INSITE AND A FOX 26 NEWS EXCLUSIVE!There could be a major stumbling block in the redevelopment of Reliant Astrodome. This comes as the Houston Livestock and Rodeo gets involved. The once eighth wonder of the world is almost like a stepchild now.
Long gone are the glory days, and the future may not be so bright. Leroy Shafer with the Houston Livestock and Rodeo says he has concerns with the Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation.
It's the company that won approval from the county to redevelop the dome into a convention style hotel. Rodeo officials had a chance to review the preliminary lease the county has drafted with arc to redevelop the Astrodome.
In a letter obtained through open records, the rodeo points out several issues where their rights as a tenant in Reliant Park would be infringed upon by the developer.
Construction of a skybridge, a walkway and primary access improvements would impact the rodeo, Shafer said. A proposed parking garage and 4 years of construction would also have an effect on the annual scholarship drive.
"There are a lot of issues that are there," he said. "Are they insurmountable? I don't think so at all."
There's also an issue over naming rights of the dome. Shafer says Reliant still reserves that right even if a developer steps in.
Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation is not in a position to comment on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's response right now, but they will soon.
"Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation is anxious to see the tenant's comments and address any concerns they have and move forward quickly, " said John Clanton, chief executive officer of the corporation.
5 comments:
I don't know about you'all, but I'm getting pretty sick and tired of the freaking Rodeo people whinning and moaning about every move we try to make at that complex. Frankly I could care less if they like it or not. I for one think the whole event is the stupidest event in Houston.
If they want to have their country fest, move it to the country. I'm sure the good folks in the Woodlands, Katy, Brazoria or some other outlying area would love to have them, and build them a facility that can be used year-round for rural-oriented displays, events and functions.
Houston is a major city now. There ain't a cow within 20 miles of the center of town (maybe at the Houston Zoo petting area), and that whole trailriding debacle every year is a pain in the ass of all of us trying to get to work to our fine air conditioned OFFICES.
I do enjoy the occasional oversized dually impalling itself on Houston bank ATM drive throughs and leaving a pile of fiberglass rubble behind, as they shed their rear fenders - free family fun for the spectators.
Build a Rodeo Taj Majal out in a burb/outlying town. It'll be ideal and we can then fully use the taxpayer-owned Reliant complex as we see fit and cater to more appropriate events.
BTW don't come back with some "its for the children" comment. They can raise as much money for scholarships, etc. basing this annual event somewhere else. In any event does everything have to be for the "children"? There young, full of life, blissfully ignorant of life's hardships - the hell with them!
Wow - don't like the Rodeo much?
Anyway can someone say IMPLOSION
Heck, just wait a few more years, and possibly the stray current from the shoddily-built METRORail tram may cause the dome foundation to become unsafe (see TMC lawsuit) as a result of the accumulated corrosion damage.
Royko
I don't know about you'all, but I'm getting pretty sick and tired of the freaking Rodeo people whinning and moaning about every move we try to make at that complex.
I agree completely. The Rodeo is nothing more than a cash cow (no pun intended) thinly disguised as a charity.
I think somebody needs to do alittle research on how many kids get scholarships because of this "cash cow". God forbid we have a good time while raising money to educate our
youth!
Bunch of rodeo haters, did
you forget where you are? Houston,
TX. Maybe instead of the rodeo moving to the country, you should move to a more urban environment. The Houston Rodeo isn't going anywhere, get over it.
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