Jennifer Shelton is a Houston Dash lifer. Shelton and her husband Gary have been Houston Dash season tickets since the inaugural season in 2014.
“We’re the ones who put down that $50 dollar deposit to support the women’s team when they came,” Shelton said. “I just looked at my husband and said if we’re going to one, we’re going to do both, and we have always had those.”
Shelton, who was born in Ohio, has called Houston for the majority of her life after a promotion her father took first brought them to the Lone Star State. Having spent the majority of her life in Houston, Shelton said supporting the Dash became a no-brainer from the moment they were introduced.
Shelton says she admits she didn’t really know much about soccer until her children started playing but has since fallen in love with the game. When the Dynamo were introduced, she and her husband bought season tickets and followed suit in 2014 for the Dash. From the inaugural game to the Challenge Cup and beyond, she says she loves the chance to support the players.
“Women have struggled (so much) to get into a professional setting, that they leave it out on the pitch – every time,” Shelton said. “It can be a win, a loss or a draw but they’ve left everything they’ve had out that pitch. It’s fun and exciting. I don’t know, it’s just something about it.”
Shelton calls PNC Stadium “her happy place” and says she usually comes to the game with her friend (also named Jennifer, conveniently) and they’ve created a lot of fond memories watching the Dash together. Since she has followed the team closely since its inception, Shelton says its hard to pick out a singular memory, but if she had to choose it would be the 2020 Challenge Cup – despite it not being in person.
Throughout the years, Shelton says she has been able to meet a variety of talented athletes as a season ticket holder. For her the smaller, more intimate interactions with the players have left a lasting impact for her.
