The Houston Astros Baseball Club joined Major League Baseball in 1962 as the Colt .45s of the National League (it was renamed in 1965) but have yet to win a World Series championship. The team has been a perennial playoff contender, however, and earned its first pennant in 2005. (Houston lost the World Series that year to the Chicago White Sox, however.) The Astros play host at Minute Maid Park. The team is owned by local businessman Drayton McLane, who's family built a fortune through wholesale food supplier McLane Company.

Houston NFL Holdings owns and operates the Houston Texans professional football team, which entered the National Football League as an expansion franchise in 2002. Still a nascent member of the NFL, the team has yet to secure any championship titles, but it has already gained a loyal following among fans throughout the Lone Star State. The Texans play host at Reliant Stadium. Houston billionaire Bob McNair, who founded and then sold Cogen Technologies, leads the ownership group.

The Indianapolis Colts trace a long and storied history as a franchise in the National Football League, boasting five championships since joining the league in 1953. Most of those glory days, though, took place when the team was the Baltimore Colts and boasted the likes of Johnny Unitas on its roster. The team relocated to Indianapolis in 1984, but fans there had to wait until the 2006 season for the team to make a successful Super Bowl run with the help of such talent as Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. Started by Carroll Rosenbloom, the team has been owned by CEO James Irsay and his family since 1972.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation (IMS) owns and operates the 2.5 mile race track also known as the Brickyard that is home to the famous Indianapolis 500. A spotlight event of the Indy Racing League (IRL) and American motorsports in general, the Indy 500 is held every Memorial Day weekend and draws more than 250,000 spectators. IMS also hosts the Brickyard 400, an event sanctioned by NASCAR, as well as the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. In addition to the track, IMS operates a hotel and an 18-hole golf course. The track was built in 1911 and acquired by Tony Hulman in 1945. His family continues to own IMS.

Indy Racing League (IRL) is the governing body for the Indy class of racing cars, which are open-wheel and -cockpit single-seat speedsters. IRL's primary circuit tour, the IndyCar Series, features more than 25 drivers competing in almost 20 races across the US and another in Japan, including its premier event, the Indianapolis 500. The body also runs the Indy Pro Series, a developmental circuit for up-and-coming drivers. IRL markets the races and drivers and generates revenue through broadcast rights and sponsorships. The league was formed in 1996 and is controlled by the Hulman-George family, which also owns Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation.

International Speedway Corporation (ISC) doesn't believe in slow and steady. The company is the top motorsports operator in the US with more than a dozen racetracks hosting more than 100 events annually. Its race facilities include Daytona International Speedway (home of the Daytona 500), Talladega Superspeedway, and Michigan International Speedway. In addition, ISC operates the Daytona 500 EXperience theme park and museum and it owns 50% of motorsports merchandiser Motorsports Authentics with rival Speedway Motorsports. Former CEO James France and his family own about 70% control of the company. Events sanctioned by NASCAR, also controlled by the France family, account for about 90% of sales.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club plays football (soccer) in the Scottish Premier League. The club, also known as Inverness CT or Caley Thistle, plays home games in the 7,000-capacity Caledonian Stadium. In 2005, Mike Smith, formerly with the UK Basketball League, was appointed as the first ever Chief Executive in the club's history. Craig Brewster, although still on the roster as a player, performs the team's managerial duties. The club was formed in 1994 by the merger of Caledonian FC and Inverness Thistle FC. The club was originally called Caledonian Thistle but changed its name in 1996.

Ipswich Town Football Club was originally formed as an amateur football club in 1878, and the team did not turn professional until 1936. Ipswich Town FC currently plays football (soccer) in the English Football League Championship. Known simply as "Town" or "the Blues," Ipswich Town FC has been playing home games at its Portman Road stadium since 1884. Recent rebuilding of the south and north stands gives the stadium a capacity of about 30,000. Nearly half of the club's revenues are obtained on game days from television rights for broadcasts as well as ticket receipts.

Gators might come to mind first when you think of Florida sports, but these big cats have a following, too. The Jacksonville Jaguars joined the National Football League as an expansion franchise in 1995, along with the Carolina Panthers. The team quickly gained respect by securing playoff berths the following four years, but the Jags have struggled to be a consistent contender in the years since. The team plays host at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Wayne Weaver, chairman and majority owner of retailer Shoe Carnival, owns 48% of the team, while a group of local businessmen owns the rest.

Gators might come to mind first when you think of Florida sports, but these big cats have a following, too. The Jacksonville Jaguars joined the National Football League as an expansion franchise in 1995, along with the Carolina Panthers. The team quickly gained respect by securing playoff berths the following four years, but the Jags have struggled to be a consistent contender in the years since. The team plays host at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Wayne Weaver, chairman and majority owner of retailer Shoe Carnival, owns 48% of the team, while a group of local businessmen owns the rest.

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