Learn how HCHSA is Realizing Houston's Fields of Dreams

October 24th, 2003

William F.“Billy”Burge, III
chairman of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority

Missions Accomplished

Your Harris County-Houston Sports Authority has financed and built three state-of-the-art sports facilities that benefit every resident of Harris County and Houston in concrete ways.

Fulfilling the Mandate. Since its creation by the Texas Legislature in 1997, the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority has successfully overseen the construction of three state-of-the-art sports venues – but throughout the entire process that officially began with your vote in 1996, we have been your team. When you said build, we’ve worked hard to hold the teams and contractors to the terms they accept. When you have told us to go back to the negotiating table and strike a better deal, we’ve done that, too.

Productive Partnership. Working closely with the Astros, your Sports Authority has helped to deliver Minute Maid Park on time and on budget. Next, thanks to the leadership of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation, Reliant Stadium met its Fall 2002 opening kick-off date on budget. Finally, completing one of the most ambitious three-point plays in sports history, we collaborated with the Rockets/Comets organization to finish Toyota Center and offer area residents yet another dynamic downtown destination.

Setting the Standard. When it opened in 1965, the Astrodome was dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world”. It was a stadium ahead of its time, and a prime example of the Houston can-do spirit. Progress demands change, however, and with Minute Maid Park, Reliant Stadium, and Toyota Center area residents can be satisfied that Houston has once again set the standards by which other stadium projects can be measured.

Toyota Center

The latest venue to join what is truly an all-star line-up,Toyota Center has enabled Houston to:

• secure professional basketball’s future here in Houston for the next
  30 years;
• continue the tradition of Aero’s championship hockey and enhance
  our prospects for bringing a National Hockey League team to
  the area;
• create thousands of new jobs for Houstonians;
• bring tens of thousands of new visitors and millions of dollars
  in new convention business to Houston every year; and
• continue the downtown revitalization effort already underway.

Savings/Earnings Add Up. In financing and building Toyota Center, your Sports Authority worked quickly and effectively to acquire the property for the Toyota Center and the Toyota Tundra Garage, and also gained the city (a) a percentage of the arena naming rights, (b) 20 rent-free dates in the arena, and (c) a marketing suite – all worth more than $1.4 million annually in cash and direct value.

Downtown Revitalization. The 200 downtown event nights Toyota Center will host compliment the incredible downtown renewal lready anchored by Minute Maid Park, Bayou Place, and the Theater District. More and more businesses are relocating downtown, and a recent study expects Houston’s downtown population to quadruple by 2010.

Boosting Our Image. A 1998 study found that most Houstonians linked the Rockets, 1994 and 1995 NBA Champions, and the Comets, 1997-2000 WNBA Champions, with the city’s winning self-image as “Clutch City.” Other findings included:

• 82% said someone in their household watched the Rockets on television.
• 83% thought the Rockets’ and Comets’ championships were important for Houston’s general image.
• More than 60% said the Rockets and Comets’ successes gave them personal satisfaction.

Minute Maid Park

Beacon of Opportunity. Since the Astros moved into Minute Maid Park, local businesses, restaurant owners, and developers – to say nothing of downtown workers and new residents – have also made themselves right at home. Dozens of new development projects have pumped well over a billion dollars into the area surrounding the ballpark. Not bad for an area that used to be occupied by an abandoned railroad station, industrial facilities, and corrugated metal buildings

Quality of Life. Today, we see a better quality of life coming back to the old Society Hill area – safer streets, a glittering nightlife, and a new sense of energy. Just as the opening of Colt .45 Stadium in 1962 persuaded some major hotel chains to drop their whites-only policies 10 days before the season opener – so visiting players and other guests of all races could stay there – so too has Minute Maid Park had an impact far beyond the retractable roof and the 433-foot center field fence sitting atop Tal’s Hill.

Carrying on Tradition. Minute Maid Park is a place where Houstonians from all walks of life can gather to engage in one of the few things we’ve been doing longer here than pumping oil – which is watching baseball!

Reliant Stadium

Benefiting Youth. The Rodeo, one of the city’s most influential organizations, has “benefited youth and supported education” as their motto indicates, while entertaining countless Houstonians and visitors from around the world. More than the world’s largest livestock exhibition, the Rodeo is also one of the largest volunteer organizations – with more than 13,000 volunteers serving on 88 committees – and has provided over $80 million in scholarships and other assistance since 1957.

Bust to Boom. Bob McNair and the Texans have already engineered one of the great comebacks in NFL history. Pro football is back in Houston. This has always been a boomtown so it shouldn’t be surprising that, less than a decade after the Oilers’ left town in 1996, Houston and Reliant Stadium were chosen to host the premier sporting event in the world, Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004

The Best Fan Experience. Reliant Stadium offers rodeo, football, soccer and music fans:

• NFL football played on real grass, the way it was meant to be.
• The ability to enjoy cover and air conditioning during hot or bad weather conditions, and an open-air atmosphere when better weather permits.
• All seating sections are pulled as tight to the field as possible, with the suites almost 70 feet closer to the action than the Reliant Astrodome.
• The concession and restroom amenities and concourses offer the latest in modern standards.

Part of the Team. From the beginning, the Sports Authority worked hand in glove with the Texans, the Rodeo and Harris County officials to help our city put its best foot forward – and present the best proposal for securing the first NFL expansion of the new century.

Missions Ahead

In 1997 the Texas Legislature created the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority to be a “sports and community venue district,” which is why we have always said what we do is about “MORE THAN SPORTS.”

Voters Callthe Plays. In helping to spur Houston’s economic revitalization and restore it as one of the leading cities for professional sports in the world, your Sports Authority staff and its all-volunteer board have worked hard to balance the needs of the various teams, the city, the county, the rodeo, the business community and, above all, the fans and citizens from all walks of life. Through it all, we have remained mindful that the original vision and courage to pursue this remarkable overhaul came from area voters. 

Filling Seats. Beyond our work to help develop these venues, the Sports Authority is uniquely positioned to serve as a conduit between the myriad of sports interests and the broader community in ways that benefit the common good. Working with the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, for example, we not only can help fill these venues we helped build but we can also help Houston attract new and exciting sporting events that create new revenue streams. 

More than Sports. As the Authority’s motto suggests, what we do involves “more than sports.” Clearly, most area citizens associate us with the new sports and entertainment venues. But for us, the word community is equally as important. For example, the Sports Authority has fought hard to ensure that every local contractor has a fair shot at becoming part of the construction team. In fact, collectively almost 30% of construction dollars were awarded to minority contractors – proving the point that these new stadiums can truly be characterized as “community venues.” 

Future. Any community that wants to compete with other cities – and attract new businesses, new residents, and new visitors – must offer an appealing quality of life. As Houston grows, the Sports Authority will remain true to its mission of meeting the region’s growing sports and entertainment needs in ways that benefit the entire community.