I Toured the Arena Today

I'm probably just going to move this into the Rockets Saved forum, but I thought more of you would see it in here first.

My main impressions were:

The building is really impressive.

There are giant super escalators that take you straight up from the entrance to the upper deck which is cool.

The upper deck doesn't feel any higher than Compaq to me, but it is MUCH steeper. The seats are really at an angle.

The seats definitely have more leg room - both upstairs and down.

The locker rooms will be really nice when they are finished.

If you have a suite or a club seat, you've got it really, REALLY good. If not, the building is still tremendous but there is no doubt this was built to make the expensive seats worth paying for.

Overall, the building is really amazing. I have to be honest. While the whole building is unreal, there is no doubt that those people who are sitting in the club seats and suites have it best.

At Reliant and Minute Maid, there is still the sense that we are all in it together. It isn't until you make your way to your seats that you have to show your tickets to get into the club or suite areas. But, at the arena, there is a private entrance for club seats and suites. Even if the club seats were only half full, you couldn't move down from the upper deck to get in them because you wouldn't be able to get into that section of the building. That seemed a little wierd to me - a little like that famous John Lennon quote when they played for the royal family in Britain sitting up in the balcony and he said, "Those of you sitting in balcony, you don't have to clap. Just rattle your jewelry."

Frankly though, that is a fairly minor issue. The size of the concourses, the seats and the way the building is configured will make going to games a really enjoyable experience whether you are sitting in the cheap seats or a suite.

And I do think that those $30 seats downstairs may be the best deal. If you are downstairs, no matter where you are, you are REALLY close to everything.

Bottom line, the thing is pretty damn cool.

 

You know, that was kind of wierd. I took mine and took photos though I'm not sure if I'll post them. They aren't any different than the stuff on the arena site, really.

But, there was a question whether or not we could have them. I took pictures anyway but I wouldn't be surprised if, after today, they may have a policy on what you can and can't do with regard to photos tomorrow.

 

I actually wore big clunky like janitor shoes and they were fine. Just don't wear deck shoes or tennis shoes or they'll have to find something for you.

 

I didn't even think to say this:

The reason I got to tour the building (and heypartner is going tomorrow) is because I'm on the fan council. This is something they did for those of us who participated in that.

The confidentiality agreement we have with them very likely prohibits me posting pictures, but, to be completely honest, nothing I took is any different from what is already posted at http://www.houstonarena2003.com/ in the photo archive. You can see the same stuff there and without all the blur mine have!

 

heypartner is right. The place is really just a shell with some seats. There are no signs or anything. It isn't even painted. There were numerous people installing sheetrock and doing plaster. There were also a bunch of welders. They have a ways to go before the food court goes in. I'd say at least another 6 weeks.

 

That has been discussed alot in the Rockets Saved forum. No one knows yet for sure. None of the contracts have been released.

 

Honestly don't know. I guess that depends on how many seats are in that section.