The RO: Mixed-Use Development At West Alabama And Buffalo Spdwy.

[skwatra]

if its feasible, soccer in the dome would be great. anything other than a parking lot would be great, and if its sports even better.

bothers me that the dome wasn't even mentioned as an option in that article, when much of it focused on a lack of location to play.

if reliant's too costly to operate for soccer, wouldn't the dome be in the same boat?

[Montrose1100]

a MLS team would be great, and do wonders for our sports image. What other city can get a NFL and a MLS team in the period of so many years?

[goldenstick]

Houston needs an MLS franchise and a soccer specific stadium. I'd prefer them demolish the Astrodome since it's no longer viable for anything. They could make some type of monument to commemorate it or incorporate the Astrodome into new 22,000 to 25,000 seat soccer stadium. Build the SSS right where the dome sits now! The dome is just a waste of money at this point and time and would cost too much money to renovate. I know the dome has a lot of history behind it but it's just an old building now that Reliant has been built.

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/index.jsp

[brijonmang]

I agree, MLS would be great for the city. However, I think the stadium would be better located around downtown...somewhere that has potential but is under-utilized. You know, something like what we did with enron and the toyota center.

[ssullivan]

Yeah let's build another stadium and raise our hotel and rental car taxes even more. Our 17% hotel tax rate is higher than places like New York (13.63% + $2), Boston (12.45%), San Francisco (14.05%), Washington DC (14.5%), and Chicago (14.9%). Our rental car taxes are also among the highest in the nation. Granted the average hotel price in many of these cities is more than it is in Houston, but our tax rate helps close that gap. And I'm sure it's negatively affecting our already suffering convention and hotel business.

I'm all for soccer in Houston, but let's find a way to do it in existing facilities if possible. I'm not sure we can afford a fourth brand new stadium right now with the existing funding mechanisms.

[Trophy Property]

I was in Portugal last summer for the Euro Cup 2004. It was amazing to see the amoung of infrastructure was put in place. The country build 8 or 9 new stadiums for the tournament. Of course these stadiums will continue to be used by the local teams (Lisbon has two teams and built two new stadiums). I was able to see 3 games and It was incredible. I am not even a huge soccer fan, but the atmosphere was incredible. I learned a new appreciation for the sport. I think Houston is ready for a MLS team and I think as long as the tickets are resonable and the venue is easily acceeible then attendance will support a team. The problem is that the team can not play in the Dome or Relaint. Those stadiums are way to big. What the team needs to is a smaller stadium holding no more than 30k. Even the largest stadium in Portugal held right at 50K. Most of the others held between 25 and 40k. I think it is important to have an intimate environement. My first thought is Robertson Stadium until a new stadium could be build. Near downtown would be awesome. Maybe right outside the CBD in an area that needs a little help.

[largeTEXAS]

Great idea, tw2ntyse7en! Best idea yet, by far!

[Trophy Property]

Great idea, tw2ntyse7en! Best idea yet, by far!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I totally agree. I even like it better than the casino idea. It would be cool to geat a hotel room on the upper level and watch a game from your room (with a bunch of friends and drinks. This would be a one of a kind facility.

You better watch out or someont might steal that idea.

[DJ V Lawrence]

27 ROCKS!!! GREAT idea. I'll go a step further: I think they should build a stadium/hotel in the same format as Detroit's Ford Field, Atlanta's Philips Arena, or Skydome. A minimum-42,000 to 47,000 seat facility would do (we'd have the opportunity to have the largest soccer specific stadium in America, since there's enough room for that.) This place would have all suites, press boxes, and hotel rooms on one side of the stadium, and could be used for conventions and concerts, as well as soccer.

This would be the most state-of-the-Art soccer facility in all North America. It would also be a $400 Million stadium project, because $400 million IS the amount that the Astrodome Redevelopment Corp. had promised to revitalize a hotel- primary Astrodome in the first place, right? What'd make it so successful would be the fact that it could be used 24/7 as a hotel, with the soccer partly used for advertisement for the facility. Yes, it'd be costly to play soccer in the dome, but with a steady attendance and a successful hotel, I think the dome could actually PROFIT.

Oh, and 27, I'm ALL for that Rodeo Houston idea. If that happened, they'd REALLY grow into something unprecedented. I nominate 27 to lead the way on it, too. That whole list kicked ass.

[Subdude]

I wonder if MLS is really going to be in expansion mode again as soon as 2007. They were eliminating teams as recently as 2002, right? It probably depends on how the two new teams do. As much as I would love to redo the Dome, isn't MLS holding out for promises of new soccer-specific fields (which is why Salt Lake City picked up an expansion team)? The Astrodome's just too big.

