Site of SMU/UH Game Uncertain

[BigT3x]

The MLS Dynamo Field, http://www.houstondynamo.com/stadium/ could work for the three games which lack a venue.

22k is WAY too small for the UH fanbase.

Too small? Probably. Way too small? No way.

[CA Mustang]

Is the Astrodome still standing?

It is, but isn't in condition to host anything.
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs ... lition.php
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs ... lished.php

Dynamo Stadium is a wonderful venue but it is on the smaller side...

I'd prefer the game here instead of Rice because: 1) It will give me a reason to visit the stadium for the first time ever and 2) I prefer seeing football played on grass instead of plastic.

Can Minute Maid Park be playable for football?

1. I don't know if a football field would fit as I don't think they've played football there before.
2. May not be worth the cost of setting it up for 2-3 games with medium to low attendance expected.

[PSCA]

I thought I read or heard somewhere that UH would play their home games at Reliant during the new stadium construction.

[Junior]

I thought I read or heard somewhere that UH would play their home games at Reliant during the new stadium construction.

I thought I read that, too.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

The original article says the Texans have accommodated UH for all of their 2013 home dates except for three - one of which is the SMU game.

Honestly, with the game on Friday, I find it hard to believe they can't find a way to work things out to have it at Reliant, but whatever.

I just hope it isn't at Rice. I was really hoping to never have to watch another football game at that travesty.

[CoxMustangFan]

Can Minute Maid Park be playable for football? . . . Won't have to worry about the Astros playing that time of the year.

+1

Or ANY baseball team for that matter. It's late November.

[Cougar King]

Too small? Probably. Way too small? No way.

We average anywhere form 31-33k in most of our games within the last 3 years which was well beyond the capactity of Robertson which caused people to be turned away or stuck watching from outside. We went 5-7 this year including a loss to Texas State and giving up 72 points to the likes of garrett Gilbert of all qbs and we still brought 27-28k which would still shut out thousands of UH faithful. Our season ticket holders (which was at 14k in 2012) alone would almost fill up BBVA stadium.

I and many others will be furious if we have to play in that glorified HS stadium.

[RGV Pony]

So are you good w Rice ?

[Cougar King]

So are you good w Rice ?

Definitely! Not only is it fairly closer to campus but it's only 47k which we can reasonably sell out (or get close to) with a 10-12 win season. Playing in Reliant, even if we did get 40k would still look and sound empty plus just wouldn't have a college feel to it. We wanted to put most of our games there but Rice hates it when we upstage them but also are upset about the whole AAC thing.

Compare it to choosing between playing at Amon Carter or Cowboys Stadium.

[CalallenStang]

So are you good w Rice ?

Definitely! Not only is it fairly closer to campus but it's only 47k which we can reasonably sell out (or get close to) with a 10-12 win season. Playing in Reliant, even if we did get 40k would still look and sound empty plus just wouldn't have a college feel to it. We wanted to put most of our games there but Rice hates it when we upstage them but also are upset about the whole AAC thing.

Compare it to choosing between playing at Amon Carter or Cowboys Stadium.

Not really the same. Cowboys Stadium is a 30 minute drive, Amon Carter is 40 minutes. Cotton Bowl is much closer. I believe Rice Stadium is only 3 or 4 miles from UH, no?

[Cougar King]

Not really the same. Cowboys Stadium is a 30 minute drive, Amon Carter is 40 minutes. Cotton Bowl is much closer. I believe Rice Stadium is only 3 or 4 miles from UH, no?

Actually about 6 but close enough.

[CA Mustang]

I just hope it isn't at Rice. I was really hoping to never have to watch another football game at that travesty.

Rice Stadium is a travesty? I haven't liked the result of most SMU games I'vs seen there, but I don't blame it on the stadium.

We went 5-7 this year including a loss to Texas State and giving up 72 points ...

Glad to see you haven't forgotten that beating.

Not only is it fairly closer to campus but it's only 47k which we can reasonably sell out (or get close to) with a 10-12 win season.

Ha! When has UH EVER averaged 40K or more for a full season?

[ponyte]

I don't know if this will add to the consideration, but the schedule has this as a televised game. I don't know what network will carry the game but would the TV producers have any say in the venue?

One would suspect that the larger stadiums (Rice, et. al.) would easily accommodate TV production needs. But would some of the smaller stadiums be up to meeting TV production needs?

[Dukie]

I don't know if this will add to the consideration, but the schedule has this as a televised game. I don't know what network will carry the game but would the TV producers have any say in the venue?

One would suspect that the larger stadiums (Rice, et. al.) would easily accommodate TV production needs. But would some of the smaller stadiums be up to meeting TV production needs?

Dynamo Stadium is brand-new, lots of MLS matches are televised, and I can't imagine that would be a problem. However, just as Reliant has an anchor tenant, so does Dynamo. And the 2013-2014 MLS schedule won't be out for a while.

Speaking of schedule conflicts, I guess none of us checked until I just did but Rice is scheduled for a home game the day after SMU-Houston. Hmmm.

[WordUpBU]

So are you good w Rice ?

Definitely! Not only is it fairly closer to campus but it's only 47k which we can reasonably sell out (or get close to) with a 10-12 win season. Playing in Reliant, even if we did get 40k would still look and sound empty plus just wouldn't have a college feel to it. We wanted to put most of our games there but Rice hates it when we upstage them but also are upset about the whole AAC thing.

Compare it to choosing between playing at Amon Carter or Cowboys Stadium.

1- Rice seems like the best option unless either set of egos get in the way. UH needs a place to crash, Rice could use the money, win-win.

2- 47k is very generous. That's a 20k spike from your 2012 attendance and to say that is being optimistic is putting it mildly. UH is growing their fanbase but it takes more time that people realize.

The problem is that although UH has a lot of raw enrollment #'s it doesn't translate to gameday draw and when you split it out by full time students UH's likely fans projects much lower. Out of 40k enrollment only roughly 30k is undergrads who are much more likely to attend athletics. Of that 30k less than 20k are both full time and NOT international. The homegrown & full time student is typically the most likely to be a long term fan/donor and to be invested in the program. So the most likely fans in your student body make up less than half of the student body.

UH is growing this group but it takes time. The enrollment of this group has grown by 3k over the past 5 years and even more over a longer term and that over the long term will pay dividends in terms of fanbase growth.