The limited parking has made it difficult for students to find a space and it’s not uncommon for them to search 10-15 minutes looking for a spot, said marketing senior Mitchell Hudson. | Anh Le/The Cougar

On the first day of the Spring semester, students were surprised to find a large part of Zone E Lot blocked off for construction. With no knowledge of the closure, many students found themselves displaced with no accommodations. 

In an email sent to students later that day, UH Parking and Transportation Services told students that, “a portion of Zone E will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians through Feb. 29 as Facilities/Construction Management runs underground conduits for new lights and security cameras.”

It is unclear when the area was initially closed down for construction, but students parking there found out about the partial closure on the first day of classes. 

“I didn’t know at first, I just drove in and went down the middle lane to my usual spot to see a giant area sectioned off with caution tape,” said physics and computer science senior Frank Landry. “I was not given any advance notice and I never received an email as well.” 

In response to students complaining in a Reddit post, Parking and Transportation Services replied with a link to the email sent to Zone E permit holders. 

“Parking and Transportation Services was aware of this project and as a result of the reduced number of available spaces, we also reduced the number of permits available in Zone E for the spring semester,” said Parking and Transportation Services assistant director Richard Zagrzecki. “We sold the appropriate number of parking permits to ensure we accommodate those Zone E permit holders.”

However, students argue they have still been negatively impacted by the closure. The limited parking has made it difficult for students to find a space, with some spending as much as 10-15 minutes looking for a parking space, said marketing senior Mitchell Hudson.

Zone E also happens to be the nearest lot to Cullen Oaks, Cambridge Oaks and The Quads. Some commuters say they are competing with students who live in these dorms and feel it’s unfair they’re forced to share spots with residents who camp their cars in Zone E more often than not.

“There’s a fight over spaces and commuters are going to be at a  disadvantage because they have to give up their parking spot every day and students who live on campus get to keep it most of the week,” Landry said.

Students have not been offered an alternative solution to tackle this problem. When complaints have been brought to UH Parking and Transportation Services, Hudson said the response felt cold and unsympathetic.

Students are upset with how UH has handled this situation, but this is not the first time students have complained due to decisions made by UH Parking. 

“Parking should be more helpful towards the students since we are paying for the passes and tuition at UH,” Hudson said. “They should operate more towards the benefit of the students and not the benefit of the parking office and how much money they make.”

The construction is expected to be finished by the end of February, according to Zagrzecki. However, some students are hesitant about the timeline considering their past experiences with construction on campus. 

Landry said the situation has exacerbated the existing stress of finding a parking spot before class. 

“If I have to continuously search for parking in the lot that I have a pass for, it’ll be a major inconvenience for me,” Hudson said. 

Some students also said they are worried about their safety because Zone E is the furthest lot and has a reputation for being unsafe on campus. 

“Zone E is very thinly shaped, meaning that more often than not you’re stuck all the way in the back, causing you to walk even further to a class. It’s often the last lot to go and has a reputation for being dangerous,”  Landry said. 

In 2022, the University committed $18 million to upgrade the campus lighting system. The project will continue throughout 2025, in addition to programs such as Walk in the Dark and FIXIT, said UH spokesperson Shawn Lindsey. 

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“Lighting, security project in lot Zone E limiting parking spots for students” was originally posted on The Cougar

“I can’t stress enough how important SGA is in terms of giving people a voice. Colleges not having senators absolutely affects that representation,” Hoxha said. | Haya Panjwani/The Cougar

Maintaining active members has become a pressing issue for the current administration of the Student Government Association, with half of the Senate and other key positions being empty throughout the school year.

While the 60th administration has admitted around 20 new senators, only half of them remain active in SGA. This increase in vacancies has caused issues with the organization’s day-to-day activities and has left some colleges with no representation at all. 

“SGA is a massive time commitment, and when senators drop out it’s up to like five people to do the work,” former SGA senator and current SFAC committee member Spiro Hoxha said. “If you shirk on your duties, then many important programs, such as the Dart Center, get no attention.”

Vacancies in SGA are not only limited to the Senate. Various executive positions are currently vacant as well, including the director of outreach and director of external affairs.

In their latest special session, the Senate barely met the minimum number of senators required to conduct the meeting, with only seven senators physically present. 