One aspect of 27's comments I violently disagree with: NO museum for the Oilers. Our tax money is still paying for the "improvements" to the Dome that they demanded in order to stay, before they left anyway. We shouldn't be honoring traitors that way!

[DJ V Lawrence]

I wonder if MLS is really going to be in expansion mode again as soon as 2007. They were eliminating teams as recently as 2002, right? It probably depends on how the two new teams do. As much as I would love to redo the Dome, isn't MLS holding out for promises of new soccer-specific fields (which is why Salt Lake City picked up an expansion team)? The Astrodome's just too big.

Yo check it. I agree the Astrodome is too big for MLS, but only if nothing was done to it. If a hotel/stadium deal happened, and the stadium still had more seats available than the average MLS stadium, AND it were state-of-the-art (we gotta stay ahead of the game with our archetecture, yo), then the size would be PERFECT.

All that would have to be done after that is one thing; fan support of the team, and create the largest fanbase for a local soccer team in America (which can be done). Houston loves PLAYING soccer, but watching it could become a sport in itself, which we've seen in almost all the other contries in the world. We Houstonians just have to learn how to enjoy attending games as much as we love to be playing it, and there's NO WAY we would lose money on the hotel/stadium idea.

Oh, and 27 kicks ass.

[DJ V Lawrence]

lol.. I feel like I'm reading a transcript from da' Ali G show!  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Booyakasha!! Me name be DJ V and me come straight from da WestSide of H-town, aaaiigghhttt?! MAD respect to 27 for the intellect! I must agree that I remind me for Ali G, except I'm black...and I'm Texan...and I..um..wear less Fubu. Recognize!

Also, 27 brought up the most valiant point as to why MLS would be successful here in da Bayou City. Diversity. It's what I love about Houston more than almost anything else. Professional soccer WILL be successful here, so long as that organization appeals to all, and not a particular target audience.

I got two questions. One, what's up with this trend going on in MLS with PROFESSIONAL teams signing on long term to play in High School Football stadiums? Dallas, exibit A. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but I'm trying to understand the strategy they have for making MLS as big an organization as the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and NASA. (hey, they build space ships, you know).

Also, Question Two: No disrespekt to da American Soccer announcers, but where's the excitement of watching the game on t.v.? I LOVE watching spanish stations for the games, 'cause the commentators get into it. GOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!!! Where's our excitement when USA scores? If USA's announcers lose control, soccer has a great chance here. Does anyone agree?

Oh, and Respect to Subdude!!

[HeightsGuy]

The problem with soccer, is that unless you were raised to watch it, the way we (Americans) were raised to watch Baseball, then you'll think its mind-numbingly slow. MLS needs a way to "sell" soccer to us so that we will want to spend money on it.

It's mind-numbingly slow because as a casual observer you have no stake in the action. Get behind a team and watch a few matches and you will see the difference. Unlike most sports popular in the US, a soccer match can be won or lost in a span of just a few minutes. And those few minutes can come at any point in a 3 hour match. Think the final 2 minutes in a tied game of basketball. In soccer, that two minutes lasts three hours. Good luck thinking you can turn away from the action whenever you want to for a beer, bathroom break, cigarette, etc. That's what makes it the World's most popular sport.

[Gary]

Houston needs an MLS franchise and a soccer specific stadium.  I'd prefer them demolish the Astrodome since it's no longer viable for anything.  They could make some type of monument to commemorate it or incorporate the Astrodome into new 22,000 to 25,000 seat soccer stadium. Build the SSS right where the dome sits now! The dome is just a waste of money at this point and time and would cost too much money to renovate.  I know the dome has a lot of history behind it but it's just an old building now that Reliant has been built.

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/index.jsp

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No dissrespect intended, but why don't we knock down Rigley field whle were at it. Tearing down the Dome for a soccer team would be a travesty. That's some of the problem I've noticed in Houston's architecture, theres no loyalty to past culture.

I've seen some old pics of this city and there was some fantastic stuff 50 and 60 years ago. The Shamrock is a perfect example.

There are plenty of areas to make this work but good night don't knock down the eighth wonder of the world.

[Guest danax]

There are plenty of areas to make this work but good night don't knock down the eighth wonder of the world.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. I can't be that big of a deal to convert it into a great soccer stadium, considering how much a new one would cost. The problem is most likely more due to lack of interest than money. To most people, the Astrodome is just a tired old relic. People get excited about NEW, whereas the enjoyment one gets from something with a little history is more subtle.

