Anyone here make it out to "Reliant Stadium Day" Sunday? I came out, but was totally unprepared. I did happen to have my camera with me, but didn't have a wide-angle lens or a single fresh battery, so I didn't get many shots. It was hot as hell outside, and we were forced to walk completely around the stadium in order to get in. Once inside, the aircon proved very effective, even though the top was open and the sun shining in. Tip: Avoid seats on the east side of the stadium in the late afternoon games...nothing but sun! The tours through the tunnel, field, and locker room were a joke. The locker room was nothing more than a completely unfurnished visitors locker room. Still, that didn't keep many people from looking around and opening the lockers as if they were magical blue metal boxes.... The field proved to be the most interesting (and technologically advanced) part of an already state-of-the-art stadium. As most already know, the field is actually 8'x8'x8" grass palletes which can be removed in a day. Each block is bar-coded and has its own drainage/irrigation system within. How cool! Close up, one can barely see the outlines of the edges, and it looks PERFECTLY level. The seating is excellent. Sightlines from all angles of the stadium are great, although I didn't get a chance to check out the upper tier of seats. From the sidelines, the perspective of the stadium is almost an optical illusion. Looking across the field, it seems like you are almost in an arena. Although the stadium is massive, it seems very intimate and small. There are plans to include a "halo" deck of seating above the scoreboard and "Reliant Stadium" decks. Not for the acrophobic... The roof will be open all the time, unless its raining. The teflon-coated fabric which comprises the roof is around 8 inches thick! Even so, it will still allow some of the sunlight in when it is closed. I could ramble on and on, but will wrap this up by saying that we really have an outstanding building here; I'm glad I went to see it. I can't wait to hear what this bad boy will sound like when nearly 70,000 fans are screaming inside... And now, without further ado...some crappy pics...
X, Those are actually the best pics I've seen of it yet! Thanks a lot. When you were saying that the locker room tour was just an unfurnished visitor's locker room, were you saying that the Texans' locker room is the one you saw and it was crappy? Or were you saying that the only one they showed you was the real visitor's locker room and not the home one?
yeah the tour wasnt' that great.. we just went thru a visitors locker room.. at least i did.. but that was near the end when it was ending...maybe they showed the texans one earlier.. ?maybe they did'nt because it probably had player stuff in it.. x34.. i got the feeling that it was pretty intimate as well.. almost seems like it isn't as big as it is.. because at least near the bottom you kinda feel right up on the action.. i went in a suite too.. the suites are pretty close to acton too.. nearest in nfl i believe.. i feel for you on the walking around stadium thing.. had to do it too... i was impressed overall.. did you happen to notice food prices?.. i dind't buy anything but i noticed they had some hot dogs and nachos in the 2.25-2.50 range i believe.. i'm sure they are just basic but are they more than that at minute maid.?. i also belive the 20 oz cokes are 2 dollars.. thats still a rip off but cheaper than other places i think.. they are 3 bucks at minute maid park and compaq center aren't they?
DT, Yea, the locker room was the Visitor's locker room, and besides a coke machine in the corner, it was completely empty. I think it would have been a nice gesture to at least put some prop stuff up to make it visually appealing or somewhat worth the 30+ minutes it took to wade through the crowd to get there. It wasn't crappy quality; just empty. RocketFan, Most of the places had limited menus, since they were really only doing a 'test run' of the kitchens, so I really wasn't paying too much attention. Hot Dogs were around $3, as were bottled domestics. I ended up grabbing a stuffed baked potato for $3.50 at Luther's (although it was 1/2 price that day! )
x34.. yeah i was thinking that was going thru the texans locker room or i probably would'nt have spent the time to wade thru the crowd
Wow, that's the first time I've been up that close. When I drive to Houston from Dallas, I always take a look at it as I'm cruisin' down 610 to see how far it's gotten. It seems so compact and has a clubhouse feel to it from those pics. I can't imagine there'd be too many, if any, bad seats in a configuration like that. Everyone seems almost right on top of the action. Nice. Those pics are great x34. Thanks!
Great pics. I hope those (for lack of a better word) embossed logos on the seats indicate the Texans aren't going to change their logo every three years.
way to go x34! thanks for the info on your visit. Oh and thanks for the pics! Because you had your camera with you and then shared the pics with us.... you are a...
Those are awesome pics x34 - I am going to the preseason game on Saturday and I am PUMPED. I can see the arena out my office window - in fact, I'm looking at it right now. It dwarfs the Astrodome. However, I feel compelled to point out an error on Channel 2's special from last week, and the media in general who claim Reliant Stadium as "the world's first football stadium with a retractable roof". I know of at least one other that has been in operation since 2000 - Colonial Stadium in Melbourne Australia - used predominantly for Aussie Rules football, but also Cricket, Soccer and Rugby. http://www.colonialstadium.com.au/page/default.asp?page=INFO_Amenities http://www.cricket.org/perl/picture.cgi/015046
