SUMMER ON THE PITCH

A one of a kind workout at Sphere


Sphere is here to change the game. Sphere is a soccer-inspired concept designed by Michael Chabala, former Dynamo soccer player. His focus is on the quality of play, rather than minutes on the field, connecting people, and doing more with a ball than just scoring goals.

I've heard about Sphere for some time now and would often see people wearing the shirts. I finally decided it was time to check them out. When I first walked into Sphere, I was a little nervous. It had been a while since I played soccer. But good thing about the class, no soccer skill was required, and everyone was super friendly and welcoming. People were introducing themselves to me and my friend. It was then that I realized each class is focused on teamwork and making friends on and off the pitch. Sphere believes this is where players become friends, friends become teammates, and teammates become family.

The class was awesome. My friend and I took a "45" class. It was a great combination of working the entire body, especially abs and cardio. The class is definitely one of a kind. It was such a cool atmosphere on the pitch, they lower the lights, and blast the music. It's a party in the room for sure! Your workout is coordinated with the beats of the music. The instructors are so passionate, they make you feel that you want to work out hard. The class was a combination of body weight exercises, using a small resistance band, cardio, and abs. If you're looking for a great new way to work out, this is it. My friend and I were army crawling at one point, but by the end of the class we were dripping sweat, high-fiving all of our teammates, and feeling great!

There are several different classes to choose from. So, whether you are the avid soccer player, or don't play soccer at all, there is a class for everyone. Be sure to go to https://www.sphere.club/ , to check out the schedule of classes and times.

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A new hotel is in the works near Minute Maid. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Astros owner Jim Crane says the team is ready to break ground on a major construction project that will include a hotel and entertainment complex across the street from Minute Maid Park as soon as the 2023 baseball season wraps up – hopefully with another World Series parade in downtown Houston.

AstrosWorld!

But another hotel? Another entertainment complex? More construction downtown? My first reaction was, how much more does Houston need? I remember when the Super Bowl was held in Houston in 2004, clubs and restaurants sprung up downtown practically overnight, only to disappear virtually the morning after. When it came to downtown development, the expression “less is more” turned out true. At least that Super Bowl.

I asked my contacts in government and the Houston welcome wagon, is this a good idea, building a hotel and entertainment complex next door to Minute Maid Park? Do we need it? Can we sustain it?

The answer every time was a resounding yes! For a couple of reasons: first, downtown Houston, coming out of Covid, is booming, leadership is creative and budget-minded these days, and most important, if Jim Crane is behind the idea, you can trust it’ll work. The guy’s got a track record.

“In 2004, the idea was to turn downtown’s Main Street into Bourbon Street. Is that what we really want? It was a misguided plan, the wrong philosophy, and businesses opened and closed in short order,” a source told me.

It was a different story when the Super Bowl returned to Houston in 2017. This time Houston saw the Marriott Marquis, a 1,000-room hotel complete with an iconic Texas-shaped swimming pool, open in time for the tourist onslaught. Also, Avenida Houston greeted downtown visitors with new restaurants and entertainment venues. Both the Marriott and Avenida Houston have continued to thrive long after the Super Bowl left town.

“We want our downtown to attract visitors while providing services for the growing number of singles and families who are making their home downtown. As we continue to host major events and conventions, there will be a need for more hotel rooms,” the source said.

The Astros’ plan to build a sprawling hotel and entertainment complex originally was discussed in 2021 but was put on hold due to Covid. Now Crane and the Astros are ready to come out swinging. Similar complexes operate successfully next to the baseball stadium in St. Louis, Chicago and other cities.

An Astros-themed hotel adjacent to Minute Maid Park is particularly intriguing. The lobby could be home to an Astros museum and team Hall of Fame. Rooms and restaurants could be decorated in honor of Astros legends – the “Nolan Ryan honeymoon suite,” or “Strech Suba’s Bullpen Bar and Grille.” There could be meeting space for autograph and memorabilia shows. There could be a broadcast facility for post-game interviews and analysis. And maybe one day, fingers crossed, a betting parlor like the Cubs have at Wrigley Field.

The Astros have a contract to play at Minute Maid Park through 2050 – the only long-term contract that doesn’t make Crane cringe. Anything that enhances the fan experience and generates revenue is good for the team and the city. I might even consider going downtown on non-game nights.

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