Hoxha believes the problem is less to do with generating interest among new students, and more to do with keeping the often-unpaid, overworked students interested in SGA.  

“It’s more of an issue of encouraging senators to remain active than filling their seats,” said Sen. Cody Szell. “The administration has had a bit of a revolving door.”

According to some SGA senators, the organization can often be intimidating to newcomers. In addition to bi-weekly Senate meetings,  senators are also expected to participate in various committees and draft legislation — all while staying ahead of their school work. 

“People underestimate the workload for sure,” said speaker of the Senate Sophia Wilson. “The obvious challenge is that people keep dropping, so the work is always hard to finish.”

Another possible explanation for the turnover within the 60th administration is what Hoxha describes as the “free-loader problem.” Essentially, students will be initially excited to join and will participate in the first few meetings but have a tendency to fall off as the school year picks up. Hoxha believes this issue is endemic to SGA’s structure. 

“Unless the SGA bureaucracy gets fixed, things get simplified and the system gets revamped, the free rider problem will always be there,” Hoxha said.

Another issue that stems from these vacancies is lack of representation for certain colleges. SGA categorizes senators by college with the number of open positions depending on the number of students enrolled in that college. This has created an issue where certain schools, like the College of Arts, the Law Center and several others, are entirely without representation within SGA. While vacancies have impacted some schools more than others, the vast majority of schools have vacancies within the Senate. 

“I can’t stress enough how important SGA is in terms of giving people a voice. Colleges not having senators absolutely affects that representation,” Hoxha said. 

For some of these colleges, there weren’t any students willing to apply to become a senator and represent the college. 

“The only colleges who had no seats were ones whose college we didn’t receive any applicants to be senator,” Wilson said. “When this happens, there isn’t a senator in that school to bring issues to SGA that are specific to the college.”

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Vacancies leave SGA Senate Chamber half empty; some students without representation” was originally posted on The Cougar

The RAD Center, will host six new food concepts but won’t be fully open until the fall of this year as the pandemic is still having lasting effects on its production. |Anh Le/The Cougar

Due to construction and supply chain delays, the Retail Auxiliary and Dining Center, formerly The Hub, will now fully open in fall 2024 despite an original opening date of this spring.

Replacing the Student Center Satellite, The RAD Center will open another location of the UH staple The Nook Cafe, and a new Market location in early February. All six food concepts won’t be fully open until the fall of this year as the pandemic is still having lasting effects on its production.

“The pandemic was a huge factor in delays for the project from significant inflation which required revising the scope of the building,” said executive director of Auxiliary Services Deborah Huebler. “And supply chain issues that arose during that time, in addition to delays from weather.”

The Nook, which has been a part of campus since 2013, will see little differences in the RAD Center’s location, offering similar menus and services.

“I think it’s great we’re expanding within campus,” said Nook shift lead Katia Maldonado and UH alumna. “The staff and students have built a great relationship and we’re hoping to bring that same experience and familiar faces to the second location.”

Opening with the rest of the center this fall are The Burger Joint, a hand-crafted burger and milkshake eatery, The Taco Stand with authentic tacos, tortas, burritos and more, Paper Lantern, an Asian grill and sushi place, and Absurd Bird, a chicken shack.

On top of construction delays, The RAD Center has also undergone a name change. The change was due to conflicts with another building also to be named the hub. The Innovation Hub, which is set to start development soon and will open next fall.

Planning for The RAD Center, then called The Food Hall, began in 2018 after the underground Student Center Satellite experienced significant flooding. While it was slated to open the summer of 2022 delays caused the groundbreaking ceremony of the center to take place that year instead.

“We know that with the closure of the old Satellite building in 2019, a sort of food desert was created on that portion of campus,” Huebler said. “The opening of the RAD Center will help fill a gap in food options for campus customers who work, visit and study in that area; and will contribute to a more robust and comprehensive dining program for the overall campus.”

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“New dining facility delayed, name changed” was originally posted on The Cougar

An alert was sent to students Monday morning at 8:56 a.m. warning of a gas leak near the TDECU Stadium parking garage. 

