I can't search....but this is some new information regarding the proposal: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4053520.html Dome hotel plan includes 610 exit Texans officials have 'aesthetic concerns' about a proposed ramp By BILL MURPHY Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle A $450 million plan to reinvent the Reliant Astrodome as a luxury convention hotel includes a parking garage and new exit from Loop 610 to keep the facility from interfering with Texans games and performances of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The 2,100-space, multistory parking garage would wrap around two-thirds of the Astrodome and markedly change the appearance of the facility once dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World. Astrodome Redevelopment Corp., a consortium proposing the development, favors building a ramp from the Loop 610 feeder road to the Dome. But Texans officials so far have balked at the proposed ramp, saying they have "aesthetic concerns" about its effect on the appearance of Reliant Park, county-hired consultants said in a report. "I really believe we will be able to resolve all these issues," said Scott Hanson, president of Astrodome Redevelopment. A ramp would cost $5 million to $10 million, while the alternate proposal, a tunnel from the Loop feeder road, likely would cost $10 million to $15 million, Hanson said. Astrodome Redevelopment proposes to build a 1,200-room, upscale hotel, restaurants, nightclubs, retail stores and possibly performance stages. The tentative theme is Best of Texas, re-creating Texas courthouses and town squares. Astrodome Redevelopment has little choice but to address the concerns of the Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Their contracts with Harris County, which owns Reliant Park, allow them to demand that the Astrodome cease operations when rodeo season arrives or when the Texans play at home. The rodeo will look to receive a percentage of revenues from at least some convention hotel operations, including the hotel, restaurants and many, if not all, retail stores, said Leroy Shafer, the rodeo's chief operating officer. "It is my assumption that since we have the ability to keep them in the dark, that this will happen," he said. Such an arrangement isn't unprecedented for Reliant Park tenants. For example, the rodeo now gets a percentage of revenues from Aramark, which holds the concession contract at Reliant Park. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., the county entity that oversees Reliant Park, and Astrodome Redevelopment are expected Wednesday to sign an agreement, called a letter of intent, that spells out each side's willingness to move forward with the project. It is expected to say that the county is giving Astrodome Redevelopment six months to obtain financing and seven months to reach pacts on issues including parking, the hotel's ramp or tunnel entrance and profit-sharing. Astrodome Redevelopment needs the letter to obtain financing. It will be given a year from the time the letter of intent is signed to reach a lease agreement with the Sports and Convention Corp. The letter of intent "will be a major, major milestone," said Willie Loston, director of the Sports & Convention Corp. There are 8,500 parking spaces at Reliant Park and an additional 17,500 across Kirby and in other county-owned lots. The Texans and the Houston Rodeo opposed sacrificing any parking to the hotel, so Astrodome Redevelopment added the parking garage to its concept. The letter of intent says Astrodome Redevelopment would lease the Dome from the county for 50 years with an option to extend it another 20 years. Astrodome Redevelopment would pay $2.5 million in rent the first year the hotel opens. Rent would rise 3 percent annually. The company also would pay the Sports & Convention Corp. 2 percent to 3 percent of its gross revenues. The hotel would be modeled on Gaylord convention hotels in Grapevine, Nashville, Tenn., and Orlando, Fla. Senate Hospitality, a Nashville-based company that includes former Gaylord executives, would operate the Dome hotel. Gaylord hotels cater to groups that want hotels, restaurants, meeting rooms and convention halls under one roof. Houston already has a convention hotel, the city-owned Hilton Americas next to the George R. Brown Convention Center. Unlike the Hilton Americas, the Dome hotel would imitate the Gaylord concept and try to attract groups looking for a self-contained facility. "Prior to seeing the Gaylord Texan (in Grapevine), I thought it was a dumb idea," Shafer said. "After we visited the Gaylord Texan, we began to see it is a different model. But personally, I still have concerns that it will work."
Yo, Respek: for lezzies, fatty-boom-bah's...and even Gaylords Boo-ya-sha-ka! Ali-G aside , hasn't this idea been trundled out before? I think it could be interesting, but I want the dome to remain as it has in my memories...I can almost smell the Dome-Dogs now!
I played a gig there last year. That place is bad ass, despite the weird name. It's like having a riverwalk with air conditioning. I suggested they do something like that with the Dome in the last Dome thread. I think the County should pay me a hefty 'finders fee'. It doesn't even have to be money, I'll settle for strippers and some good blow.
Sorry, to derail the thread, but being an Ali G fan.... I had to point out that it's Booyakasha! Big up to yourself, Westsiiide.
We need to keep the Dome for historical purposes. As far as the GAylord idea, maybe. I went to a convention there and it was pretty good. NO to the stupid idea of another exit for it. The Dome had good enough access for 50,000 people. More than enough for a hotel.
I remember the Aeros owner Chuck Watson had the idea of turning the Dome into a hockey area to lure an NHL team. He was then ridiculed mercilessly.
Only the $450 million hotel right next to a convention center contains a convention center itself. Seems a little odd. Everytime a new Astrodome plan is revealed it gets less and less exciting. Next time I expect them to tell us they have a cost saving plan to have the worlds largest live butterfly exibit. However nobody will ever see many of the butterflies since they'll hang out in the rafters.
where'd you read that? i don't think it's going to have a convention center in there..it's going to be hotel rooms and entertainment space. this is "the plan." this plan was revealed quite some time ago, and there is no other plan receiving this kind of attention from the county. they're signing a letter of intent this week.
Gaylord Focker... Actually, I've been to the Gaylord and its super nice, especially around x-mas...Not sure it'll work, but would be a great idea...
I guess I misintpreted it. It said Gaylord convention hotels so I thought it meant they are including convention space instead of being a hotel for an existing convention center. This has been "the plan" for about a year. Prior to that, every "plan" they introduced was completely different than the last. "The plan" prior to that was to build an indoor space theme park. At least I've seen two articles from the Chronicle on this "plan" so maybe this one will stick. I guess I'm just underwhelmed. I was hoping for something more bold than a hotel.
the other "plans" were just brainstormed ideas. this one is taking deeper steps than that. i hear ya. but actually, i think a convention center hotel is great. great for attractive more events to reliant. i'm thinking super bowl!
