There are a lot of neighborhoods around Houston that need investment. Lots. Houston does help out the Third ward. They just reopened the old hospital on Elgin, they built a monster new park and community center. Built a rail line. Rebuilt fancy new schools (have you seen the new Yates high school). What you guys are calling for is just a total rebuild of the third ward. The city can’t do that.
4 Likes
It’s just a clinic 
Not really - they rather play on campus - Robertson was the perfect venue - in terms of amenities not many stadiums can touch Shell but it’s not designed for football and they don’t let teams practice on it so it’s basically a Gameday only field
Rice Stadium renovations look perfect. I do wonder how the folks living in $3-6 million dollar homes on University Blvd are going to like staring directly at that huge indoor practice facility though!
Last thing on Rice Village; it has changed with the area. West U used to be a middle class area so the Village had a grocery store (Rice), affordable dive bars, and mom and pop stores.
As the area grew wealthier most of the village became national or local chains and high end stores.
1 Like
We have a class A retail strip center adjacent to campus with it’s own parking that can’t keep tenants. It’s not a if you build it they will come, they are constantly building new city center type projects in Houston if it made any sense financially we would have one, we could not even keep a Taco Cabana open in the parking garage and college kids love Taco Cabana.
They even cancelled or severely delayed an entertainment district around Daikin Park, here is a Reddit of Astros’ fans bitching about not having an entertainment district like all the “Traditional” baseball teams have.
https://www.reddit.com/r/houston/comments/1jl55pi/whats_next_for_daikin_park_astros_pitch_vibrant/
2 Likes
I have heard rumors that a replacement for NRG could be located in far northwest Houston, miles away from any cultural or entertainment options, but the people whose singular concern is how long it takes them to get in and out of the parking lot have assured me that such a stadium could be accompanied by a Vibrant Entertainment District^TM instead of 70,000 people all trying to get a table at the Chili’s/Chuy’s/Texas Roadhouse on the feeder.
Incredible. Amazing. Nail-on-the-Head summary of every conversation we have about attendance.
i’d argue it’s also how you build it…typical strip centers will fail, they need to be mixed-use developments with a certain aesthetic, that also accommodates pedestrians…unfortunately these additional features cost $$$
1 Like
Also, the suburbanites on this board would pitch an absolute fit if we actually did it.
I had to walk 50 whole feet to get to the gate!
Why was there traffic surrounding a full stadium?!
How dare they charge the same amounts for parking and concessions that every other stadium in the city charges?! How can they expect me, a person who wants free parking, to figure out how to navigate a rail??
1 Like
Trees will help… the houses a block down currently stare at Rice’s hideous bubble practice facility in the middle of an empty parking lot.
1 Like
Oh, the tragedy! lol
I keep saying downtown etc is a short drive or by light rail from UH. Downtown etc is our backyard. The light rail passes all the time by UH.
Do we need some more UH hangouts on campus, yes. I’d like a district by UH but the kids have options with car or light rail from UH.
I keep noticing the area behind UH to the south is awesome. Big houses I can’t afford . Our only issue is Scott st. But I noticed it’s getting better also.
The area south of UH is really great and fans park down the street and walk to games. The houses are awesome.
2 Likes
Correct, genius…and all those games were in the 1950s! when Rice had a better program than Alabama. I was born the day they beat Bama in the Cotton Bowl 28-6. January 1, 1954. Thats only 71 years ago, but hey…I am sure that relates a lot to who they are right now…
1 Like
Yep. Bama is absolutely worse than Rice. If they played today, the Owls would absolutely take the Tide to the woodshed and you can’t prove me wrong.
And they hate it. My sister lives two blocks away and mentions it on her walks. She’s a Karen but she supports the Coogs even though she’s a Hog.
2 Likes
Well in its defense, UH is a state university and not a city college. It doesn’t really owe UH anything. In fact you could argue that UH benefits more from being in Houston than the other way around.
With that said, I would like to see the City of Houston place more emphasis on developing the areas around UH and TSU. More TIRZ incentives and creative ways to generate business. For example, maybe use the area around Houston for film production?
What kind of amenities are you talking about with Shell?
Our name is synonymous with Houston. When we win Downtown is lit up red.
The lights are great but actions, economic commitments, redevelopment plans are what we need. It has not happened since the 50’s. I will never accept that it should not happen this coming Monday. Both will gain from it.
https://www.chron.com/sports/college/article/rice-stadium-renovation-nations-group-21198613.php (paywall)
SNIP — “The company that managed the renovations of powerhouse college football stadiums at Florida State, Penn State and Ole Miss will now tackle Rice Stadium… Nations Group is the lead consultant for Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. The $700 million project aims to double concourse space… and add escalators, elevators and pedestrian ramps… improved stadium lighting, an upgraded videoboard and ribbon boards in the upper bowls.”
Not the Rice doesn;t have the money, but they’re really taking a big gamble here hoping that all this investment gets more butts in seats at games.
(which I don’t think it will)
1 Like
It probably won’t.
Or if it makes a difference, it’ll be too minuscule to be noticeable.
I’ve only known of one Rice grad that cared about their sports teams (OldSammy), and I never personally met him, thank God.