Texans offer use of Reliant to the saints

[jksmith269]

This is a real class act by the Texans and their owners IMO....

Extending a hand
Reliant Park officials offer use of stadium to Saints
Posted: Wednesday August 31, 2005 12:12AM; Updated: Wednesday August 31, 2005 12:27AM


The Saints are scheduled to play their home opener Sept. 18, but damage to the Superdome may make it impossible.
AP

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Texans' stadium could be used for the New Orleans Saints' home opener if the hurricane-damaged Louisiana Superdome isn't available, stadium president and general manager Shea Guinn said Tuesday.

Guinn offered Reliant Park as an option to the NFL, but hasn't heard back from the league.

The Saints are supposed to play their home opener Sept. 18, the same date the Texans play the Pittsburgh Steelers at home.

"It would be a heck of a lot of work and a challenge but the circumstances are extraordinary. We would do everything we can to help," Guinn told Houston television station KRIV.

Tens of thousands of refugees from Hurricane Katrina have been staying at the Superdome, but officials said Tuesday they would have to evacuate as flood water continues to rise.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

25,000 Refugees are gonna be taken to the Astrodome. Good to see Houston helping out. Now i wonder if the Saint games will be full price?

 

[Rack]

Why not just use the Alamodome? It's there, it's a football stadium... might as well use it.

 

[joseephuss]

Why not just use the Alamodome? It's there, it's a football stadium... might as well use it.

And they will using the Alamodome next week for their practices, right? At least that is what I thought I heard.

 

[jksmith269]

I really don't care where they play I just thought it was a awesome jesture the Texans did. How many other NFL teams offered their stadiums?

I mean instead of responses like that is really cool or man that's a nice offer we get responses like why not the alamadome. Who the hell knows. I'm trying to point out a ray of light a helping hand and you want to ask why not here or there instead of looking at the offer like it should be....

 

[Doomsday101]

I really don't care where they play I just thought it was a awesome jesture the Texans did. How many other NFL teams offered their stadiums?

I mean instead of responses like that is really cool or man that's a nice offer we get responses like why not the alamadome. Who the hell knows. I'm trying to point out a ray of light a helping hand and you want to ask why not here or there instead of looking at the offer like it should be....

I had not heard that the the saints were going to use reliant I did know we were going to let the people in New Orleans use the Astrodome to house people. Those of us on the Gulf Coast have to stick together because the storm that hit LA and Miss could have easily happened here in Houston.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Buses prepared to bring Superdome refugees to Astrodome

NEW ORLEANS — As water continued to rise in New Orleans and Army engineers struggled to plug breached levees with giant sandbags and concrete barriers, Texas officials have worked out a plan to bring up to 23,000 refugees from the Superdome to Houston's Astrodome.



The Houston Chronicle has learned hurricane refugees trapped in the Superdome and elsewhere will come to the 40-year-old Astrodome in over 400 buses under plans being put together by state and local officials.

"It will be a noble calling for the grand lady at this time in her career,'' said Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. "We'll have a group of people who are tired, who are frustrated, who are scared and who have been through a tremendous tragedy.''

The governor's office has been told the Astrodome's events schedule has been cleared through December, but Eckels said officials are not expecting to keep refugees in the stadium very long.

"I'm thinking in terms of days, maybe weeks,'' he said.

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said the evacuation to Houston is to begin right away, with the first refugees arriving tonight and the last within 48 hours. The Superdome, however, is surrounded by about 4 feet of water, and authorities are trying to find a way to get the Superdome's refugees to buses without having to walk through deep water.

The situation inside the Superdome, Blanco said, is desperate. There is no electricity, no air conditioning and the toilets cannot be flushed. One man either fell or jumped to his death inside the facility several days ago. The Astrodome's air-conditioning and plumbing -- along with extra portable toilets coming from FEMA -- will be an upgrade for New Orleans refugees.

"This is going to help us immensely,'' Blanco said.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/3332869

and from another chronicle article about the effect on Lousiana sports, from high school to the NFL.

