It looks like it would be W 18th St. Google map of area I like both of the ideas. The only downside to the Delmar plan is that HISD would have a say in what goes on. I would hate to see a team here have to play on a bad field with football lines because it's high school football season. As long as we get a team I'll be happy though.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3317055 UH in talks with MLS franchise about Robertson Maggard says any agreement must help school By BERNARDO FALLAS Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle If Major League Soccer is to come to Houston from the west, it might have to bypass the Reliant Astrodome and head east — to Robertson Stadium. University of Houston athletic director Dave Maggard on Thursday said his office has had discussions with officials from San Jose Earthquakes owner Anschutz Entertainment Group regarding a possible move by the MLS franchise to Houston, with the university's stadium serving as a temporary home. "We've talked to them a little bit," Maggard said. "We've made no deal. We have a lot of things to look at and consider. I'll say this: I'd be very open to doing something if the arrangement would be mutually beneficial. "But that term 'mutually beneficial' is important. We have to have some benefit from this, and the benefit that I'd be looking for is improvement to the facility and some of those kinds of things." AEG made headlines last month when it sold D.C. United, one of its then-five MLS franchises, to a Washington-area investors group. Televisa-owned Club América has been in negotiations with AEG to purchase the Earthquakes and move them to Houston. But according to Maggard, all indications are AEG now wants to relocate the team to Houston. "My understanding is that it's AEG," Maggard said. AEG spokesman Michael Roth would not confirm or deny such discussions late Thursday. Officials with the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. on Wednesday said investment company Astrodome Redevelopment Corp. has obtained the necessary funds for its proposal to transform the county-owned Astrodome into a hotel, entertainment and retail area. The company had been given a Thursday deadline for the proposal. Meanwhile, Club América had expressed interest in moving its potential U.S. franchise to the Astrodome on a temporary basis. But the latest news by Astrodome Redevelopment could hamper América's plans, as the proposal's final approval by the Harris County Commissioners Court is not expected until late in the year or early next year. América reportedly was aiming to have a team for the 2006 MLS season, so it was counting on the county to make a quicker and likely unfavorable decision regarding Astrodome Redevelopment's proposal. Also, América's desire to use the 40-year-old facility for three years likely would create a conflict if the proposal is approved. "That is an issue as it stands today," Sports and Convention Corp. director Willie Loston said. "We've made it clear to Club América that the (Astrodome Redevelopment) proposal had priority, and we're going to work with it until it runs its course." Club América representatives Javier Pérez Tueffer and Juan de Villafranca could not be reached for comment Thursday. Scheduling conflicts, parking and the increased use of the Robertson Stadium field are among the issues that have been discussed by Maggard and AEG officials. Maggard said the most viable solution to the latter concern would be to install artificial turf, but that would require sharing the cost of the installation and maintenance. "We'd have to put in FieldTurf, and I've told them that," Maggard said. "That's the only way we'd do it. "What I have talked to them about is, 'If you guys are serious about this, and we can improve Robertson, then I'm open to it.' " Maggard also said financial aspects of a potential one- to two-year deal for use of the stadium have come up, but no conclusions have been made. But he added that because AEG has indicated it would like to have a team in place at Robertson for the spring of 2006, "discussions likely will speed up." Staff writer Michael Murphy contributed to this report
My niece is really upset about this. She's a huge soccer fan/player and her team's trainer plays for the Earthquakes, so they go to quite a few games a season. If my niece is upset, I'm upset.
She was actually really upset. I thought she was faking for a while, but nope. Apparently, they go to nearly all the home games.
This here MEXICAN could contribute with translation to Spanish. Why didn't you start this in the HANG OUT??? There are surely more futbol fans in there. ¿Por qué no comenzaste esta discusion en el "HANGOUT? De seguro hay más fanáticos futboleros allí. I thought CD America (Mexican Soccer team housed in Azteca Stadium) was bringing a team here. I know CHIVAS already took theirs to L.A. Yo pensaba que el C.D. América (equipo mexicano con base en el Estadio Azteca) iba a traer un equipo aquí a Houston. Sé que Chivas ya tiene uno en Los Angeles. I am a big AMERICA fan. Bringing WHATEVER team to Houston for MLS would ROCK. Yo soy un Americanista. Traer CUALQUIER equipo a Houston para la MLS sería bueno. I am in, TexanJohn
It does really suck that the owners are moving the team. There's supposedly a local investor group talking about buying the team but I'm not sure how much truth there is behind that or if AEG are still considering selling the team or if they just want to keep them and move them to Houston. Buf from what I understand if they stay in San Jose they have to find a new stadium to paly at because their current situation is costing them too much money. They were talking about buying the Earthquakes and moving them, I'm not sure if they are still interested or not. They may be working with AEG in some sort of partnership, or AEG wants to move the team then sell them to try and make more money. I think Kansas City's team is also for sell so America could try to do something with them if they can't buy the Earthquakes.
This whole scenario has taken a strange turn.... Like I said, on August 18, the picture would get clearer. Well, it did becasue financing to renovate the Astrodome into that "city inside a bubble" concept was approved. It looks like this will happen. And judging from the reaction fo Bob McNair in his TV interviews with the local media, it seems the Texans were pushing this plan all along, as a way to sweeten future Super Bowl bids. So in essence, no soccer in the Astrodome. Delmar is the future. This is why we are now hearing of talks between UofH and AEG. And its no surprise as AD Maggard has been favorable to the idea of an MLS team playing at Robertson as way to generate more funds and stadium improvements. This is definitely only a temporary solution. If the team is a success, Delmar will be there home. This is where it got strange. Judging form Maggard's coments, AEG (The Quakes owner) is now looking to move the team itself to Houston rather then selling to Club America. This is strange because it was no secret that AEG wanted to sell the Quakes in an attempt to lessen the financial burden it already has with the MLS. This was the reason why AEG sold DC United earlier this month. This probably means a sale of the Quakes to Club America might have fell apart. Or maybe AEG see a brighter future in Houston and wants to be involved solely on its own. Whatever it means, Houston is still on the verge of landing an MLS team. A soccer stadium and its location is also clearly evident at this point. The only question that reamins now is who will be the owner...AEG or Club America?