The “natural gas leak” has caused Coleman St. between Scott and Cullen to be blocked off, according to Parking and Transportation Services 

The University said all entrances and exits are closed to the stadium garage and Lot 15 C, meanwhile students can used Zone E and Zone F. UH is asking students and faculty to avoid this area. 

The stadium garage is closed until further notice.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Gas leak forces stadium garage to close until further notice” was originally posted on The Cougar

“We were under the impression the service would expand or become better equipped to support rider demand but instead the shuttle is reverting. “said mechanical engineering junior, Omar Khayyam Hussain. | Robert De La Garza/The Cougar

Last month, after the priority registration period for the Sugar Land Shuttle closed, a lot of students had yet to receive their passes. Students were unhappy, claiming Parking and Transportation Services showed no cooperation and simply asked them to join the waitlist. 

Amid students struggling with their commute, Parking and Transportation Services issued additional passes for the shuttle to priority students  — regardless of their spot on the waitlist. 

“I feel it’s unfair, especially since I’m first on the waitlist and yet I can’t use the shuttle,” said mechanical engineering junior Omar Khayyam Hussain. “We were under the impression the service would expand or become better equipped to support rider demand, but instead the shuttle is reverting.”

Priority registration includes students who  are enrolled in face-to-face classes at both Sugar Land and UH main campus or live on main and take classes at Sugar Land.

While Parking and Transportation Services has already started issuing more permits, a lot of students have yet to receive their passes. There is still no update for students who don’t fall into the two categories and are still struggling with getting to and from their courses. 

“If a student is in one of the two groups they should have either received it by now or they can contact parking and get it immediately resolved,” said mathematics-data science senior and TPAC Chair Salik Faisal. 

No formal emails were sent by Parking and Transportation Services regarding the new passes. However, members of the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee informed students about the new update through a message on the UH Sugar Land Shuttle GroupMe.

The University has suggested alternative transportation methods to riders but they have not been satisfactory to some students. The unreliable schedules of Houston public transportation often keep them on campus later, leading to safety concerns. 

“I have to depend on METRO which is very inconvenient as my commute is four hours and I’m forced to walk alone through the Third Ward at night,” Hussain said. 

New solutions are still being discussed within Parking and Transportation Services according to TPAC members. 

“Parking and Transportation Services will observe over the next few weeks or semester before more updates,” said journalism senior and TPAC Vice Chair Zahra Gokal. “I don’t think there’ll be many options for commuters to use the shuttle if they’re not in the priority list, at least this semester.”

news@thedailycougar.com

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“After another round of shuttle permits, some students still left in the dust” was originally posted on The Cougar

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

Conflict of interest disclosure: The Cougar is in large part funded by Student Service Fees. To view our 2025 budget requests and SFAC presentation, go to UH.edu/sfac/unit-requests/fy25/ and look under “The Cougar.” 

During a special session on Wednesday, the Student Government Association held a vote of confidence in support of the Student Fee Advisory Committee’s recent decision to recommend a reduction to UH Athletics’ share of the Student Fee Fund. 

SFAC — an advisory body made up of seven students and two faculty — finalized their recommendations for the 2025 fiscal year in late November. Since then, members of the committee have voiced concerns about the University’s response — or lack thereof. Senate representatives hope the Vote of Confidence in SFAC Fiscal Year 2025 Recommendations and Student Government Solidarity with SFAC resolution will encourage University President Renu Khator to heed their advice. 

“We are pushing for the University to respect the decision of SFAC to reduce the funding of athletics by $1.5 million. This is due to the fact that they lack transparency, so we want to make sure they are held accountable,” SFAC Vice Chair Anahi Ortega said. 

The committee advised the University to redistribute a significant portion of those funds towards raising compensation for other fee-funded organizations.

“We should know where our money is going and how it is affecting our student body, so this decision was not made lightly,” Ortega said. 

SFAC plays an advisory roll in creating the budgets for a total of 33 departments and organizations, the majority of which are student-run and depend on Student Service Fees for their operations. 

“The recommendations promote activities that directly benefit the student experience and the money should be spent on student services,” said SFAC Chair Yusuf Kadi.

In addition to signaling their support for SFAC, last night’s senate meeting also saw the introduction of another round of revisions to SGA’s election code. The proposed changes are largely clerical, but do include a reduction to the allotted time for campaigning from four to three weeks. 