An NFL spokesman said Tuesday that the league was evaluating the Saints' situation. As officials assess the damage to the Louisiana Superdome, the Texans offered the Saints use of Reliant Park for practices and Reliant Stadium for the team's home opener this month against the Giants.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3332627

 

[Yeagermeister]

I really don't care where they play I just thought it was a awesome jesture the Texans did. How many other NFL teams offered their stadiums?

Bud Adams wouldn't have if he was still in Houston.

 

[Rack]

Is there a problem with me askign "Why not the alamodome"? Did it really bother you that much? And geographically (sp?) speaking, it makes sense for the Texans to offer their stadium, don't you think?

 

[calico]

Good to see the Astrodome used for something good right now. It would really be something to see a double header football game in one day.

 

[jksmith269]

Is there a problem with me askign "Why not the alamodome"? Did it really bother you that much? And geographically (sp?) speaking, it makes sense for the Texans to offer their stadium, don't you think?

Yeah it makes perfect sense for them to offer their stadium on a day they have a home game as well. I'm sure that will be an easy thing to pull off. It would be easier for them to play in Dallas with us not playing until the 19th, or elsewhere. the NFL can't tell the texans to let them play there it was a awesome jesture by the texans owners to let the saints play there they didn't have to considering they have a home game the same day but they did.

Actually it did bother me. Reminded me of my kid (8) yesterday watching the news and them saying they didn't know when the kids there would be able to go to school and he said "I wish I live there" He's now on restriction and all his allowance he's saved up is going to the red cross in the relief effort.

Did you even read the article.

 

[Doomsday101]

Bud Adams wouldn't have if he was still in Houston.

Bud never owned the Astrodome, Harris County does. We are not sure what will become of the Astrodome but there are many different plans out there to put the old stadium in use.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Actually it did bother me. Reminded me of my kid (8) yesterday watching the news and them saying they didn't know when the kids there would be able to go to school and he said "I wish I live there" He's now on restriction and all his allowance he's saved up is going to the red cross in the relief effort.

Poor kid. Man you're harsh. Take it easy on the kid sure he didn’t mean it.

 

[joseephuss]

Yeah it makes perfect sense for them to offer their stadium on a day they have a home game as well. I'm sure that will be an easy thing to pull off. It would be easier for them to play in Dallas with us not playing until the 19th, or elsewhere. the NFL can't tell the texans to let them play there it was a awesome jesture by the texans owners to let the saints play there they didn't have to considering they have a home game the same day but they did.

Actually it did bother me. Reminded me of my kid (8) yesterday watching the news and them saying they didn't know when the kids there would be able to go to school and he said "I wish I live there" He's now on restriction and all his allowance he's saved up is going to the red cross in the relief effort.

Did you even read the article.

Rack's initial response wasn't the same as your kids. And just because he or anyone doesn't post that it is such a great gesture by Houston, doesn't mean that don't actually feel it and appreciate it. It is a very admirable offer. That aside, it makes some sense to use the Alamodome or as I heard on ESPN radio, Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Heck, Houston still has 70,000 seat Rice Stadium. There are several options and any offer will be something to admire.

 

[kmp77]

Actually it did bother me. Reminded me of my kid (8) yesterday watching the news and them saying they didn't know when the kids there would be able to go to school and he said "I wish I live there" He's now on restriction and all his allowance he's saved up is going to the red cross in the relief effort.

Wow, good move man. That will be a good lesson for him...hopefully.

 

[Kittymama]

News reports are saying that the folks in the Superdome will be evacuated to the Astrodome. And that the mayor of N.O. is now saying hundreds, or even thousands, dead. (Not even counting all the other communities that haven't been heard from yet.)

Let's keep all those poor people in our thoughts & prayers.

