The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, October 4, 1996 Page: 17 of 20
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T77
Sports_
THE R
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1996
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Now that Nolan Ryan has en-
dorsed the proposed downtown
baseball stadium, it is as good as
built.
• All that is left is for voters, to
approve it as well as some action by
the Texas Legislature.
Many people believe that money
should go to other causes such as
schools or transportation.
Personally, 1 am not sure, but for
the purpose of this article I am as-
suming t hat in a few years I he Astros
will be playing downtown.
Before I go any further, let me
summarize what has happened so
far.
A few years ago the owner of the
Houston toilers, Bud Adams, asked
the city for a new stadium. Since the
Oilers really stunk that year, and no
one liked Bud, it wasn't given a sec-
ond thought. The Oilers are now on
their way to Tennessee,
Both the Astros and the Rockets
have also been clamoring for new
places to play. Since they are both
good (relative to the Oilers) and
they are not able to be profitable in
their existing arenas, the city took
them seriously. The Summit and
Astrodome were built in an era with-
out luxury-box revenue and multi-
million dollar player contracts.
The argument for a new arena
does have some merit, as the Rock-
ets almost always sell out the under-
sized Summit,
However, most people have a
hard time understanding what is
wrong with the Astrodome. There is
nothing wrong with it except for the
fact that it is not profitable for a
baseball team to play there. %
Lately, a few new factors have
been thrown into the mix. City busi-
ness leaders have begun to get in-
volved trying to get a stadium/arena
complex built downtown as part of a
revitalization project. Also, Houston
has applied for a National Hockey
League expansion franchise. This
would add another tenant for a new
arena.
For good measure throw in Texas
2008, the group trying to bring the
2008 Olympics to Texas, and the
mid-term plan to apply for an NFL
expansion franchise to rep Wee the
Oilers.
Hie overall cost of the proposed
retractable roof baseball-onlv sta
dium has risen to!>2t>r> million and is
holding steady.
The cost will be split between the
city and the Astros, with Houston
area businesses making a small con-
tribution. •
Well; now that the situation is
clear—or at least a little less confus-
ing — t here are some questions that
come up.
Will the stadium revitalize
downtown?
You always hear the same argu-
ment, I,ook at Baltimore and Cleve-
land. New ballparks revitalized
downtown areas, Houston's down-
town is already.making a recovery,
and a new sports facilities would
.speed up the process.
I have a problem with this argu-
ment. Looking at Baltimore and
Cleveland in more detail reveals
some important differences.
Baltimore's Camden Yards is but
a part of the revitalization of their
downtown.
" Within easy walking distance
from the ballpark are a museum, an
aquarium, shopping and restaurants.
All of these border a beautiful har-
bor You can spend an entire day in
the area.
Cleveland's new ballpark, Jacobs
Field, is also surrounded by other
attractions. They have the Rock 'n'
Roll Hall of Fame, a brand-new arena
next door, mass transit and a
plethora of hotels and shopping
malls.
Getting to the point, the stadium
is just part of the attraction that has
revitalized the downtown area.
Houston's proposed downtown sites
don't have any of these.
The theater district is close, but
the museums are a few miles to the
south.
Downtown shopping is few and
far between and almost nonexistent
on the weekends.
The lack of hotel space has been
an issue ever since the George R
Brown Convention Center was built.
Mass transit? Not in Houston.
Parking is sure to be a major issue.
Before construction begins on
the new stadium, a comprehensive
revitqjization plan for the downtown
area must be developed. It should
include development similar to San
Antonio's Riverwalk along the Bayou
near the theater district.
Efforts must continue to bring
residents to the area. Redevelop-
ment of the Rice Hotel and Herman
Lofts are a step in the right direc-
tion.
Plans for mass transit must be
included. Although Houstonianswill
never approve any sort of rail sys-
tem, the entire city would benefit if
. one Were implemented.
Imagine if rail lines were built
lining all of the cities major roads
and highways.'"'
Going downtown wouldn't be so
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Student Center. Grand Hall
WM
ill
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.^eacST- ST.
LE^Binn
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U/HflT? The -JRice Gay and Lesbian Alumni will award a $1000
scholarship for the 1996*97 academic year.
U/HY7 The Rice Gay and Lesbian Alumni Scholarship is designed to
encourage and reward service to the lesbian jijjd gay community, both oil
campus and in the community at large.
\JU HEH7 The deadline for scholarship applications is October 11, l(>96
Scholarship winners will be publicly announced in early November 1996.
V//H07 The scholarship is open to all Rice University students, without
regard to race, gender, color, ethnicity, age, national origin, disability, or
sexual orientation. Scholarships will be awarded on. the basis of service to
the lesbian and gay community, both on and off campus. Student's can
qualify" lor a scholarship through a wide range of activities, including
participation in groups and organizations, scholarly research, and personal
involvement in issues of concern to the lesbian and gay community.
Academic achievement will also be considered in the award of scholarships.
•
•
HOKU7 Lor an application, contact Sarah Nelson Crawford, Student
Activities Office, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005-
1892 or Neal Tannahill, Rice GALA Scholarship Committee Chair, 2024
Welch, Houston, Texas 77019.
For more information, call Neal Tannahill at 5-26-6718.
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Beard, Marty & Rao, Vivek. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, October 4, 1996, newspaper, October 4, 1996; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth246548/m1/17/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.