j_cuevas713 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Even though some of the "best" performers sounded their WORST over the weekend, ALICIA KEYS, NEYO, JOHN LEGEND! Our city, HOUSTON, did a great job hosting the event. I applaud our city for their great efforts. The national media couldnt help but say great things about the Bayou City. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 This has got to help Houston's chances of landing the Super Bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Would love to see links to national coverage of the city if anybody can turn them up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I've been searching for those but haven't found any yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
102IAHexpress Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Why start the Rodeo after the All Star game? Was it a blown opportunity not to host both at the same time? Why not have Lebron James be the grand marshal of the Rodeo Parade instead of the coach of the Aggies? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Why start the Rodeo after the All Star game? Was it a blown opportunity not to host both at the same time? Why not have Lebron James be the grand marshal of the Rodeo Parade instead of the coach of the Aggies? I imagine the dates simply didn't line up, but there also might be an issue of adequate hotels rooms in the city to handle both at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
102IAHexpress Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I thought so. But if we cant handle the first weekend of the rodeo and the all star game at the same time, then can we seriously handle bigger events like the Olympics? I would have liked to at least try the Rodeo and All Star game at the same time, so we could apply lessons learned to an olympic bid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 No Olympics. Sorry, but I am putting my foot down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I thought so. But if we cant handle the first weekend of the rodeo and the all star game at the same time, then can we seriously handle bigger events like the Olympics? I would have liked to at least try the Rodeo and All Star game at the same time, so we could apply lessons learned to an olympic bid... No Olympics. Sorry, but I am putting my foot down. I have to agree. I don't see an Olympic bid. The lack of hotel rooms, the summer heat and humidity, and the incredibly high costs are just a few of the reasons... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Aside from not being ideal from the Olympic Committee's point of view, it would leave us saddled with a lot of debt, and facilities that we would have a hard time repurposing. Just Google "abandoned Olympic venues" and get a look at all the decay around the world in former Olympic cities. We have enough problems puzzling over what to do with the Astrodome. Imagine having venues like that all over town that we don't want to tear down and "waste", but can't figure out what to do with. No thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 (edited) I have to agree. I don't see an Olympic bid. The lack of hotel rooms, the summer heat and humidity, and the incredibly high costs are just a few of the reasons... Lack of hotel rooms? What are you talking about? The Olympics say they require 45,000 rooms. There are 54,000 rooms within the city limits of Houston, not including the rest of the metropolitan area. With easily another 15-20,000 in the suburbs. Summer heat and humidity can be addressed by having the Olympics in late September/October. Incredibly high cost is a legitimate concern. Edited February 26, 2013 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 What 19514 said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Aside from not being ideal from the Olympic Committee's point of view, it would leave us saddled with a lot of debt, and facilities that we would have a hard time repurposing. Just Google "abandoned Olympic venues" and get a look at all the decay around the world in former Olympic cities. We have enough problems puzzling over what to do with the Astrodome. Imagine having venues like that all over town that we don't want to tear down and "waste", but can't figure out what to do with. No thanks! Actually, our 2012 Olympic bid did not involve building all that many additional facilities all over town. A bid for the 2024 Olympics should not be much different in that respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Lack of hotel rooms? What are you talking about? The Olympics say they require 45,000 rooms. There are 54,000 rooms within the city limits of Houston, not including the rest of the metropolitan area. With easily another 15-20,000 in the suburbs. Summer heat and humidity can be addressed by having the Olympics in late September/October. Incredibly high cost is a legitimate concern. I think there is a caveat that the hotel rooms be of a certain star rating or higher (either 3 or 4, not sure). I think in our last bid there was a plan for docking multiple cruise ships here. I would agree we might think about considering it if they would allow an October Olympics but I have heard that they will not. For some reason they insist on July or August. Yes, the majority of the events are indoors, but most attendees are walking around outside between venues during the day. Even natives don't enjoy our summers - do we really want the whole world and its journalists here complaining notstop about the heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms? What's our upside? Then there's the risk of peak hurricane season... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I thought so. But if we cant handle the first weekend of the rodeo and the all star game at the same time, then can we seriously handle bigger events like the Olympics? I would have liked to at least try the Rodeo and All Star game at the same time, so we could apply lessons learned to an olympic bid... There is no reason to think we could not handle the Rodeo and All Star game at the same time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 (edited) I think there is a caveat that the hotel rooms be of a certain star rating or higher (either 3 or 4, not sure). I think in our last bid there was a plan for docking multiple cruise ships here. I would agree we might think about considering it if they would allow an October Olympics but I have heard that they will not. For some reason they insist on July or August. Yes, the majority of the events are indoors, but most attendees are walking around outside between venues during the day. Even natives don't enjoy our summers - do we really want the whole world and its journalists here complaining notstop about the heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms? What's our upside? Then there's the risk of peak hurricane season... Yes, we did offer cruise ships as part of the 2012 bid. With the addition of cruise