, the club unveiled a new anniversary crest on its website and social media channels as it heads into its 20th MLS season in 2025.

The Season 20 crest is a celebration and testament to our energy, resilience, and the city of Houston. Since 2005, our players, fans, and community have fueled a legacy built on passion and pride. This new crest represents our commitment to the future of the club. We are Forever Orange, and we’ll always Hold it Down for Houston.
— HoustonDynamoFC.com

Courtesy Houston Dynamo

The centerpiece of the 20th season crest is the beveled number 20 in white and light blue in the middle of a roundel, with “SEASONS” spelled out underneath. Under that is a white and blue beveled star, from which orange beams radiate out.

Drawn from the heart of our original crest, the starburst represents the energy our players bring to the pitch, paired with the unstoppable force of our fans. It’s a symbol of power—on the field and in our community.
— HoustonDynamoFC.com

A version of the Dynamo’s current hexagonal crest sits at the top of the black circle with light blue outlines. Around the circle are 11 orange dots — five on either side of the crest and one at the bottom of the roundel — which the club says are a “representation of the 11 players on the field, and a reminder of the strength in unity, collective power of our team, and unbreakable bond between our players and the city they represent.”

Written in white in the roundel are two mottos: “HOLD IT DOWN” and “FOREVER ORANGE.”

Monday’s announcement didn’t specify how the crest would be used or if it would appear anywhere on the Dynamo’s uniforms in 2025. But the club has begun using it on their website and as a profile photo on their social media channels.

The Earthquakes’ owners were granted permission to relocate their franchise after the 2005 MLS season, and soon chose Houston. Originally, the team unveiled the name Houston 1836, which was meant as an homage to the date of the city’s founding. But it immediately garnered criticism from the Latin community since that was also the year of the Texas Revolution, which they felt shouldn’t be commemorated. The name was soon changed to Houston Dynamo.

The Dynamo had immediate success in Houston, winning MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007. They also won the U.S. Open Cup in 2018 and 2023. In 2024, the Dynamo finished the regular season in fifth place in the Western Conference before losing to the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.