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The Houston Texans’ Week 2 game was postponed after Hurricane Ike damaged Reliant Stadium, but it appears that they’ll be able to play the rest of their home games as scheduled.
The Houston Chronicle reports that damaged roof panels should be removed in time for the Texans to play the Indianapolis Colts on October 5 with the roof open, and the team is likely to play the rest of its home games with the roof open as well.
Reliant Stadium officials say the stadium is sound structurally.
“That is a very distinct possibility and likelihood that games could be played with the roof open,” said Shea Guinn, the president of the company that manages the park. “There is no failure, no problem, no issue with any part of the physical structure.”
Said Texans owner Bob McNair, “I’m delighted to know there’s no structural damage and that it appears we’re going to be able to play Oct. 5 against the Colts. I’m satisfied with being able to play [at Reliant] as an open-air facility for the rest of the season. That’s fine with me.”
September 20th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Why do they have a roof in the first place? Why does Indianowhere have a roof. St. Louis? New Orleans? Atlanta?
????
For crying out loud Buffalo does not play indoors. Seattle neither. New Enlgand- no.
Why do all of these southern teams have domes?
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September 20th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I am sure he is delighted they can play in their home stadium.
Imagine the horror of how much money McNair would lose if they had to play somewhere else, like a nearby stadium.
At least he has his priorities straight, to him it’s all about his bank account.
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September 20th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Yeah, it’s all about McNair’s bank account. It has NOTHING to do with the thousands of local season ticket holders who already paid thousands of dollars being able to watch the team, does it? I’m sure all those ticket holders would be thrilled having to drive to San Antonio to see the Texans’ home games. Or, the 20,000 or so that would screwed out of their seats if they played at Rice. It also has nothing to do with thousands of local employees who need the income now more than ever after Ike.
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September 20th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Makikail-
You have no idea what you are talking about. The fans want the game in their stadium. Houstonians want our lives normal again. Barring that, we’d like to watch football in our own freaking stadium.
McNair did the right thing getting the league to cancel the game. (The MLB screwed up relating to the Astros). It is wrong to make teams play a game when their families and property are threatened by a massive storm that has done massive damage.
jburns-The biggest reason the Texans have a roof is because the only way they could have a stadium post-Bud Adams was to partner with the Houston Rodeo (which is a big money bidness in town). The league likes open air stadium and playing on real grass. The Rodeo needs a roof for its concerts.
Besides, high school football is played at night. Noon starts in early fall are very very hot. Dangerous hot. Heck noon starts in December can be hot too.
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September 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
“Why do all of these southern teams have domes?”
Because it can get hot as hell in the south. And it usually does.
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September 20th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
not only hot. houston, like was-dc, was built in/on a swamp.
humid as all hell. you would want aircon too. houston just became a tougher place to play. if the texans’ squad isnt used to the heat + humidity…
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September 20th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
“For crying out loud Buffalo does not play indoors. Seattle neither. New Enlgand- no.”
When it gets bitter cold, you can pile layer on top of layer on top of layer. When it gets incredibly hot, humid (and windless) in Houston, TX - you can’t go to the game naked, and you can’t peel your skin off, much as some of us would like to sometimes.
That said - if I had my druthers, we’d play every game outside - but I don’t think it’s somehow “less manly” that we close the roof when it’s too hot. Now - when they close it for rain? That’s weak. I HATE that.
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September 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
The biggest problem with the decision is that Reliant wasn’t built with extensive drainage work due to playing only nice, non-humid/cool games with the roof open. Better hope it doesn’t rain.
“the Houston Rodeo (which is a big money bidness in town)”
It also brings in more money to the complex than anything else - including pro football. Football brings 8 games and 2 pre-season ones. The rodeo brings in, IIRC, 15 straight days of sell-outs along with all of the other events going on in conjunction. You bet your a$$ it’s big money bidness.
“if the texans’ squad isnt used to the heat + humidity… ”
Like I told my in-laws when they came to visit in August and asked “how long does it take to get used to this?” I told them that you never get used to 100 degree heat and 100% humidity. But the Texans will be more used to it and won’t spend the whole game saying “Damn, what is this $hit?”.
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September 20th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Is it hotter in Houston than Arizona? They played in the desert for years. How about miami?
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September 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
“They played in the desert for years.”
They never had home games for the first 4-5 weeks because it was dangerously hot.
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