Chron: Toyota Center unveiled to the public

I didnt see this posted yet...sorry if it has been

Alexander absorbs spirit of new arena
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
WHAT'S NEXT
• Sept. 13: Open house from noon to 5 p.m.. Free admission.
• Oct. 6: Fleetwood Mac concert.
• Oct. 12: Rockets' preseason game against New Orleans.
• Oct. 24: Aeros regular-season home opener against Cleveland.
• Oct. 30: Rockets' regular season opener against Denver.
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander sat on a stage on the Toyota Center floor, listened to the speeches and felt emotions he never expected rise within him.

The thoughts of politicians marked Thursday's ribbon-cutting that effectively opened the Rockets' new home.

The arena, with finishing touches still to be done, was polished and decorated for its first event. In a few minutes, Alexander would be given keys in a ceremony that symbolically handed control of the $235 million arena from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority to the Rockets.

But before he and the Rockets could call the arena theirs, Alexander found himself thinking about all it took to be ready to move in.

"I was on stage sitting there, and I got very welled up," Alexander said after Thursday's ceremony. "I was sitting thinking about all the time and effort that went into this, and all the things that have happened over the last 10 years.

"It was very emotional. All the things that have gone on over the last 10 years come to fruition in your mind. You're thrilled. It's in a great location. It's a great arena. It's complete."

With the 18,500-seat arena ready -- the Rockets' business staff will move out of Greenway Plaza today and into Toyota Center on Monday -- Alexander became giddy at the thought of throwing the doors open to the paying public.


Karl Stolleis / Chronicle
Aeros mascot Chilly relaxes and listens to a speech given Thursday during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the downtown Toyota Center. Fleetwood Mac will perform in the arena Oct. 6.

Most of the remaining work on the building will be done in the lounges, suites and restaurant.

But as much emphasis as was placed on bringing fans close to the court and surrounding them with the technologies of modern arenas, Alexander already could imagine the crowds eating and drinking together downtown on game nights.

"It's not just to have fun (and) to come to see a basketball game, but to meet your friends and meet your business acquaintances and enjoy yourself when you're here," Alexander said. "If the game isn't that great that night, or you're in a bad mood, or you had a fight with your wife, you go to the bar, have a few drinks, have a good time. You're here anyway. I want people to get up off their (butts) at night instead of watching whatever TV show is on and come to a Rocket game or Comets game or the events here."

With that, after the politicians were politically correct, he was on a roll.

"That's what I love about the mayor, the old mayor (Bob Lanier)," Alexander said. "The old mayor is old (78). He gets up every night and comes to a Rocket game. It's a wonderful thing. He doesn't just sit home and relax. You have to get dressed, take a shower. He does all those things that are necessary. You do shower, don't you mayor?

"People stay at home too much and become loners. This way, they get out and meet their friends and acquaintances and have a great time at night. When they go home, they say, `I had a great time tonight' instead of just going to sleep. When you go out, you stay out to 3 in the morning."

Alexander toured his courtside suite, walked through the Rockets' locker room he helped design and sat in his office overlooking the practice court and training facilities. Coach Jeff Van Gundy and the rest of the basketball staff will move Sept. 29.

"It's been long-anticipated," general manager Carroll Dawson said. "I get a great feeling every time I come in here. Standing here and seeing it's done is very exciting. It turned out better than I thought it would. You've got dreams. This is one time it turned out better than I dreamed.

"It's a very intimate arena where the stands come right down to the floor. I like that because (the fans are) going to be very loud. I think this is going to give us a home-court advantage."

Said former Rockets guard Robert Reid, "This is a basketball court. You will feel the fans."

Thursday's event effectively completed the Sports Authority's construction of Minute Maid Park, Reliant Stadium and Toyota Center. There were references to Rockets defeat in the first referendum seeking voter approval to build the arena. Mayor Lee Brown mentioned the "tough times."

"We now have three new professional sports venues," Brown said. "We have seen ... Houston turn into a great sports town. Now we have without a doubt the best arena anyplace in America."

Precinct 1 County Commissioner El Franco Lee offered the only reminder that the luxury celebrated Thursday was not far from constituents living in poverty.

"We don't have to go very far to try to help those that are less fortunate," Lee said. "Hopefully those elements and young people who can't afford to come to this arena (and) who can't afford a TV to see the fine talents. ... will be able to benefit from its resources.

"People one exit from here are in abject poverty. They still need our help. We have problems not in our back yard, but in our front yard. We have to make sure the trickle down doesn't dry up by the time it gets around downtown."

Brown said the Sports Authority "now has to look at its new mission to go back and serve the entire community. Minute Maid Park generated new jobs. We'll see the same thing here."

But Thursday, the Sports Authority marked the end of its previous mission, and Alexander was in the mood to celebrate.

"I think we have terrific talent," he said. "I think we have a great, new, dedicated coach. And I think we'll be much better than people anticipate."

Until then, he was thrilled just to show off where the Rockets will play.

"It's a big moment," he said. "It's great. It's fabulous. I feel great about it."