The building originally served as the home of the NBA's Houston Rockets and the NHL's Houston Aeros.
The church interior underwent a $95 million renovation to convert the former sports arena into a sanctuary.
The sanctuary's stage features a massive five-story waterfall backdrop.
The venue includes a high-capacity parking garage integrated into the original footprint of the arena's lot.
Lakewood Church maintains a weekly television ministry that reaches households in over 100 countries.
Lakewood Church is the largest place of worship in the United States, housed within the former Compaq Center sports arena. The building features an expansive auditorium capable of seating over 16,000 congregants. It operates under a non-denominational evangelical framework led by Joel Osteen. The structure retains structural elements of the original arena, including tiered stadium seating and large concourses. It is situated directly adjacent to the Southwest Freeway in Houston. The facility includes massive digital screens and high-production lighting systems used for its weekly broadcast services. The site is a prominent fixture in the Houston cityscape due to its physical size and distinctive arena-style architecture.
The central foyer or the main entrance plaza, which captures the scale of the former arena architecture.
Arrive early to navigate the large parking structures and reach your seat comfortably.
Check the official website for specific service types, as they offer varied programming throughout the week.
Wear comfortable shoes as the facility is large and requires significant walking.
Attempting to visit during private events or major holidays when the facility may be closed or restricted.
Services typically held on weekends; check the website for potential changes due to special events.
Casual to business casual dress; respectful behavior is expected during service times.
