OT: Texans and Rodeo May Want New Stadium

[92010Coogs (Chris)]

[Section102 (#UH1927willwreckyourthread)]

I will say that NRG Arena is an absolute sh*thole. There is no denying that eyesore.

[T-Moar (borderline college graduate)]

I just really don’t see the upside here. Anybody interested in bargating downtown can already do so with relative ease. But any sort of accommodation for tailgating downtown would be a relatively large imposition on the landscape of the neighborhood. It would make downtown worse, it would make the Texans’ fan experience worse, and it would be a massive expense for the city. It also raises a very real question about the rodeo; we’d probably have to keep NRG Park around as a fairground in the same way Dallas does for Fair Park.

[T-Moar (borderline college graduate)]

@Section102

If not, wouldn’t a tenant be pestering the landlord to fix the sh*t and throw on a fresh coat of paint once in a while?

I mean, they’ve done that a couple of times over the years, usually coincident with a large event like a Super Bowl or Final Four. NRG hasn’t just been sitting there untouched for a quarter century.

[coogman91]

@Section102

I guess what I’m not understanding here is the lease agreements with the county for the Texans and HLSR. Are both entities just sh*tty tenants paying low rent and they’ve just been looking the other way on lack of routine maintenance?

I have the same questions, and I have a hard time believing it’s all on the landlord.

Maybe they’re posturing to try to force the issue, but it’s a bad look all the way around.

[CoogMan93]

Actually the HLSR has made noise about the stadium. They are already demanding a new NRG arena and they don’t seem open to a renovated Astrodome for their purposes. They keep touting all they’ve done for the “community” over the years and how we should be so lucky to have them and give them whatever they want. I’m perfectly fine for them to take their rodeo to Conroe or Sugarland or wherever they can find a spot. If the Astrodome is demolished because of them they will be forever tainted.

[Section102 (#UH1927willwreckyourthread)]

I understand that some maintenance and cosmetic stuff has been performed over the course of 25 years, but this is where you kind of lose me with this quote from December 19th article…

• The assessment estimated a 30-year capital expense project is needed to address the aged facilities. With a price tag of $116 million alone, the mostly costly repair outlined in the assessment is a new rooftop.*

There seems to be a little bit of negligence on the HCSCC’s part in managing and maintaining NRG Park. Am I also to understand the scoreboard parts are considered obsolete and it can’t be repaired if a panel goes out? They would have to hire someone to rip and retrofit a new scoreboard? It’s lack of planning on upgrades and sustainability that gets me. It’s f**king 2025 and we still haven’t learned how to build something and set it up to withstand improvements over long periods of time.

[JLCoog]

What option do you support for NRG Stadium? The likely option includes a combination of public and private funds.

• Refurbish existing stadium with public and private funds
• Build new stadium with public and private funds
• Do not support any refurbishment or new stadium using public and private funds

[Section102 (#UH1927willwreckyourthread)]

I’m all for option A if it includes a mandate to implode the dome or repurpose it as a hotel/convention center.

[T-Moar (borderline college graduate)]

I’m not saying I totally buy it either. I’m guessing that naming a high starting number is posturing in both sides; it allows the tenants to claim they’re actually being very reasonable when they ask for the county to contribute quite a lot of money, while the county gets to go back to the voters when the deal is eventually done and say that they didn’t actually spend that much money. I suspect that the private number for the real cost of upgrades is much lower.

[coogman91]

@CoogMan93

Actually the HLSR has made noise about the stadium. They are already demanding a new NRG arena and they don’t seem open to a renovated Astrodome for their purposes.

But those are two different things. Asking for upgrades to the arena is a far cry from stating that NRG Stadium needs to be remodeled/replaced.

I can see doing something to upgrade that facility (within reason), all that the rodeo is able to “do for the community” is made possible by the expansive facilities and space they have available, and by scores of volunteers that make it all work.

They should have a voice in what happens with the stadium, but they’re not moving the HLSR to Montgomery or Ft. Bend County. What other rodeo has access to an 80,000 seat arena?

[Section102 (#UH1927willwreckyourthread)]

Yeah, and maybe the cost is including annual increases if not done by X date. Interest could be included as well, so the bottom line price tag might be cheaper.

[CoogHogan]

This one looks interesting https://astrodomeconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/VisionAstrodome-deck-for-11.13.24.pdf

[TOP25]

Wow that was informative. I didn’t realize a bunch of teams want stadiums.

His point about teams being worth more and owners could build their own stadiums but they choose to try and get free money is spot on.

I’d be ok if the Texans left vs asking us to pay but our unique problem is we need to keep the rodeo here. So our deal is a bit more complicated.

I agree with this guy about the mood of the public is turning away from subsidizing pro teams.

[olutrain (O. Emmanuel)]

Nope lol

[SigEpCoog2005 (SHAUN - Bill Yeoman needs to be honored with a BOBBLEHEAD!)]

The Arena is a dump, I went to see the Globetrotters there last weekend and can tell you it’s a straight up, Hofheinz circa 2012, dump I am shocked they have not tried to replace the arena with a FULLY remodeled Astodome, they could probably get people behind that.

Spend the hour and go through the Houston Architecture forum link, its really informative. The big upgrade they are look for, is just like we are looking for at TDECU is more premium options, they want premium seating at multiple levels and more exterior spaces enclosed within the stadium for secondary events. There are 2 different options with renderings presented in the forum. NRG was ahead of its time when it was build and much like Daikin, or whatever, I believe it will be here for many more years.

[coogman91]

@SigEpCoog2005

I am shocked they have not tried to replace the arena with a FULLY remodeled Astodome, they could probably get people behind that.

I think that’s a missed opportunity for sure. In fact, they could probably tie the Dome into NRG Stadium (and NRG Center) with covered/enclosed areas that would give the Texans at least part of what they’re after without the cost of overhauling the stadium.

[norbert (The NorbertCoog)]

Can we get Elon to check those figures?

[UHCoog]

Tear down the dome.

[EastCoastCoog]

I don’t blame the athletes; pretty sure they would play anywhere. This is all on the owners. These billionaires all hang out together; when Arthur Blank and the Braves ownership brag about the development around their stadiums (the “Gulch” and “The Battery”), the other owners get jealous. Of course, Arthur Blank (co-founder, Home Depot) paid for about 50 percent of the new Mercedes Benz Stadium. He also owns the MLS club that plays in it as well. Between those two sports, concerts, and other large sporting events like SBs, F4s and such, Mercedes Benz is highly utilized.

NRG is not as highly utilized.