BUSINESS FEATURE Houston Premier Sportsplex Athletic facility cultivates community of players in Spring H ouston Premier Sportsplex is a rink with many purposes, o ering space for athletes to practice inline hockey, indoor soccer, lacrosse, dodgeball and kickball. The indoor facility hosts lessons, events and tournaments for a variety of ages and skill sets, fostering a close-knit community of sports lovers, owner Joseph Catalano said. “We have a very … familial bond with all the players here, and you’ll notice that as people come in. Everybody’s super happy to be here,” he said. Catalano, who played inline hockey and whose son grew up playing at Houston Premier Sportsplex, had been involved with the business for 11 years prior to acquiring it in February 2022. The space is important for the local community, especially the children, who frequent the facility, Catalano said. Multiple adult leagues play at the center and youth lessons are o ered for ages 6-14. “For us, growing a youth league keeps kids o the streets and ... we consider this a safe space, and I think athleticism for children is important,” Catalano said. The sports o ered at Houston Premier Sportsplex teach children important life skills like teamwork, said Ray Lamborn, director of the sportsplex’s youth program. To help players get started, spon- sors sometimes donate equipment. “There’s a little bit of an upfront cost to get going with the equipment, and we don’t want that to be a barrier,” Lamborn said. Catalano said he took over the sportsplex to keep it from closing, and a little over one year later, he already has hopes of expanding. He said he aspires to open a larger facility with a restaurant, pickleball, a women’s league and more youth teams. BY EMILY LINCKE
Located in Spring, Houston Premier Sportsplex hosts multiple adult inline hockey leagues, which play other teams from across the state. (Photos by Emily Lincke/Community Impact)
HOCKEY 101 Inline hockey is one of the many sports played at Houston Premier Sportsplex, and although the sport is similar to ice hockey, there are notable dierences.
Ice hockey: • Played on an ice rink • Players wear ice skates • A at rubber puck is used • Six players per team maximum allowed
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Roller/inline hockey: • Played on a smooth oor • Players wear wheeled skates • A plastic puck with raised points is used • Five players per team maximum allowed
Joseph Catalano (right) owns Houston Premier Sportsplex along with Ray Lamborn (left), who directs the business’s youth program.
SOURCES: HOUSTON PREMIER SPORTSPLEX, UNITED STATES OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEECOMMUNITY IMPACT
BARREN SPRINGS DR.
Houston Premier Sportsplex 221 Barren Springs Drive, Houston 832-767-5589 www.houstonpremiersportsplex.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
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