“Last year we only had three weeks of campaigning compared to the usual four and voter turnout didn’t decrease. In fact, in the initial election last year turnout was the highest it has been in three years,” Rizk said.

If the act is passed, the Election Commission will commence the election on the second Monday in February — as opposed to the first Monday. 

“We have one of the longest campaigning periods, and you would think that that correlates with voter turnout, but it doesn’t,” Rizk said. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“SGA holds special session, formalizes support for Athletics’ budget reduction” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

Last year, 3,713 students graduated  from the University of Houston with their bachelors degree. While recent graduates say that receiving their degree was one of the proudest moments of their lives, where they go from there isn’t as certain. 

A survey of 2,000 adults, conducted by OnePoll for Colorado State University Global, revealed that 17% of those who attended college said they had no plans after graduation, according to an 2022 article by the New York Post. 

While that might be the case for many students, Sarah Sasson, who graduated with her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, isn’t one of them. After walking the stage, Sasson immediately began building the foundation to support her post-grad goal of becoming a physical therapist. 

“I think college is worth it if you know what you want from it and what you want to do,” Sasson said. “My bachelor’s degree was crucial for me to have as a base for furthering my education. Other people have different experiences, but personally, it was worth it for me.”

While she is preparing for PT school, Sasson is volunteering at a Memorial Hermann clinic and is playing the “waiting game,” as she waits to hear back from schools she applied to. 

Although some recent graduates like Sasson plan to continue their education to secure a long-term job related to their degree, a recent survey by Resume Builder found that 28% of recent college graduates were working at jobs that only required a high school diploma. The survey, which gathered response from 1,000 fall 2021 and spring 2022 graduates, also found that 6% of them had jobs that had no educational requirements at all. 

For UH graduates like Shahmeer Baweja the road to securing a job in engineering was challenging due to his hearing loss and speech impediment, despite having a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. With the help of his Ph.D. adviser, Shailendra Joshi, an associate engineering professor, Baweja successfully secured a job as a postdoctoral appointee for Argonne National Laboratory and now works in its applied materials division.

“Despite initial nervousness after graduating without a confirmed job, the perseverance paid off,” Baweja said. “The road to success was not without its hurdles, but the support of my adviser played a crucial role in overcoming those challenges.”

While Baweja is grateful to have had the guidance and support of his professor, Sasson said she wished she had connected with her professors sooner despite how intimidating it seemed. 

“I was lucky enough to connect with a few of my professors during my senior year, but I wish I had done it earlier,” Sasson said. “It can feel very intimidating but once you realize that a lot of professors actually want you to ask them questions and be involved in their research, it gets easier.”

In addition to supportive professors, UH provides its alumni, along with currently enrolled students various career and professional development opportunities through the University Career Services. 

“At Alumni Career Services within UCS, recent graduates have the valuable opportunity to utilize our resources, including access to job postings on Cougar Path, for six months,” UCS Executive Director Monica Thompson said. “At UCS, we take pride in fostering professional growth and ensuring successful outcomes for our alumni.”

news@thedailycougar.com

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“‘The perseverance paid off’: UH grads talk life after college” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

Some people might remember the film “Moonlight” from the infamous mishap at the 2017 Oscars, in which “La La Land” was mistakenly announced as Best Picture instead of “Moonlight.” But if you’re capable of looking past the controversy, you’ll find one of the most impactful and important pieces of art made this century.

“Moonlight,” released in 2016 and directed by Barry Jenkins, explores the life of a Black man named Chiron. The film follows him through different stages of his life, often centering around his struggle to survive amidst a difficult upbringing. Jenkins uses Chiron’s life story as a vehicle to masterfully explore the intersectionality between sexual identity and Black masculinity.

The film uses a unique chapter-based format, opening with a chapter titled “Little,” after Chiron’s childhood nickname. In this chapter, we meet an adult named Juan as he finds Chiron hiding from a group of bullies.

Throughout the film, we see Juan and Chiron develop a close relationship that ends up being key to Chiron’s development. With few trustworthy adults in his life, Juan plays a crucial role in Chiron’s life as a mentor who shows up for him when others don’t.

