Save the Dome, Dynamite Reliant

I can’t help noticing that Bob McNair has weighed in on the whole Astrodome survival question, and he’s not exactly in favor: “We'd like to see something happen that doesn't undermine our operation,” McNair told the Chron. “We were asked to look at it (redevelopment plan that includes a hotel), and we did. There were inherent conflicts.”

Over a billion dollars has been invested, he said, and there’s a contract in place. The Texans have the right to control the property on game days, he said, and the rodeo has rights too.

But see, here’s the deal: I seem to recall that I helped pay for your damn facility. If you’d built the thing with your own money, I’d be willing to see your side. But you made me chip in to help pay for the thing, and if I had to chip in, I want a little say in what happens. And I’d much rather have that eyesore monstrosity that is Reliant Stadium demolished instead of the Dome.

Bob’s afraid that a hotel in the Dome would affect parking for Texans games, according to the Chron. And that leaves me to question whether Bob’s ever attended a Texans game. And if so, if he’s actually had to drive himself and park. If you’re not on that choo-choo train, it’s possible to be stuck in your car for over an hour after a game and not even leave the parking lot. I don’t know how hotel traffic could make things worse.

I know. The Dome is done for. But it still pisses me off. And what pisses me off more is Bob McNair and his ilk continuously milking the taxpayer like Scott Boras milks Tom Hicks. When these rich pricks want to pay for their own damn pleasure palaces, then they get to decide what to do to with all of the property, but when he’s making me chip in for the cost, I want a say as well.

I say keep the Dome and dynamite Reliant. And MMP can go as well. – John Royal