 

[Spontae]

Hey folks. Some know me here a little better than others, as I do not post as often as I would like. Prior to Sunday, I lived in New Orleans since 1994. When I evacuated with my wife, two great danes and cat on Sunday morning, we all hoped we could return in a day or two after the hurricane passed, as had happened many times before. Sadly, after the utter and complete devastation caused by Katrina, there is nothing to which we can return. Our home in Arabi was completely destroyed and is under 8 feet of water, along with the rest of St. Bernard Parish, which is located immediately southeast of the French Quarter and lower 9th ward. The media has not shown much of this devastation because they cannot get in to St. Bernard, but some who are stranded with cell phones have called out and relayed the dismal conditions. This is all to say that New Orleans, as I knew it and anyone else who visited and lived there knew it, may NEVER recover. The reason I say this is that the surrounding suburbs of St. Bernard, Jefferson, Metairie, Kenner and Gretna supported that city with workers and wages and taxes. The homes of the citizens of most of those outlying suburbs are gone or flooded out to such a degree that recovery or rebuilding may simply prove unfeasible (and I am trying to be optimistic). If this proves true, the New Orleans greater metro area will be a shadow of its former self, unable to sustain normal business, let alone the Saints, the Hornets, the Zephyrs, etc. I pray this will not happen but cannot ignore what I see and know. God help us.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

That is harsh taking coin from an eight year old who said nothing different from what any eight year old would say.

Anyway, seems to me that the offer was an empty one since you can't play two games on one day in the same stadium.

 

[Cbz40]

Hey folks. Some know me here a little better than others, as I do not post as often as I would like. Prior to Sunday, I lived in New Orleans since 1994. When I evacuated with my wife, two great danes and cat on Sunday morning, we all hoped we could return in a day or two after the hurricane passed, as had happened many times before. Sadly, after the utter and complete devastation caused by Katrina, there is nothing to which we can return. Our home in Arabi was completely destroyed and is under 8 feet of water, along with the rest of St. Bernard Parish, which is located immediately southeast of the French Quarter and lower 9th ward. The media has not shown much of this devastation because they cannot get in to St. Bernard, but some who are stranded with cell phones have called out and relayed the dismal conditions. This is all to say that New Orleans, as I knew it and anyone else who visited and lived there knew it, may NEVER recover. The reason I say this is that the surrounding suburbs of St. Bernard, Jefferson, Metairie, Kenner and Gretna supported that city with workers and wages and taxes. The homes of the citizens of most of those outlying suburbs are gone or flooded out to such a degree that recovery or rebuilding may simply prove unfeasible (and I am trying to be optimistic). If this proves true, the New Orleans greater metro area will be a shadow of its former self, unable to sustain normal business, let alone the Saints, the Hornets, the Zephyrs, etc. I pray this will not happen but cannot ignore what I see and know. God help us.

Spontae good buddy my thoughts and prayers are with you....Best of luck my friend.

 

[Draegerman]

Hey folks. Some know me here a little better than others, as I do not post as often as I would like. Prior to Sunday, I lived in New Orleans since 1994. When I evacuated with my wife, two great danes and cat on Sunday morning, we all hoped we could return in a day or two after the hurricane passed, as had happened many times before. Sadly, after the utter and complete devastation caused by Katrina, there is nothing to which we can return. Our home in Arabi was completely destroyed and is under 8 feet of water, along with the rest of St. Bernard Parish, which is located immediately southeast of the French Quarter and lower 9th ward. The media has not shown much of this devastation because they cannot get in to St. Bernard, but some who are stranded with cell phones have called out and relayed the dismal conditions. This is all to say that New Orleans, as I knew it and anyone else who visited and lived there knew it, may NEVER recover. The reason I say this is that the surrounding suburbs of St. Bernard, Jefferson, Metairie, Kenner and Gretna supported that city with workers and wages and taxes. The homes of the citizens of most of those outlying suburbs are gone or flooded out to such a degree that recovery or rebuilding may simply prove unfeasible (and I am trying to be optimistic). If this proves true, the New Orleans greater metro area will be a shadow of its former self, unable to sustain normal business, let alone the Saints, the Hornets, the Zephyrs, etc. I pray this will not happen but cannot ignore what I see and know. God help us.

Spontae, I wish only the best for you and your family and hope that this crisis ends soon on a good note for all of you.