Juan is not without his issues, however. He sells drugs to make ends meet, leading to him being forced to navigate various morally complex scenarios. In one particularly harrowing scene, Juan discovers that Chiron’s own drug-addicted mother is strung out on the very same drugs he sells.

Shortly after this point, the film skips ahead to Chiron’s teenage years. As a teenager, Chiron no longer goes by “Little” but is still the victim of frequent mockery and taunting by his classmates. He also deals with grief and loss after Juan’s untimely death. Despite hardships, he finds some solace both in Juan’s ex-partner, Teresa and in his childhood friend Kevin.

It’s within Kevin and Chiron’s relationship that we can start to see the emotional core of the film. Kevin is Chiron’s only childhood friend who is willing to learn more about him on an emotionally deep level. Jenkins’ ability to showcase such deep intimacy between two male friends is one of the film’s greatest strengths, and this relationship only grows as the film continues.

The emotional complexity of this relationship is perhaps best seen later in the film as we witness a powerful depiction of intimacy between the two friends. Kevin and Chiron meet at a beach, just the two of them. After having a heartfelt talk about life, the two share a kiss before making love to each other. 

We don’t hear from Kevin for some time, as the film skips forward in time again at this point. In the third chapter of the film, we are introduced to Chiron as an adult. Now going by the nickname “Black,” he’s followed in Juan’s footsteps and become a successful drug dealer in Atlanta, Georgia.

Chiron is almost unrecognizable compared to how he used to look—he’s now a grown man with toned muscles, diamond earrings and a durag. In his new life, Chiron is finally respected by his peers and has found a significant amount of financial success.  However, whenever the topic of relationships comes up, Chiron seems to be struggling with a deep loneliness. 

All the film’s various elements come together when Chiron receives an unexpected phone call from Kevin. Kevin tells him that if Chiron is ever in Miami, they should meet. After carefully considering his offer, Chiron travels to Miami and the two of them reconcile in an absolutely stunning display of storytelling. 

In what is perhaps the most touching moment in the entire film, Chiron finally lets his guard down and tells Kevin that he’s the only person he’s been intimate with, even after years have passed:

“You the only man that’s ever touched me. You’re the only one. I haven’t really touched anyone since.”

“Moonlight” thrives on its ability to show touching and authentic human nature by not shying away from exploring all aspects of life. Films like “Moonlight” resonate with so many people because they can see parts of themselves reflected in the deep emotions represented on screen.

More importantly, however, we get the chance to follow a character who exists as a minority in more ways than one. As we follow Chiron through each point of his life, we can also see how deeply human he is as he has to navigate a deeply patriarchal and heteronormative society. 

The American writer Joseph Campbell said it best: “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” Getting to a place where you are able to authentically be yourself through persevering against all obstacles and hardships is a privilege.

This is one of the main ideas of the film: Chiron was taunted and bullied by others for “appearing gay” since he was a child. Later in life, he attempted to escape these taunts by becoming a hyper-masculine version of his younger self.  His journey perfectly shows the intricacies of exploring sexual identity in a world where being yourself is often reprimanded. 

What Jenkins was able to achieve most successfully was communicating the film’s position through the main character. This is not just an LGBTQ+ film, this is a Black LGBTQ+ film. The access that Jenkins provides through his filmmaking choices allows us to gain an understanding of the subtleties of Black masculinity and how it informs Chiron’s sexuality.

No words can truly express exactly how moving this illuminative film is, however. In order to properly understand the intensity of what “Moonlight” conveys, you have to see it for yourself. There are few films that achieve what “Moonlight” does. Some might say that even fewer have been able to achieve the same level of influence. 

For example, consider the film’s insanely limited production process. “Moonlight” was shot over the span of 25 days with a budget of only $1.5 million. With so little time to film and a relatively small budget compared to other productions, the amount of care that went into the filmmaking process is even more impressive.

Clearly, we can’t attribute the success of “Moonlight” to a high budget or massive support from big-name filmmakers. What really elevates the film to places most blockbusters can barely dream of is the pure passion and craft on display throughout.

The soul of this film lies in its showcasing of humanity: the struggle and confusion of finding yourself, the fighting back against corrupt systems, how those systems change us, dealing with fear and solitude and so much more. 

