US soccer, the king of sports
American soccer is one of the most popular sports in Texas. Although the season of the national league, the rich NFL, doesn't last very long (between late August and early February), the stadiums are full all the time. Sunday is "Football Sunday". A television screen shows the games from early afternoon until late evening. The barbecue is never far away and the beer flows freely! Alternatively, for those who don't have the opportunity (or the means, as seats are very expensive) to attend an NFL game, a college soccer game will do the trick. In the NFL, the mythical Dallas Cowboys are the state's legendary club, even if they haven't won a national title since 1996. They have won the Super Bowl, the season's grand finale, five times, making them the second most successful team in the sport's history, behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots (6 titles). They built a stadium in Arlington, a suburb of Dallas, the ultramodern AT&T Stadium. Houston also has its own team: the Texans. But the team founded in 2002 is still a long way from matching the league's heavyweights.
Baseball is a must
In the USA, a baseball game is a real family outing. Many people go and talk for hours while watching the game. The atmosphere is very different from that of soccer and especially basketball, where everything happens very quickly. After all, the games are very long (usually at least 2.5 hours, and sometimes as long as 4, 5, 6 or even 7 hours). But being able to attend a game on your trip is a truly unique experience. Texas is represented by two major teams that play in the American League's Western Division of the prestigious Major League Baseball (MLB): the Texas Rangers, located in the Dallas suburb of Arlington, and the Houston Astros, who won the MLB in 2017 and 2022.
Major basketball franchises
Like everywhere else in the country, basketball is very popular in Texas. The state's three NBA franchises - the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks - regularly qualify for the playoffs and have all won the North American professional championship. In Dallas, German Dirk Nowitzki has long held the house. He's had iconic status ever since he led the city to the supreme title in 2011, the only one in the club's history. Today, it's Slovenian star Luka Dončić who carries the team, piling up statistical records. And the man who made the NBA All-Star team from 2020 to 2023 (current series) could well lead the franchise to another title.
In Houston, the team had its heyday during the Hakeem Olajuwon era (1984-1997), when it won the 1994 and 1995 titles, followed by that of the Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming duo (2000-2010). Since then, the team has also included superstars James Harden, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook.
Last but not least, the San Antonio Spurs are one of the NBA's legendary teams, with 5 titles won first under the David Robinbson era (1999), then under that of its famous Big Three: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Frenchman Tony Parker, of course! Thanks to them, the Spurs won the national title four times in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. Now retired from the game, all three players have had their jerseys hung from the ceiling and their numbers retired. The ultimate proof of the Big Three's immense impact on the city and on American basketball for over a decade. After a lean period, the summer of 2023 may have marked a turning point in the Spurs' history and the beginning of a new golden era with the arrival on San Antonio's River Walk of young French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama, considered the NBA's future superstar.
Soccer, the emerging sport
In the United States, the most talked-about sport on the planet is not called soccer, but soccer. Very popular with young people, especially girls, soccer is a sport with a huge following. Since the 1994 World Cup in the USA, with matches held in Dallas, soccer has succeeded in launching a regular professional league. This is Major League Soccer (MLS), created in 1996. Today, 29 teams participate, including FC Dallas, who play in Frisco in the suburbs of "Big D" at Toyota Stadium (20,500 seats), the Houston Dynamo who play at Shell Energy Stadium (22,039 seats) and Austin Football Club at Q2 Stadium (20,738 seats). In Texas, MLS is becoming increasingly popular, especially among the South American immigrant population.
Texas, land of rodeo
Created at the end of the 19th century, rodeo (from the Spanish verb rodear) originally meant circling cattle. The first official competition between cowboys took place in Texas in 1883. Like any self-respecting tradition, the rodeo follows a number of rules and a certain organization that can be found in most of the shows presented, such as in the famous Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District or at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the world's largest rodeo. The first thing you need to know is that the cowboys and cowgirls you see in the arena really are cowboys and cowgirls in real life. Authenticity that never gets lost. The rodeo is one of the emblems of America, and before any performance, each participant, as well as the entire audience, sings the national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. At the same time, a male or female rider gallops into the arena, American flag in hand. Authentic, we tell you! This is the Grand Entry, or opening ceremony. The show is commented on, and each session is punctuated by music. You may have the opportunity to see several performances, on one or more occasions during the show:
Bronc riding, or wild horse riding, which consists of holding on to a wild horse for 8 seconds, holding on with just one hand.
Bull riding, same principle as bronc riding.
Roping, or lassoing a calf, alone or with others. The aim is to catch it, jump to the ground and tie it up in the shortest possible time.
Barrel racing. Three barrels are placed in a triangle, and riders have to triple gallop around them as quickly as possible, without knocking them over.
Children who want to imitate adults sometimes try their hand at Mutton busting, a kind of rodeo on sheep..
Finally,there are those who point out the physical and psychological suffering endured by the animals during these shows and competitions.
Riding, part of Texas culture
More than a means of locomotion, more than a leisure activity, horseback riding in Texas is a way of life. With its hundreds of ranches and wide-open spaces, it's the ideal terrain for a wide range of horseback rides. Whether you'd like to explore a natural park for a few hours or spend several days bivouacking, there are many riding options available. A three-day horseback tour of Palo Duro Canyon State Park is sure to leave a lasting impression. The other version of horseback riding in Texas is, of course, cowboy riding and all that surrounds it. Staying on a ranch, you can watch and even participate in herding, culling and feeding cattle... all from the back of a horse. The more intrepid can even try their hand at the emblematic sport of Texas (if they don't mind breaking their necks!): rodeo.
However, it's not so easy to go horseback riding in Texas, for the simple reason that there is extremely little public land. With the exception of national and state parks, which are often surrounded by equestrian centers, you'll have to go to a private ranch. The ranches that welcome tourists are not working farms, but are turned exclusively or almost exclusively to tourism. These are the famous "dude ranches", located in the Bandera region, the Cowboy Capital of the World! You'll be able to enjoy some lovely walks around the property, although it has to be said that they rarely have many hectares.
Walking in the national parks
Hiking is very popular in Texas, mainly in the national parks. There are 13 of them, and most have well-marked trails of varying degrees of difficulty. The best-known is undoubtedly Big Bend National Park, on the Mexican border. Many consider it one of America's top 10 national parks. And rightly so. Always remember to bring a hat or cap and a bottle of water, as it can get very hot. And it's obviously an activity to be avoided during the heatwaves between early July and late August.
A wide range of water sports
At sea. The Gulf of Mexico, and especially its coastline, is the perfect spot for a wide range of water sports. Jet-skiing, sailing, motorboating, water-skiing, wakeboarding and all manner of towed buoys are available all along the Texas coast. Fishing is also available to enthusiasts, who can head for Padre Island, where dolphin-watching excursions are also organized. But all along the coast, you can go deep-sea fishing for swordfish, marlin, tuna..
In rivers. In Texas, water sports can also be enjoyed on the rivers and streams of the national parks. There's kayaking and canoeing, rafting and canyoning on the rivers of the Hill Country and, of course, on the Rio Grande at the Mexican border. Texans also love tubing: a fun and easy variant of rafting, done on a big round buoy.