It's a great spot too with rail already right there, although I think that if they want to be forward thinking in terms of where the immigrant Hispanic population will be in 30 years they should look way outside the loop.

[htownswami]

This may put a damper on Houston's hope for an MLS in the near franchis. It appears San Antonio has an inside track for getting a franchise next year. Im sure Texas can support three teams but I would think it amy be a while..

http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=mlss...ov=st&type=lgns

[DJ V Lawrence]

This may put a damper on Houston's hope for an MLS in the near franchis. It appears San Antonio has an inside track for getting a franchise next year. Im sure Texas can support three teams but I would think it amy be a while..

http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=mlss...ov=st&type=lgns

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We can still have an MLS team in the near future if San Antonio had a team in '06, but it just wouldn't be in '06, yo. The only thing Houston doesn't have for a team is a deticated investment group and/or ownership that's willing to build or renovate a stadium for primary soccer purpose. We got the fans, yo. We just need a fan that's a mulit-million dollar fan to exist in Houston.

[tigereye]

We can still have an MLS team in the near future if San Antonio had a team in '06, but it just wouldn't be in '06, yo. The only thing Houston doesn't have for a team is a deticated investment group and/or ownership that's willing to build or renovate a stadium for primary soccer purpose. We got the fans, yo. We just need a fan that's a mulit-million dollar fan to exist in Houston.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First post here......let me give you and other a little heplfull info.

There is an investor who has the ball rolling in Houston, hence all the talk aobut the stadium on the NW side of town.

The investor is Club America of Mexico City.

Much like Chivas and there owner Jorge Vergara, they want in on one specific market. For Vergara, it was LA, and he got what he wanted. For Club America, its Houston becuase its a big market with a huge hispanic base that's close to Mexico, just like LA. They do not want to go to San antonio as they feel the market income per household is to low to aqudately support a franchise.

Hence, San Antonio is in negoations with Tigres, another Mexican club for ownership. There Mayor was recently in Mexico to meet with club officals

And BTW....the only reason why SA is in is becuase they gave the "tax-payer-funded" Alamodome away to the MLS by giving them FREE RENT and all concessions, parking. I'm confused.....Mayor Garza was doing this to have a tenant in the Dome to make money for the city of SA. How is SA gonna make money out of this deal?

And as for Houston's proposed SSS in the NW side of town.....root for it to happen as it will tie into plans to redevlope the old Northwest Mall inot one massive sports and entertainment year round complex.

[Subdude]

It is interesting that both the proposed San Antonio and the new Frisco (for FC Dallas) fields offer futbol training and practice facilities for kids. It's a nice idea to build up interest in the teams.

[N Judah]

So what else will be at the NW Mall site besides a soccer stadium?

[Guest danax]

The investor is Club America of Mexico City.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It will be interesting to see if the Mexican nationals get behind a team from Mexico City, which might be a rival team for a lot of them, since I don't think too many are from Mexico City. I could be wrong on that. Regardless of whether or not they are fans, those games should be sellouts.

[Subdude]

It might depend on how the team markets itself. Attendance at the teams in LA might be an example.

I'm surprised about the San Antonio announcement. MLS has already had to contract once, so it's odd they're adding expansion teams so fast.

[houstonsemipro]

More news on soccer in Houston. Check out the link below.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3185000

[tigereye]

And as for Houston's proposed SSS in the NW side of town.....root for it to happen as it will tie into plans to redevlope the old Northwest Mall into one massive sports and entertainment year round complex.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Remember when I said this......its now falling into place......that is if they dont use the Astrodome and build at Delmar

NW Mall redevelopment thread

[DJ V Lawrence]

Remember when I said this......its now falling into place......that is if they dont use the Astrodome and build at Delmar

NW Mall redevelopment thread

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Personally, I prefer the Astrodome over Delmar or NW Mall. Soccer in the Dome would kill two birds with one stone for Harris County, Soccer, and the City of Houston, since we ARE trying to decide what to do with the Dome.

And besides, Delmar stadium is a HIGH SCHOOL stadium. I don't see the Rockets, Astros, or Texans playing in High School stadiums for home games. If we really think that lowly of soccer in Houston, we shouldn't have a team in the first place.

[Subdude]

New soccer stadiums generally have seating of about 20,000. The Dome is way too big, and it wasn't designed around being able to hide seating sections as at the Alamo Dome. A smaller high school stadium seems like it would be a better place to start for soccer facility.

[tigereye]

New soccer stadiums generally have seating of about 20,000.  The Dome is way too big, and it wasn't designed around being able to hide seating sections as at the Alamo Dome.  A smaller high school stadium seems like it would be a better place to start for soccer facility.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, form an engineering standpoint, the Dome would work for serving as a shell for an intimate 25,000 seat soccer stadium.

