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Latest evaluation of Houston stadiums is giving us Oilers vibes
Aug 31, 2022, 3:43 pm
It's hard to believe Minute Maid Park has been around for 22 years. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
Minute Maid Park with a view of downtown
One thing about Houston, we have really great sports venues, especially for our three major sports teams. Each has a distinctive personality, from nostalgic throwback Minute Maid Park, to ritzy palatial Toyota Center, to technological wonder NRG Stadium.
But two of our venues got some failing comments at the recent State of the Stadiums and Arenas conference in New York City. According to Hunden Strategic Partners, a real estate development group, there are 20 major sports venues in the U.S. that are overdue for big ticket updates.
By that, Hunden Strategic Partners means they haven’t had major renovations ($100 million plus) in 20 years or more. Fifteen of those venues have had no significant renovations of any kind in the past two decades. Five have had only minor “reno,” as they say on those Home and Garden fix-it shows.
The worst violator is Angel Stadium of Anaheim, which hasn’t had any material updates in 56 years.
Both Minute Maid Park and NRG Stadium made the list for having only minimal cosmetic work, you know, like Tom Brady. Allegedly.
Being called out at the conference on stadiums and arenas is like getting a letter from the HOA saying your garage needs painting and your landscaping won't win the Lawn of the Week anytime soon.
Minute Maid Park opened as The Ballpark at Union Station in 2000. NRG Stadium debuted as Reliant Stadium in 2002. Toyota Center opened in 2003, which perhaps is why it didn’t make the list. It’s not 20 years old yet.
The thing is, all three of the venues are in excellent condition. It’s like the saying, if you stay in shape, you never need to get in shape. I visit them regularly and don’t see dire need for major updates, certainly not $100 million worth, which would start a heated debate in Houston – who’s going to pay for the improvements? Please, not the taxpayers. If Floyd the Barber wants more luxury suites, he can foot the bill himself. The Texans are worth $4.7 billion. Enough already.
I’m glad I live in a city with professional baseball and football and basketball teams, and we have beautiful homes for them. I've heard it from several Astros front office people - owner Jim Crane is a clean freak. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is all about the hospitality industry. Our facilities compare favorably with other cities. All three of ours are better than all three (four) of New York's. Madison Square Garden would be the "before" and Toyota Center the "after" on Fixer Upper.
I put together a list: my favorite sports and non-sports experiences at Houston venues. What are yours?
Minute Maid Park
Favorite sports moment: The 2005 World Series ended with Astros pinch hitter Orlando Palmeiro grounding out to complete the White Sox 4-0 sweep. The official World Series video captures the throw from short to first. I was sitting behind first. I’m in the video. Silver lining.
Favorite non-sports moment: I caught my one and only foul ball at Minute Maid Park. Sort of. I was sitting in the fifth or sixth row behind first base. A foul ball landed in the photographers’ pit. Announcer Greg Lucas picked up the ball, pointed to a little girl sitting a couple of rows behind me and unleashed a really weenie throw. It would have beaned me if I didn’t catch it. What to do now? If I kept it, I’d be the most horrible person of all time. I gave the ball to the girl. But I promise, if I ever catch a foul ball fair and square, even if I’m sitting in a group of children who just got out of the hospital, I’m keeping it.
Toyota Center
Favorite sports moment: I was in the stands for the Rockets first game at their gleaming palace on Oct. 30, 2003. The Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets, 102-85. Cuttino Mobley scored 21 points to lead the Rockets. Yao Ming chipped in 19. To show you how the NBA game has changed, the Rockets made four of seven 3-pointers that night. These days, the Rockets jock up that many 3-pointers during the national anthem.
Favorite non-sports moment: I was there for Paul McCartney’s 37-song, 3-hour concert on Nov. 19, 2005. He did Yesterday, maybe the biggest pop song ever and one he no longer performs. It was like watching Leonardo da Vinci paint the Mona Lisa.
NRG Stadium
Favorite sports moment: I had a Sherpa guide me to the press box for the Houston Texans’ first exhibition game on Aug. 24, 2002. The Dolphins won, 24-3, in front of 69,432 fans.
Favorite non-sports moment: I was there for the stadium’s first big concert, the Rolling Stones on Jan. 25, 2003. I was in the eighth row – on Keith Richards’ side of the stage. Their opening song was Brown Sugar, which they no longer perform because of racial connotations. They closed the show with Satisfaction.
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Dec 13, 2024, 8:31 pm
Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3.
Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2.
Series record: Texans lead 8-3.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami.
Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1.
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23).
Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14).
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11).
Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10.
Dolphins player to watch
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game.
Key injuries
Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday… LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. … WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. … Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. … DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Series notes
Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. … Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. … The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. … These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal.
Stats and stuff
Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. … K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. … TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. … Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. … The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. … Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. … The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. … Their 42 sacks also rank second. … WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. … TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. … LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. … DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. … DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. … LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. … CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. … CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. … S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season.