ship capacity, we offered over 83,000 rooms - roughly 65,000 hotel rooms and 18,000 cruise ship rooms. We've added a lot of additional hotel rooms in the Houston metro area since 2002, when the 2012 bid was prepared, with a lot more to come before 2024. We clearly have no shortage of hotel rooms for the Olympics, especially considering the ability to dock cruise ships for additional rooms. You seem to be basing your comments entirely on things you "have heard" or "think" might exist. I thought you usually maintained higher standards. Perhaps their rules (such as they are) have changed, but they have held the summer Olympics in October in the past. Edited February 26, 2013 by Houston19514 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Actually, our 2012 Olympic bid did not involve building all that many additional facilities all over town. A bid for the 2024 Olympics should not be much different in that respect. Exactly. We already have the following; Reliant StadiumReliant ArenaMinute Maid FieldToyota CenterBBVA StadiumRice StadiumAutry Court/Tudor FieldhouseReckling FieldRice Track StadiumUH new football stadiumHofheinz PavilionUH Softball stadiumUH Swimming + Diving Rec CenterTSU's arenaGRB (could easily host table tennis, etc...) The Astrodome could easily be turned in to the world's best track venue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 ^ Exactly. The more I look at the 2012 bid, the more I think maybe we should give it another shot! http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CEIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Faction.roadshowmedia.com%2Fhouston2012%2FDocuments%2FHouston2012-Bid-Summary-June-2002.pdf&ei=PxstUaKtNsrq2AWGsIH4BQ&usg=AFQjCNHhRx4tJyUvQcJnpPYN3FgDCgHKtA&bvm=bv.42965579,d.b2I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 This is still the NBA All-Star Game thread right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livincinco Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 ^ Exactly. The more I look at the 2012 bid, the more I think maybe we should give it another shot!I think that it's a great opportunity to jump start certain infrastructure projects. Almost every city spends a lot of money for the Olympics, I happen to think that Houston could spend that money wisely. For those that are concerned about lack of rail infrastructure, this would create a fixed deadline to getting that infrastructure in place because I don't think that there's any question about whether the capability exists to build these things, it's whether the political will exists.In terms of venues though, one big concern is where the track and field events would be hosted. The 2012 bid had them in the Astrodome. My understanding is that Reliant Stadium can't be configured for track. Since its questionable that the Astrodome could do that at this point, it could create the requirement to build a stadium that would be pretty much unnecessary after the games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClutchCity Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I think that it's a great opportunity to jump start certain infrastructure projects. Almost every city spends a lot of money for the Olympics, I happen to think that Houston could spend that money wisely. For those that are concerned about lack of rail infrastructure, this would create a fixed deadline to getting that infrastructure in place because I don't think that there's any question about whether the capability exists to build these things, it's whether the political will exists.In terms of venues though, one big concern is where the track and field events would be hosted. The 2012 bid had them in the Astrodome. My understanding is that Reliant Stadium can't be configured for track. Since its questionable that the Astrodome could do that at this point, it could create the requirement to build a stadium that would be pretty much unnecessary after the games. If neither Reliant Stadium or the Astrodome could be used for Track and Field what about BBVA Compass? With all the stadiums we have ONE of them has to be able to fit in a track? Right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 (edited) You seem to be basing your comments entirely on things you "have heard" or "think" might exist. I thought you usually maintained higher standards. Perhaps their rules (such as they are) have changed, but they have held the summer Olympics in October in the past. I read a *lot* of stuff, but unfortunately my brain doesn't maintain a bibliography... ;-) I think the only summer exception they made was Sydney because it is in the southern hemisphere where the seasons are reversed, so they got to have it in the last half of September. If they pre-agree to an October date before we invest millions in a bid, then by all means, let's give it serious consideration. Edited February 26, 2013 by ToryGattis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClutchCity Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 An October Olympics would also coincide with the Ren Fair. Then the reporters would never complain about the weather, just about how disgusting our 300 lb citizens are in their chain mail bikinis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I read a *lot* of stuff, but unfortunately my brain doesn't maintain a bibliography... ;-) I think the only summer exception they made was Sydney because it is in the southern hemisphere where the seasons are reversed, so they got to have it in the last half of September. If they pre-agree to an October date before we invest millions in a bid, then by all means, let's give it serious consideration. Mexico City was in October. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToryGattis Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Mexico City was in October. Nice precedent for us! Gets us pretty much out of hurricane season too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Stonian Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Ohhhhkay - Back to All-Star Weekend I had a lovely time visiting my hometown that weekend and the weather was absolutely spectacular. A friend traveling with me commented she thought Houston was always hot & humid. Surprise, Thursday-Sunday it was nice and cool, & not a cloud in the sky! I really wish I would have Tivo'd the game including pre-game coverage because the shots of downtown were the best I've ever seen of Houston. Downtown looked so alive with lighting and the shots of the skyline a night!! BG Group Place really stood out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 At least we'd have a forced updating of badly needed infrastructure, like MASS TRANSIT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckdee Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Olympics in Houston? Interesting.... _____________________"I've had many problems in my life, most of which were imagined." - Mark TwainChuck Dee - AKA Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.