C'mon, it's not like Houston MLS fans have had much other encouragement... Chron announces May 8 US x Mexico friendly at Reliant, with some notes relating to MLS, McNair/Texans, and soccer in the Houston market: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1810112
This is great news for Houston soccer fans. US vs arch-rival Mexico in our brand new, state of the art stadium. Nuff said. I'm now wondering how this match relates to the possilibility of us getting an MLS expansion team. Commish Garber's presence makes me think there is some connection. This could be our chance to showcase whether or not Houston supports soccer. We have to convince Garber that Houston is a soccer city. We also have to convince Bob Mcnair, who in all likelihood would be forking over the cash for MLS-Houston, that we are hungry for more soccer. This match could open a HUGE door for future soccer in the city of Houston.
Great news. With so many friendlies there involving the USMNT and MLS teams, I definitely get the feeling that Houston has something brewing behind the scenes. It would be awesome if Bob McNair were a US soccer nut. Although, Reliant is a bit big for an MLS team to make look anything but deserted. -Tron
What, exactly, makes "Reliant Stadium ...one of the premier soccer stadiums in the country." Just curious.
From my understanding when they built Reliant they built it Soccer Friendly, ala the New stadium in Foxboro. As a result, there isn't much of a worry regarding width of the field etc. So essentially you have a 65 K stadium, state of the art, and it has a retractable roof. Don't think too many other soccer stadiums have a retractable roof. I could be wrong though.
it looks really nice in the virtual tour: http://www.houstontexans.com/multimedia/virtual/ does it have FieldTurf? or what is the playing surface?
Reliant Stadium uses a grass tray system. Having a traditional permenent grass field is not possible because the Houston Rodeo uses the stadium and covers the floor with dirt. In Houston the rodeo is a huge deal, much, much larger than it is here in the Dallas area. I read a story in the Dallas Morning News about how the rodeo fills up the stadium for two or three weeks of events there.
Fun with Reliant The field dimensions were designed to accommodate soccer (“Major League Soccer Compliance”, as the Texans’ site refers to it) - see the first two links below for nice shots of the entire field area. The last two links below let you see and read about more detail about all sorts of things. Pics of the field Great shots of the field area - unmarked with lines of any kind: sideline shot: http://www.chron.com/content/news/photos/02/01/11/reliant/photo41.html corner shot: http://www.chron.com/content/news/photos/02/01/11/reliant/corner.jpg Images of the grass system Grass tray: http://www.chron.com/content/news/photos/02/01/11/reliant/photo36.html Diagram of the grass system (may be very slow to open): http://images.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/02/reliant/graphics/field/field.gif Roof pics closed: http://www.chron.com/content/news/photos/02/01/11/reliant/photo37.html open: http://www.chron.com/content/news/photos/02/01/11/reliant/photo38.html For more info This page links to lots more pics and diagrams - seating chart, map of the complex with driving and parking directions, roof, field, scoreboard, list of concessions, etc.: http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/02/reliant/graphics.html This page links to several detailed Chron articles on all sorts of aspects of the stadium: http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/special/02/reliant/about.html
"Texans officials also are expected to announce plans for a series of international matches at Reliant Stadium involving teams from Europe and Mexico" last time i checked Houston was still part of USA, having mexican teams play against other foreign competition is totaly missleading if MLS or anyone has dreams of expansion,
Houston may be part of the USA, but apparently the USSF hasn't gotten the memo, since they haven't put a men's national team game in Houston since 1988. So as far as I'm concerned, since the USSF boycotts Houston, Houston is completely within its rights to host Mexican teams.
well, check again... Think so, huh? Have you actually ever been to Houston? ... We need to start with the premise that McNair’s going to host int’l friendlies at Reliant regardless of MLS. He has a snazzy new facility, designed specifically to accommodate soccer, with lots of open dates - and for which he plunked down some of his own cash. Houston is a proven market for int’l friendlies featuring teams from Latin America. McNair should have no problem getting huge crowds into Reliant for El Tri and, if he chooses to do so, some decent crowds for MFL clubs, Salvadoran and other Central American clubs or nats, and occasional matches involving touring Euros on summer vacation. So far, none of that has anything to do with MLS, but don’t panic just yet. The point is that in doing so, his group will work with AEG/SUM on matters involving El Tri (and potentially other AEG/SUM properties). AEG/SUM is looking for a set of big, state of the art stadiums in cities with large Mexican communities to host El Tri every year and it’s very likely that Reliant in Houston will make the grade. Over the next couple of years, AEG and McNair will get to know each other and have the opportunity to assess their compatibility as business partners. McNair also happens to know that two of his fellow NFL owners control big stadiums shared by NFL and MLS teams. What's important about that fact is that they each have seven years’ worth of actuals - not projected financials, but actuals - that show how that arrangement has worked in practice. That’s invaluable information for a due diligence effort. Obviously, the Reliant operating agreement probably differs in some substantial respects from the arrangements at Arrowhead and Gillette, but I’m sure McNair’s accountants and lawyers (and Jamie Rootes) can sort that out. If McNair decides that he likes the projected financials for MLS at Reliant and he and AEG and HSG like working with each other, then he may decide that putting around 15,000 people in Reliant about 15-16 times a year for MLS would be a good idea. Of course, it’s also perfectly possible that he may not like the projecteds for MLS at Reliant, or that he and AEG or HSG may not really work well enough together to want to go into business in MLS, or that he may just decide that several int’l friendlies each year is enough and he doesn’t need the additional hassle of running an MLS team.
