Which stadium for Houston?

Now, if we could just get a team...

Ok, I'll play again, it’s a slow morning at work, so here’s a primer – each of these stadiums is already discussed in much more detail (to put it lightly) in other threads in this forum:

Delmar

Advantages:

• Depending on the outcome of the proposal process, MLS would be the primary tenant and have the sort of economic control that makes an MLS team a successful business. The model is FC Dallas at Frisco.

• Excellent location at the intersection of two major freeways. Convenient for much of the suburban youth market, as well as the more centrally located Hispanic and other immigrant communities.

• Appropriate size for MLS (depending on the outcome of the proposal process, but that’s the operating assumption).

• Adjacent to Northwest Mall, which will also undergo some redevelopment and may therefore create a larger entertainment destination.

Disadvantages:

• Schedule sharing with HISD, but we’ll need to see how the proposals shake out. Again, think of FC Dallas and Frisco ISD.

• It’s outdoors, so the people who think they’ll melt outdoors in the summer even at night may not find it attractive.

• The field will get extensive use, but it’s not clear how much until negotiations proceed further.

Everything really depends on how the redevelopment negotiations between a potential MLS owner and HISD proceed. If similar to Frisco, then Delmar is the best option.

Reliant

Advantages:

• Best fan amenities and physical environment in Houston.

• Familiar location for soccer.

• Excellent location.

• Air–conditioned.

Disadvantages:

• Economically infeasible for MLS. There’s another thread in this forum that reviews this point to death, over and over again. No need to repeat here.

• Scheduling would be problematic. Reliant is used heavily for numerous events all year.

• Something would have to be done with the field. It’s grass for Texans games, but often in bad condition due to extensive activity in the facility. There’s a tray system, but it’s very expensive and isn’t even used to maintain a perfect field for the Texans.

Reliant could be a reasonable short-term solution while Delmar is redeveloped.

Robertson

Advantages:

• Probably economically feasible. UH needs the money and there are no structural economic issues that would force up costs.

• Familiar location for soccer.

• Easily accessible from a major freeway.

Disadvantages:

• While you may be able to negotiate a good lease, UH may not give up its control over revenue streams to the extent that you would need to have a successful MLS business.

• Scheduling would require accommodating UH football and other events that UH may want to have there.

• Poor fan amenities.

• Some people believe that going to the stadium is dangerous.

• It’s outdoors, so you have the concern (such as it is) with some people who think they’ll melt at night.

Robertson could also be a reasonable short-term solution while Delmar is redeveloped.

Astrodome

Advantages:

• Probably economically feasible. It gets very little use now. Club America met with the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. recently to discuss the Dome and reportedly concluded that it may work from both financial and engineering perspectives.

• An MLS team could probably have the sort of control over revenue and scheduling that you’d need.

• Excellent location.

• Air–conditioned.

Disadvantages:

• There’s a pending proposal to redevelop the Dome into a hotel. The Sports and Convention Corp. points out that they need to wait until that process plays out – probably until the end of the summer. So, the Dome may be off the table.

• Field, and perhaps the ceiling, would require some type of conversion – maybe grass, maybe FieldTurf.

• Terrible sightlines.

• Fair fan amenities – better than Robertson and Rice, but not even close to Reliant.

The Dome could also be a reasonable short-term solution while Delmar is redeveloped.

Rice Stadium

Advantages:

• Probably economically feasible. Rice wouldn’t mind extra cash and there’s no structural economic reason to drive up costs.

• Moderately convenient location.

• Best sightlines in town.

• Adjacent to a popular entertainment and retail destination (Rice Village).

Disadvantages:

• The field is AstroTurf and very narrow. Think of the field width at Spartan Stadium. Then think of the field at Spartan with AstroTurf.

• Like, Robertson, it’s still a stadium controlled by a university that may not have much interest in giving up the level of control over revenue streams and scheduling that an MLS team would need.

• Dismal fan amenities.

I just don’t think Rice Stadium can be much of a factor.