Dec. 21, 2005, 11:42PM (Houston Chronicle) http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3541446.html Pro soccer team seeks public partner Owners want to make a deal with a school district or other entity to help build new stadium By BILL MURPHY Excerpts: The company that owns the Major League Soccer team coming to Houston hopes to form a partnership with a school district or other public entity that would share the costs of building a $65 million to $80 million soccer stadium. The Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of the team relocating from San Jose, Calif., would share a new stadium with Houston high school athletes under one deal being considered by school and soccer officials.
We previously wondered whether they'd do a more limited redevelopment of the existing stadium or start over with a new structure. Glad to see that they're leaning toward a new building. Also, just FYI for fans outside Houston, Bill Murphy is the Houston Chronicle's beat writer for UH athletics, so he'll probably have more about how things progress with the modifications and improvements and Robertson.
I sure would love to start a campaign writing Dave Maggert the U of H AD telling him why he should not install Fieldturf. If Maggert wants MLS to be a long term solution for U of H, he could put that $4 million in his athletic coffers and stick with grass.
I emailed Murphy to see if he knew anything about whether the FieldTurf installation will have permanent markings. He said he wasn't sure but would look into it. I know some hardcore UH football fans who are very happy to get FieldTurf, but are also, believe it or not, worried that the football field will have permanent soccer lines. ... Edited to add the response that I got from Richard Murphy about the markings for the new FieldTurf at Robertson:
It's nice to see the Chron putting out soccer-related articles almost daily.They are all positive and seem eager and happy to have a team in Houston.
I believe that's what they did at one point with the permanent football markings at Rice-Eccles for a USWNT game?
i agree... that just reminds every non-soccer fan watching the game: i can't wait to watch american football. hopefully it will just be a temporary solution...