I regret to inform you that after two hope-inducing seasons, the Texans’ top brass are back on their BS. While still $1 BILLION in debt on NRG Stadium according to the Houston Chronicle, they’re tossing around the idea of building an entirely new stadium.

Cal, you shouldn’t be getting new toys when you’re already not playing with the ones you have.

I’ll crunch the exact numbers later on what a new stadium would cost vs. just tackling the deferred maintenance on NRG and making upgrades, plus a reno of the Astrodome (hear me out). But for now, there are some questions we need answered:

First, where are we going to freaking put it? Apologies to anyone in the suburbs, but nobody wants the Katy Texans. And building far outside a city with no 21st-century transit is not going to win us any more Super Bowls or World Cups. At least the NRG complex is on one of our meager rail lines.

Second, why are we expecting the public to pay for this again when we’re still paying for the first one? In case nobody has noticed, Houston has gotten pretty expensive.

There are so, SO many more questions, but let’s just leave it at that for now, and look for solutions. Let me make a wild proposal that we just do the maintenance and upgrades on NRG Stadium, and finally use the Astrodome properly.

An entertainment complex and premium/luxury hotel (if you live in Houston, you know everyone has an insatiable need for “luxury” development) in the Astrodome would eliminate a ton of the current negatives of NRG Stadium. You know what it’s like when you’re there. Want to walk somewhere and grab a beer or food after the game? Good luck – your only options are to go sit in parking-lot gridlock and then traffic, or wait for a packed train. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here… it’s Olive Garden or Fiesta for you.

Want to grab a jersey after the game (denied!) or limited-quantity, in-store-only special merch outside of your – and most other people’s – normal working hours? Yeah, that’s gonna be a tough one too. Remember the massive fallout after the recent “exclusive merch drop” that was only accessible to people who bought it all up while others were working, and flipped it at 10 times the cost on eBay?

The Astrodome is the perfect structure to encompass:

• A hotel that would get year-round use when you include events like the rodeo and high-dollar corporate conventions in the complex (e.g. OTC). The novelty alone would generate plenty of interest compared to traditional hotels, and it’s insanely convenient.
• Bars and restaurants for hanging out until the post-game madness subsides. (You know Fertitta wants in on this.)
• A small Houston sports museum and either one large combination team store (Texans, Astros, Rockets, Dynamo) or individual stores, open until 7 or 8.
• …whatever other fun stuff. There’s room. Batting cages? Pickleball courts? Mechanical bulls? Cowboy gear shop? Live music venue? Even with everything listed above, it’s a massive structure, so “all of the above and some other things” is a viable option.

Other cities have similar complexes that are making money hand over fist, and they don’t even have the added appeal of being housed in one of the most iconic structures in US history. (Btw, since someone will almost inevitably bring up the cost of asbestos remediation, I’m told by those who’ve worked on it that the remediation’s already been done.)

The fact that we’re not thinking about this is symptomatic of the biggest problem with Houston as a city: a lot of the people with money treat this beautifully unique place as a smash-and-grab instead of thinking about the greater social and financial rewards in the longer term. Should we be surprised that the Texans’ top brass would consider doing the same?

Cal McNair, you’ve done a great job revamping your public image among fans. Don’t screw it up now.

Love y’all regardless,
Andy

#texans #texansnews #nrgstadium #astrodome #calmcnair #texansblog