They’re going to have get a big booster to pay for any of that, and the 3 or 4 billionaires they do count among their alums haven’t shown that they care much about sports (they have one young bitcoin-type guy who has obscene amounts of money but so far hasn’t given an ounce of it to athletics). So I doubt it ever happens. But if did, I imagine they’d just play football games at NRG in the interim.
If Rice could ever get the right Donors and the right coach and then hold on to him long enough and get some better facilities they could see a resurgence like Tulane experienced under Fritz. That’s A LOT of “ifs” but everyone remembers going to games at the Dome in New Orleans where you could count the Tulane fans. Probably never happen, most of their Alumni couldn’t care less about football.
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My prescription for Rice’s future: Tear down Rice Stadium. It is a relic from yesteryear and cannot be transformed with revenue gererators, such as luxury boxes, cushioned chairback seats, roof. Build a 30-35,000 seat stadium to accommodate the current day Rice. This isn’t the 1950s or 1960s, when Rice was packing them in; there were no Houston Oilers, Astros, or Rockets, no cable/satellite/streaming television, no Dickie Maegle running wild. Custom build a tailgate area and invite Rice Village eateries to set up tents. Establish each game with a tailgate competition, BBQ, TexMex, Asian, etc. Have banners over Rice and University Blvds. on game day promoting the game. Make Rice Village feel like a small university town. Target Southhampton, West University, Southside, River Oaks for a fan friendly event and have the crowd form a line to welcome the team to the field. I think it would be a fun environment for UH to play in.
Recent articles about Rice’s vision have stated that they need the stadium to be multipurpose and not just for football. That tells me it is not out of the question that Rice could build a covered stadium.
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Agree for the most part. I think 30-35K is too large though. They should go closer to 20 or maybe 25K
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I’m sure the AAC gave Rice a rough talking to when they extended an invitation.
We will add you, as UH’s replacement, BUT…we need to see an investment in your facilities and a plan to increase your fan support.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Herman ends up there in a few years
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I’d be shocked if Herman winds up back on South Main. I think if FAU works out for him, that’s a better job than Rice, and if it doesn’t, he’s cooked and might never be a head coach again. (At this point, I’d handicap the latter as the more likely of the two outcomes.)
That’s Herman’s dream job.
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Just like at UT, Herman would be “coming home”. Former GA at UT. Former OC at Rice.
I’m starting to feel sick…
Rice ain’t gonna cave into his demands - he would battle admissions from the jump
Man… Ruck Fice!!!
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There is nothing to do in Rice Village other than a coffee shop around the corner. Nothing in walking distance, but yes it’s a much prettier area to the eyes compared to Third Ward.
That being said, Third Ward has a much better opportunity to transform into an actually lively atmosphere/less residential. Like a midtown or Heights.
Rice Village is just nice houses and decent greenery.
You must not know Rice Village. It has a number of restaurants of all types within walking distance to the stadium. Hungry’s is practically across the street on Rice Blvd. El Meson is on University Blvd. Torchy Tacos, Velvet Tacos, Dave’s Hot Fried Chicken to name a few, Lots of others.
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That’s anywhere.
I mean a thriving night life that’s actually walking distance
The first thing Rice needs to do is make that stadium ADA compliant.
Honestly they could probably just remove the upper decks and finish the lower bowl with new bleachers and chairbacks and be 75% of the way there. Then maybe a small upper deck on the home side with the suites, press box and a club. Oh and a massive shade canopy covering everything… super simple to design and build.
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That would be problematic for Rice when the Bucket resides on Cullen Blvd for 9 out of every 10 years!!!
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Don’t they still have some bars down there? I know back when I was at UH they was a pretty popular spot.
I stopped going down there when they replaced the Two Rows Brewpub with a Jason Deli. I looked on the map and they still have a Little Woodrow’s. Before last years Rice game I pregamed at the pool at the Hyatt Regency downtown because I am fancy like that.
I used to work at Two Rows while at UH. Good times.
The primary customers for those businesses are the well-heeled locals, not Rice students.