As time passes,“Moonlight” will hopefully be remembered as a masterpiece that portrays humanity in a deeply intimate way that will leave viewers reflecting on their own lives. Barry Jenkins and Tarrell Alvin McCraney have created a breathtaking piece of art that begs the question of what it means to be alive, and it remains well worth the watch.

Jose Acuna Cruz is an English freshman who can be reached at
opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Moonlight embodies queer black relationships” was originally posted on The Cougar

“I think we’ve been the best administration in years, specifically in terms of involvement,” Rizk said. “I’m very happy with student involvement in university committees, policy decisions, and SGA initiatives.”|Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Student Government Association President Benjamin Rizk still has plans for the remainder of his administration. 

From organizing galas and food drives to revising the SGA election code and overseeing a Supreme Court reform, Rizk still has a few items left on his executive agenda. However, while these items may be attainable, others may be impossible to accomplish in the time Rizk has left for his administration.

“Being president has been a good learning experience, especially learning what is within my limits,” Rizk said. “There’s a lot we can still do. We just have to keep on working to find solutions.”

A major priority on Rizk’s agenda is reforming SGA’s judicial branch by instituting three-year term limits for justices, reducing court membership from nine to seven justices and having the SGA attorney general appoint justices instead of the president. Rizk  believes delegating appointment duties to the attorney general will eliminate conflicts of interest between the president and the supreme court. 

“For the last ten years, SGA presidents have misused and have been derelict in their duties to appoint individuals to the SGA supreme court,” Rizk said. “It is obnoxious that the SGA president, who is supposed to be in charge of advocating for policy decisions, is also associated with appointing court justices. The attorney general is simply more qualified to appoint people who are impartial.”

Another event that Rizk’s administration is organizing is the Parking Citation Food Drive. Instituted by SGA in 2019, the food drive allows students to settle parking fines by donating food to other students.

However, with his term ending in early April, Rizk said he understands his limits and how some parts of his agenda were overly optimistic. 

For instance, one goal of Rizk’s was to implement sweeping reforms to SGA’s campaign funding guidelines, something he may now have to leave for another administration. His intent was to work with the University to set up a fund candidates could draw from during their campaign — a measure intended to curtail external funding from political organizations. .

 Another area that Rizk feels he could have done better in is campus sustainability. Particularly, Rizk had hoped to revive the campus community garden and a recycling incentive program called Recyclemania during his administration. 

The campus community garden was a program  intended to grow produce to donate to local food pantries in low-income areas around the city. Recyclemania, last organized in 2020, was a recycling competition to promote waste reduction on the campus. 

“What I want to see for future administrations is a collaboration with waste facilities on campus to increase sustainability at UH,” Rizk said. “The University has been going backward for the past six years when it comes to this.”

Another project Rizk struggled to complete was the campus-wide Wudu stations, which proved difficult to implement despite spearheading a resolution that created a task force to do so. 

“Ultimately, you can’t install Wudu stations in buildings funded by state money,” Rizk said about the difficulty of creating accessible Wudu stations around campus.

According to Rizk, the University can install these stations only in buildings funded by non-state entities.

Whether through committee involvement or direct engagement with his administration, Rizk hopes to accomplish most of the remaining items on his agenda by maintaining student engagement in SGA. 

While committee appointments have been consistent in Rizk’s administration, the number of vacant seats in the SGA Senate provides a different perspective. Currently, there are 25 seats vacant in the Senate with 23 active senators. Additionally, a few posts in his administration have become vacant, such as the Director of Outreach and Attorney General.

Still, Rizk claims that his administration was one of the most active in terms of student involvement and engagement — more so than the two previous administrations under Joshua Martin and Arsalan Darbin. 

“I think we’ve been the best administration in years, specifically in terms of involvement,” Rizk said. “I’m very happy with student involvement in University committees, policy decisions, and SGA initiatives.” 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“‘There’s a lot we can still do’: SGA President reflects on term, focuses on final stretch” was originally posted on The Cougar

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

In 2024, Houston is gearing up for a musical feast with something for everyone’s taste. Whether it’s classic rock, pop, heavy metal, hip-hop, country, R&B or Latin music, diverse concerts are heading to venues across the city. Mark your calendars as some of the biggest artists are set to grace Houston’s stages.