Re: well, check again... I never been to Houston but I seen mny features on the city, one just recently on A&E i belive " City Confidential" show, I am very impressed with the city and I am very impressed with the stadium. But all this doesn't mean crap for MLS if there is not an interest in an MLS team. I just hate seeing anyone cater to any mexican teams on our soil, be that their Nat team or club teams. If Houston wants soccer they should ask for USA nat team games , maybe the college four semifinals, MLS friendlies, you name it as long as its american.
I think there is a good chance of Houston getting a team. The question is when. There is no other city out there as big as Houston without one. Despite the size of the stadium, I'm sure AEG and LAMAR would much prefer to have another deep pocket NFL owner with a stadium already built join the club, than an unproven market with an unproven owner elsewhere. The size is an issue, but it's not too big a problem in the Razor and Arrowhead, at least for them. It also helps the Dallas franchise by definition. I really hope Houston gets an MLS team.
I grew up in Houston and I remember going to the Astros games when Fernando Valenzuela would pitch for the Dodgers. Attendance doubled w/ Mexican immigrants all rooting for Fernando. McNair probably remebers and has dollar signs clanging in his head. I think Houston would be a great MLS city and b/c of the heat, I really think a dome is best. Both for the fans and the quality of play.
True, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo packs 50-70k in the stadium every single night for 3 weeks. Another reason besides the rodeo that they probably would have to replace the grass trays is that the seating in the stadium is so steep that the sun doesn't hit the playing surface as much as is necessary to support grass growth like they were hoping. Of course, that's another sign about how nice the stadium is as far as sightlines.
Let me preface this by saying that I don't care where they play or who the owner is, as long as we get an MLS team in Houston. That being said, I personally think that Robertson stadium might be better suited to house the team at first. It's more intimate, and I would think it would be a lot more cost effective (cheaper). Of course, it doesn't have the AC capability that Reliant does. But I honestly think you could make a strong argument for either venue. My only concern would be that Reliant is much too large. Everyone in Houston knows that Bob Mcnair is an outstanding owner. I could definitely live with him as the head of our potential MLS franchise. He's one of the few that actually cares about the community, and puts his money where his mouth is. And there may be less conflict if he controls both the MLS and NFL franchises, as far as things like scheduling, leasing, etc...
Finally! I think Houston could follow the model of LA, which from what I've heard has steady (though not huge) support from the Mexican-American community for the Galaxy. And Angelinos want to chime in? Bottom line: I would be so psyched for an MLS team here. I moved to Houston from DC right before DC United won their third Championship.
Concerning interest in MLS, it should be noted that Houston is one of the top 3 TV markets (rating wise) for MLS games in non-MLS cities.
More from Glenn... Glenn Davis has some more comments in today's Chron: U.S. vs. Mexico a day of celebration, opportunity Glenn also adds this bit regarding MLS and Houston from Garber: Edited to include the formal announcement at MLSnet: MLS/SUM Announces U.S. - Mexico Match
hey guys, don't worry about trying to put a group together yourselves... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/usasupporter we will have group tickets information for everyone who wants... we do center ourselves around the idea of vocal, unified support... but also that everyone and anyone is welcome (just be a US fan ) we need numbers and unity to become a force... -jim
Has Bob McNair EVER, EVER as much as hinted he might be interested in becoming an investor/operator of an MLS team here ?
we really need a Texas superclassico! Nice change from Bud Adams, eh? And I think a potential I/O's temperament and approach to running a business matter. I don't think that Phil and Lamar are interested in maverick owners who may eventually prove problematic. That's one reason why it's helpful for McNair and AEG to get to know each other better as they deal with AEG/SUM properties over the next couple of years. I've suggested above that the financials from Arrowhead/Razor and the comparative value of MLS versus int'l friendlies are the main issues that McNair's group (or any NFL owner) would consider. But even if the numbers look good, business people don't typically prefer to work with others with incompatible approaches or personalities. Last year, the Galaxy on at least two occasions outdrew Mexican Pre-Pre double-headers at the Coliseum on the same night. There are a number of reasons for that (e.g., the Pre-Pre's were on FSE, MFL clubs didn't always send their best players), but Galaxy management was quoted as saying that they believe they've been able to attract a Central American fan base very consistently. Dallas has also done well with Central American fans. I suspect that a Houston MLS team would also do well by reaching out to the Salvadoran and Guatemalan fans in the area. Has soccerfan EVER, EVER as much as hinted that he's read completely through other posts in a thread and spent a few minutes thinking about the issues a bit more thoroughly before posting?
it sounds like houston would be good for expansion, maybe not this time around, but next. Reliant seems like it would be a great "permenant" home. built with soccer in mind, roof, good grass field. when i say permanent, i mean it would be good for an mls team, but if the league keeps growing, of course they get their own home down the road, but i don't think there's any reason to look into a soccer specific for a long while. from what has been posted, McNair sounds like he'd be a good i/o, but i just don't think houston has been tested enough, or looked at by the league to be ready for this round of expansion in 2005.