That’s not the issue oh well-traveled genius. Regardless of whether dowtown is active or not during any given point of the day, the issue of the visibility of the skyline from TDECU Stadium regards its aesthetics and symbolism as has been mentioned by previous posters.
Given the trade off between stadium upgrades/bolstering revenues through stadium “upgrades” vs maintaining the skyline notch, I can understand and support the former. But to dismiss the viability of the skyline and its appeal, included of which is a reflection of civic pride and indeed which has been promoted even by UH, is nothing but myopic he said nicely.
I don’t give a f about Paris or wherever the heck you’ve been. We take care of our own and this is our skyline. So if you don’t think it’s good enough as a symbol of the 3rd/4th largest US city then that’s your problem. Whether or not it’s as bristling with activity 24/7 as all the other great downtown locales in other cities is beside the point. It’s ours. It’s not some Mayberry RFD Main Street. And again relative to its view from the stadium it’s an optic/iconic symbol of our city that UH is one and the same with.
I love well reasoned discussions tc. Houston might be eight times the size of Manhattan, but it doesn’t make it Manhattan. Try walking the 610 loop. I love Houston, but to compare it to walkable cities is silly. Downtown Houston is kind of shiny, but not nearly as integrated as a London or Paris (or Manhattan). And for those that piss on the experiences of others, you brought it up saying that London or Paris failed. Lol.
Maybe display the London skyline on the new scoreboard?
8 Likes
Duce630
(DustinK - Still 76 hostages held by Hamas for over 15 months)
205
I think it sounds good on paper, but it hasn’t really been all that interesting in reality. That’s my opinion. I have no problem giving it up for what we are getting.
That doesn’t make a difference for view purposes as they still have all the lights and the skyline. You wouldn’t see the people or cars anyways.
When I was in junior high, downtown was bustling and people shopped there mostly. I moved back to Baton Rouge at the end of my 9th grade in 1962. When I came back to Houston in 1974 it was a different place.
Now most of the downtown stores are closed. No more Foley’s or other big stores. Downtown is dead after people leave work. Now everything is about malls and strip centers.
I like living in the Houston area, but I can’t say it is truly a world class city. If it wasn’t for UH sports and my kids and grandkids, I’d probably move to a smaller city with less congestion. I live in Katy now and that’s close I guess.
The powers that be poured a ton of money into revitalizing downtown for a while there. It worked to an extent, but I see it trending down again and so many people working from home had been a killer.
And even the malls are dead these days! Strip centers doing ok I guess but there is way too much unused commercial strip center space.
Never heard of a college stadium built for viewing downtown, if there is a downtown. Take recruits to the party deck and show them downtown. Have separate events where people can come to party deck or upper deck and see downtown. Keep football on the field with as many suites as we can build.
Go Coogs!
2 Likes
SigEpCoog2005
(SHAUN - Bill Yeoman needs to be honored with a BOBBLEHEAD!)
216
Put an observation deck on that side of the stadium for photo ops problem solved.
Nice view of the city just adds to the atmosphere up on that third deck. Of course it’s not the sole purpose for the stadium , but it’s nice (esp around dusk). Not indispensable, but I think would take a whole lot of expansion to get rid of the third deck view.
I have not been downtown in the past many years, unless by accident. I have attended on baseball game and two basketball games downtown in forever. I sometimes pass over town on my way from UH to restaurants on the NW, W and SW parts of the Houston Area. I do know that there are several areas close to downtown that are upscale apartments/living spaces, but not enough to keep the downtown a vibrant community. Is the area over by the theatre district still vibrant ? ? ? ? ? Is the area over by the soccer stadium/baseball park area vibrant other than before and after events ? ? ? ? ? I don’t know because I have no desire to go there . . . . . I don’t believe our downtown will ever be considered world class unless we have thousands of people living there full time . . . . .
Dallas has done a good job tying a lot of residential buildings, hotels, shopping and office buildings to its downtown area. Mostly since the American Airlines center was built
Downtown is actually on the upswing. Discovery Green and that area gets a lot of foot traffic. The theater district is building a new plaza across from Jones Hall, and Post Houston is very popular. Sounds like a lot of you have not been Downtown in a while. If you have a chance drive down Main street along the light rail route and you will be amazed with all the new development. Once the Pierce elevated is demolished that will do wonders for downtown. The future is residential and that population continues to grow. Many office buildings are being converted. It will take time but it’s happening. Dallas got a head start because their office occupancy was abysmal for so long but Houston has caught up. Will it ever be NYC or London. Of course not! Los Angeles is a better comparison.
, but it’s nice (esp around dusk). Not indispensable, but I think would take a whole lot of expansion to get rid of the third deck view.