The Eagles

When: Feb. 16

Where: The Toyota Center

The Eagles, an iconic American rock band, emerged in the early 1970s and achieved widespread success with hits like “Hotel California,” “Take It Easy,” “Desperado” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” Concluding over 50 years of touring and a legacy of consistently selling out arenas and stadiums globally, the Eagles are set to commence their ultimate tour, titled “The Long Goodbye.”

Oliva Rodrigo 

When: Feb. 27

Where: The Toyota Center

After the resounding success of “The Sour Tour” in 2022, Olivia Rodrigo is set to embark on her inaugural arena tour with the “Guts World Tour.” “Guts” follows Rodrigo’s 4x Platinum debut album “Sour” from 2021, featuring chart-toppers like “Vampire” and the latest track, “Get him back!”

Madonna

When: March 28 and 29

Where: The Toyota Center

Madonna’s 12th tour, “The Celebration Tour”, is a retrospective of her 40-year career. It features iconic songs that have not been performed live in decades, including “Justify My Love,” “Bad Girl” and “Rain” since 1993. Hits like “Bedtime Story,” “Nothing Really Matters,” “Die Another Day” and more make a comeback after years off the stage.

Busta Rhymes

When: March 28

Where: 713 Music Hall

After the release of his 11th album, “Blockbusta”, Busta Rhymes announced his “Blockbusta North American Tour”. Some of his notable hits include “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check,” “Dangerous” and “Break Ya Neck.”

Kane Brown

When: April 27

Where: The Toyota Center

Kane Brown, a 5-time American Music Award winner and current Country Music Association Award nominee, announced his sixth tour. His latest single, “I Can Feel It,” follows his 10th career #1, “Bury Me In Georgia” and his current CMA-nominated hit, “Thank God.”

Rolling Stones

When: April 28

Where: NRG stadium

The Rolling Stones are back on tour, hitting 16 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Catch Mick, Keith, and Ronnie performing their hits like “Start Me Up,” “Gimme Shelter” and more, along with fan favorites and tracks from their new album, “Hackney Diamonds.” 

Bad Bunny

When: April 30 and May 1

Where: The Toyota Center

The three-time Grammy winner has revealed his upcoming “Most Wanted Tour,” featuring performances of tracks from his latest album, “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.”

Hozier

When: May 2

Where: The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

After releasing his third studio album, “Unreal Unearth,” Hoizer announced a 37-date tour across North America. He gained international acclaim with his breakthrough single “Take Me to Church” in 2013.

Nicki Minaj

When: May 9

Where: The Toyota Center

The 2024 World Tour comes on the heels of the launch of her fifth studio album, “Pink Friday 2”, the follow-up to her debut album “Pink Friday” released in 2010. Billboard officially recognized her as the highest-selling female rapper of the 2010s.

Melanie Martinez

When: May 23

Where: The Toyota Center

The “Trilogy Tour” will feature chart-topping hits from her three groundbreaking albums: “Cry Baby,” “K-12” and “Portals.” Together, these albums have garnered an impressive 14 billion streams worldwide.

Noah Kahan 

When: June 13

Where: The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Kahan’s most recent highly praised album, “Stick Season”, has garnered attention with its viral hit single, “Stick Season.” Achieving Gold certification, the album has surpassed 500 thousand units in sales to date. Following the album’s success, Noah embarked on the initial two legs of his sold-out “Stick Season Tour” across North America.

Zach Bryan 

When: July 27

Where: NRG Stadium

The “Quittin Time Tour” was announced in promotion of his newly launched self-titled fourth studio album. Bryan gained recognition for his chart-topping tracks, including “Something in the Orange” and the duet “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves.

Luke Combs

When: Aug. 9 and 10

Where: NRG Stadium

Combs, a member of the Grand Ole Opry and a winner of 9 CMAs, 3 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 3 Billboard Music Awards, is set to kick off his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” U.S. stadium tour this spring.

Chris Stapleton

When: Aug. 24

Where: Minute Maid Park

Chris Stapleton is taking his “All-American Road Show” tour to a city near you in 2024. He is renowned for singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, winning Male Vocalist of the Year at the CMAs, and securing eight Grammy awards.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“A look at some of the hot concerts coming to Houston in 2024” was originally posted on The Cougar