Plans to revitalize the home of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Houston Texans are moving forward after Harris County commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the measure that will task county officials with redeveloping the future of the NRG Park complex and surrounding region.

The details

At the Oct. 10 Commissioner’s Court, the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation was tasked to develop at least two alternative plans to re-envision NRG Park, which is a 350-acre sports and entertainment complex owned by the county that hosts more than 5.5 million people annually.

HCSCC Chair James W.E. Dixon II said the organization will work collaboratively with substantial input from the tenants, the rodeo and the Texans, and ensure the greatest benefit for all key stakeholders, such as county residents, and Houston’s diverse residential and business communities.

“If we are really methodical and strategic and collaborative and work with pure intent, we can all end up with something out there that becomes a legacy project for our future. The fact that the county is willing to invest in that means a whole lot,” Dixon said.

Ideas discussed for the project included adding more green space, economic mixed-use areas instead of a massive parking lot that is empty most of the time, and looking to potential developments in the surrounding area, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said.

“We want it to be the best it can be as a community resource,” Ellis said.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey agreed.

“I look at the activities at NRG and our collected memories, the Astrodome and that whole complex is the center of our universe. I am encouraged by the desire to do something extraordinary,” Ramsey said.

The background

HCSCC oversees the management, operations and maintenance at NRG Park. Venues include:

  • NRG Stadium
  • NRG Center
  • NRG Arena
  • NRG Astrodome
  • NRG Park Outdoor Spaces

According to agenda documents, facilities at NRG Park are aging and in need of continued investment to extend their useful lives. The leases of the Texans and rodeo expire in 2031 and 2032, respectively, and the HCSCC and county would like to extend the leases to retain the Texans and rodeo at NRG Park.

Also of note

The two plans for the next phase of NRG Park, according to commissioners, must include:

  • Maintaining its place in countywide disaster relief and recovery operations as needed
  • HCSCC regularly updating county leaders on the project
  • Following the county’s contract hiring policy that includes minority- and women-owned business enterprises

Going forward

The HCSCC shall present a minimum of two alternative plans based on national best practices and examples to redevelop, revitalize and plan for the future of the NRG Park complex.