111486 Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 If Houston were to bid for the Olympics again, what should they change or make better? It is obvious why we didn't get it the first time, but the city has changed so much in the past two years, and it is going to get even better.What would you like to see happen? For example, with the spoting venues, downtown, airport, transportation, street beautification, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 I think we're good in the sporting venue area, but we should wait for our new train expansions and for transportation to get better. And also we need to take down some billboards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
111486 Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 I think some of those tacky billboards inside the Reliant Stadium need to be taken down. Like HEB, Coca Cola, Ford Trucks, and others. Why would that be in an olympic stadium? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonsemipro Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Come on now. Billboards in reliant stadium? Those are merly adverstiment, sponsers. y'all just picking things out in the air now. Give it a rest people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 express bus or train service to/from the airports. light rail connecting downtown and galleria. a natatorium. continued planting and maintenance of existing greenspace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
111486 Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 Come on now. Billboards in reliant stadium? Those are merly adverstiment, sponsers. y'all just picking things out in the air now. Give it a rest people. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I just thought it looked kind of tacky for an olympic stadium. Especially in the opening and closing ceremonies. Maybe they will learn how to hide it when such of a ceremony comes to the city. Athens has the right idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 They would actually build a new stadium, as they have more than 100,000 people attending, and Relaint only has room for about 80,000+/-.There is alot of space for an olympic park, though.A long as we dont go bust like Athens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 express bus or train service to/from the airports. light rail connecting downtown and galleria. a natatorium. continued planting and maintenance of existing greenspace.For us idjits, what's a natatorium? Is that where they slaughter microscopic farm animals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
111486 Posted October 29, 2004 Author Share Posted October 29, 2004 They would actually build a new stadium.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Really. Were they going to do that for 2012? If they did build a new stadium, it would be a tough decision to put it in downtown or Reliant Park. Downtown is where all the other sporting venues are, but Reliant Park is where the Astrodome is located. I say that because they were going to convert the dome into a track and field venue. It would also be good in Reliant Park, because there is more room to build an olympic park, plus they have the Reliant Center for conventions.If they did build a new olympic stadium, that would make Reliant seem like a big waste. They will probably forget about Reliant and start having more activity in the new venue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 For us idjits, what's a natatorium? Is that where they slaughter microscopic farm animals?No, a facility for swimming and aquatic competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 According to the news stories, Houston did very well in the areas of facilities and venues. Apparently we lost big time due to ugliness. If the city decides to bid again, the best strategy might be to make the routes from the airport beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
111486 Posted October 29, 2004 Author Share Posted October 29, 2004 According to the news stories, Houston did very well in the areas of facilities and venues. Apparently we lost big time due to ugliness. If the city decides to bid again, the best strategy might be to make the routes from the airport beautiful. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> From downtown to the beltway on I-45 and from downtown to the beltway on 59, are very unattractive. Nothing but randown gas stations, cheap motels, auto mechanic shops, and tacky malls. I-45 closer to downtown is starting to shape up with all the greenery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonsemipro Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Damn people be happy what y'all got. This is houston, not athens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Damn people be happy what ya'll got. This is houston, not athens.Are you saying then we should settle for ugliness and pollution, rather than wanting things to be better? That's a peculiar attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 I-45 closer to downtown is starting to shape up with all the greenery.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's nearly a postcard view of downtown, except a billboard obstructs the Bank of America building. Like a small turd floating in a punchbowl, somehow it ruins the whole effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Gee..maybe we should get a few big trucks and see if we test the horizonal stresses a some of these beams that support the billboards take. Ricco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted October 31, 2004 Share Posted October 31, 2004 More green space, more transit, more density. In reality, all we really need to do is implement Central Houston's plan for downtown. All great cities have great central gathering points. A lot can be overlooked if downtown is shiny and beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jose Posted November 26, 2004 Share Posted November 26, 2004 they should not have even wasted their timepublic transportation is a joke"welcome to the concrete jungle" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 Sitting in your car on a freeway for an hour or longer is a joke IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 More green space, more transit, more density. In reality, all we really need to do is implement Central Houston's plan for downtown. All great cities have great central gathering points. A lot can be overlooked if downtown is shiny and beautiful.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>More density? I guess thats why Salt Lake City was picked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted November 28, 2004 Share Posted November 28, 2004 From downtown to the beltway on I-45 and from downtown to the beltway on 59, are very unattractive. Nothing but randown gas stations, cheap motels, auto mechanic shops, and tacky malls.I-45 closer to downtown is starting to shape up with all the greenery. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But thats inbetween the 610 and I-10... Everything North of 610 is the Deadzone, all the way threw Greenspoint and some of Spring... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 If Reliant Stadium were to be used for Olympic events, all advertisement would be removed unless the advertiser is an official sponsor of the Olympics. For example, the Gallery Furniture sign would have to come down unless Mac pays to be the "Official Annoying Commercial of the Olympics"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 Houston will eventually get the olympics. The question is when. Once we get "attractive enough", we will get it. The superbowl, and all of the stuff we had this year may help the image along a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 When bidding for the last olympics (year?) that Houston lost (I think it was right before I move here), were there concept scetches and what not available to the public? Or a game plan of where to place the Olympic village & all the sporting venues?And for 2012 (correct year?) what' the current plan? Is there a website out there?GlenHouston's rejected bid was for the 2012 games. The plans were made public. Most of the activity would have been around Astroworld, with the Astrodome coverted to a track and field venue. The Olympic Village would have been along Scott in the 3rd Ward I think. You can probably still find more detail on the plans.Not to be contrary, but I really doubt Houston will ever host the Olympics. Every year a lot more well-known larger cities compete, and I thought the IOC wanted to steer away from smaller cities after Atlanta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largeTEXAS Posted November 30, 2004 Share Posted November 30, 2004 Nothing's going to improve our image more than a better looking city. Houston doesn't need publicity to prove that it's a good host city, it needs real, tangible elements. These are things the city wants to improve anyway. Planting trees along the highways is a start. An improved transit infrastructure, continued revitalization of the central city, a cleaner Buffalo Bayou and improved surrounding park space, and the removal of billboards are all planned. Once these have really taken form, not only will the Olympics Committee want to reconsider Houston, many businesses, travelers, and residents will as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonsemipro Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 I agree with you fully largetexas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 Perhaps the whole question of facilities, attractiveness, etc. is moot. Does anyone recall that Salt Lake City got the Olympic nod because the officials were a bunch of corrupt crooks? And has that changed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamtagon Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 ^Werent the SLC Olympic 'crooks' just the ones dumb enough to get caught? I remember hearing/reading some kind of historical bidding overview which made a claim that bribs had always been part of the process, just not publically acknowledged in this country. General consipracy stuff, but it was believable.The state should be a more supportive partener to the cities courting the Olympics. I think both Houston and Fort Worth/Dallas (haha) have a good chance to host one day, and the state needs to do everything it can to help both cities be more competitive during the bidding process. I missed most of the drama with the 2012 hosting competition - which city got that gold metal? Is there a thread here with details and commentary, one that includes the 'official' reason why Houston wasnt selected (I'm guessing that thread may have been lost eariler this year?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tw2ntyse7en Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted December 1, 2004 Share Posted December 1, 2004 The American entry for 2012 is NYC. A final decision will be made shortly. Paris is considered the favorite. Houston was one of four US runners-up. They don't give out official reasons why contestant cities lose, although again, the Chronicle mentioned that Houston lost due to ugliness. In the Houston proposal most of the venues would have been air conditioned, but I still suppose air quality and the weather here in August had something to do with it. Given the enormous cost of hosting the Olympics, it may not be a bad thing to lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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