Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Howe.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amanda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Speaking for myself, I moved to Houston from Massachusetts in 2000 after graduating high school. Being raised solely in New England, I had no idea how different Texas would be. It wasn’t long before I felt homesick for my native New England culture. In those days, the best way to access a piece of that culture was through sports. I threw myself into watching the Patriots when I could (they weren’t on TV in Houston very often). Not long after, the Brady & Belichick era began, as did an explosion in the popularity and ubiquity of the NFL.
With NFL Sunday ticket, bars and restaurants could now offer every team’s game depending on the crowd. The Houston Patriots Fan Club was founded in 2006 by six guys who all happened to be at pub fiction watching a game.
They said “Hey, this is fun. Let’s do this every week”. I found this group on myspace the next year when there were only 20 members. Even back then, the group was loud and proud, calling every down and celebrating every TD as they did at Gillette Stadium. We soon outgrew our space and hopped around to larger and larger Houston venues as our numbers swelled. I became President of the club in 2011 and we increased our membership and began more serious charity efforts to support local and New England-based nonprofits.
Today, we host hundreds of Patriots fans each season, with our crowd during the postseason often swelling to capacity.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We are fortunate that the success of the New England Patriots has created consistent growth for our club. But folks are not just part of the club for the winning. They join us for the “stadium-like” experience we provide, the chance to connect with other fans and to meet people you might have otherwise never crossed paths with. We feel this enriching experience is a strong force behind our growth.
Our only struggle along the way has been finding venues that could handle our growing numbers and provide comprehensive service to us without fear of alienating other fan groups, such as Texans fans. This required jumping around to different locations each season. We found that in Diablo Loco several years ago and they have served as our home ever since. They manage the delicate balance between being a “Patriots Bar” and a welcoming place for fans of every team, all the while still providing great service, Today, our only challenge is finding a seat for every fan who joins us, as our numbers swell each season, particularly during the playoffs.
Please tell us about Houston Patriots Fan Club.
We are the official fan club for Patriots fans in Houston, Texas est. 2006 with just six fans. Today, we are the largest collection of Patriots fans in the Bayou City with hundreds of registered members. Our club is made up of fans from across the United States and the world. Our fans pride themselves on being passionate, respectful, welcoming and loyal. There are no membership fees, or dues to join us. Only pride in the team is required.
At our home base, Diablo Loco, Pats fans enjoy beer and shot specials during the game and halftime. We are kid friendly, hosting children from 8 weeks to 80 years old. Our location offers two large projector screens, 360 hi-def TVs screens, and hi-def screens in every booth. Our room, reserved for Patriots fans on game day, contains ample seating and a full bar plus dedicated wait staff and full Tex-Mex menu.
We are loud and proud of our watch parties, and attending fans are free to join in as we huddle up, call every patriot first down, and celebrate every TD as only we do. Our only rules are to respect your fellow Patriots fan, your fellow football fan, and let your team do the talking. Beyond watching games, our club has taken on a more philanthropic role, raising money for MD Anderson, Rays of Hope, The Myra Kraft Foundation, and the Jimmy Fund. We also regularly participate in charitable events in Houston, such as 5/10K walks & fun runs as the Houston Patriots Running Backs. During the Super Bowl LI festivities in Houston, we hosted thousands of Patriots fans and raised $20, 000 for Best Buddies of Texas and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.
Beyond watching games, our club has taken on a more philanthropic role, raising money for Best Buddies, MD Anderson, Rays of Hope, The Patriots Charitable Foundation, and the Jimmy Fund. We also regularly participate in charitable events in Houston, such as 5/10K walks & fun runs as the Houston Patriots Running Backs. During Super Bowl 51, we hosted thousands of Patriots fans with events throughout the weekend and raised $20,000 for Best Buddies of Texas and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Halloween in Massachusetts is a serious matter. I loved and missed the fall celebrations and the way communities came together during Halloween. It’s not something practiced much in Houston.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HoustonPatsFans.com
- Phone: (713) 266-4244
- Email: HPF@HoustonPatsFans.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/houstonpatsfans
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/HoustonPatsFans
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/houstonpatsfans
- Other: http://fanclubs.patriots.com/clubs/houston-tx-patriots-fan-club-1309#.WmIcm1Q-dBw
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