Back in its hey day, the Dome used to seat 42,000 when one end of the stadium was left open which made room for the scorebaord spectacular. If you subtract the other endzone, you easily shrink capacity to the nieghborhood of 30,000 or less. Open ended soccer stadiums are the popular designs for the MLS anyways. To further shrink capacity, the interior would need to be gutted and the concourses would need to be enlargerd, which would push the seating deck closer to the pitch. Overall, this would eliminate sections in the seating bowls design which could get you to the 25,000 mark.

What I would like to see done is for the the entire reliant campus be sectioned off into three rectulangular blocks. One for Reliant Center, the middle for stadiums, and the last one for parking. the Astrohall needs to be replaced by a Parking garage structure to serve soccer.

The parking lot east of the Dome needs to be raised for in favor of a retractable soccer pitch that could move in and out of the Dome to make it more multipurpose. The Dome's seating bowl needs to be as multipurpose as the Saitima Super Arena in Japan, which can change form a 40,000 seat soccer stadium to a 5,000 seat concert venue in the blink of an eye.

And last but not least...on the North end of the Dome that faces Reliant center, an air conditioned, sheltered walk way with moveable pathways like you find in airports needs to be built to connect Reliant Stadium and the Dome to the light rail line to make it more attractable to use for commuters. No one likes trudging across barron parking lots in the middle of the night to catch a train....wake up Metro.

This needs to be done.....nuff said.

[DJ V Lawrence]

Actually, form an engineering standpoint, the Dome would work for serving as a shell for an intimate 25,000 seat soccer stadium.

Back in its hey day, the Dome used to seat 42,000 when one end of the stadium was left open which made room for the scorebaord spectacular. If you subtract the other endzone, you easily shrink capacity to the nieghborhood of 30,000 or less. Open ended soccer stadiums are the popular designs for the MLS anyways. To further shrink capacity, the interior would need to be gutted and the concourses would need to be enlargerd, which would push the seating deck closer to the pitch. Overall, this would eliminate sections in the seating bowls design which could get you to the 25,000 mark.

What I would like to see done is for the the entire reliant campus be sectioned off into three rectulangular blocks. One for Reliant Center, the middle for stadiums, and the last one for parking. the Astrohall needs to be replaced by a Parking garage structure to serve soccer.

The parking lot east of the Dome needs to be raised for in favor of a retractable soccer pitch that could move in and out of the Dome to make it more multipurpose. The Dome's seating bowl needs to be as multipurpose as the Saitima Super Arena in Japan, which can change form a 40,000 seat soccer stadium to a 5,000 seat concert venue in the blink of an eye.

And last but not least...on the North end of the Dome that faces Reliant center, an air conditioned, sheltered walk way with moveable pathways like you find in airports needs to be built to connect Reliant Stadium and the Dome to the light rail line to make it more attractable to use for commuters. No one likes trudging across barron parking lots in the middle of the night to catch a train....wake up Metro.

This needs to be done.....nuff said.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm TOTALLY against the thought of us submitting to a 20,000 seat stadium for soccer in Houston. The New Orleans Saints are hurting because they have sold ONLY 25,000 season tickets. Soccer's the biggest sport in the world, and if Houstonians can't fill a stadium of 40,000 seats for a soccer team, we should just forget about trying to have a team at all.

And I'm all against this High School stadium thing. If it's a PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE, play in a PROFESSIONAL LOCATION with PROFESSIONAL MONEY and PROFESSIONAL SPONSORSHIP. 20,000 seat stadiums are what they use for BASKETBALL and HOCKEY ARENAS. 20,000 is NOT an exceptable baseball or football attendance, and it shouldn't be for a marketable league like the MLS. Screw trying to have sell-out games. Get MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

Either Houstonian love soccer, or they don't. Fill up a 40,000+ soccer stadium nightly in Houston, or just don't have a team if you think 40,000 Houstonians are not interested. End of story.

Last question. If we get a soccer team for Houston, will you (the person reading this) support that team passionately like we have for the Texans, Astros, Comets, and Rockets, and would you buy season tickets and actually go to the games, or are you only hoping to have a team to have one, and are banking on OTHER Houstonians to go to the game instead of you ? Answer soon, yo...

[N Judah]

Depends on the team. A regular MLS franchise, no. A minor league franchise of a storied team from a mediocre league (i.e. the deal with the Mexico City team) - maybe. A minor league franchise of a European team? Definitely.

[LTAWACS]

Im not a big soccer fan...