Nope

I am talking about a big nope here. The Houston Texans are floating the idea of public financing for a new stadium. Good luck with that.

I don’t even think there is support for public financing of major renovations over at NRG. The NFL makes a ton of money for Sunday games, Sunday night football, Monday night football, and Thursday night football. Heck, they even played a few games on a Wednesday this past Christmas Day. They make money off streaming and playing overseas. The Texans have the money if they want renovations.

The owners of the Texans have a history of supporting the GOP and their candidates. At this very moment, MAGA is on a federal spending cut rampage. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to eliminate local property taxes in Texas. The Harris County – Houston Sports Authority still hasn’t paid off Daikin Park, Toyota Center, and NRG, and this fool is exploring more public money for NRG or a new stadium.

See this from the Chron:

First, the headline:

Exclusive: The Texans may seek public money to build a new football stadium in Houston

Here is how the article starts:

When Houston Texans owner Cal McNair named a new team president last month, the first thing he touted about Mike Tomon’s resume was his “extensive history in stadium development.”

Tomon was previously an executive at Legends, a stadium operations firm co-founded by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, where he worked on arrangements for new NFL stadiums in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and, most recently, Buffalo, which is set to open in 2026. 

The Texans, meanwhile, have started negotiating a new lease agreement at NRG Stadium, their publicly-financed home since 2002. A recent facility assessment found the stadium was in average or below average condition compared to its peers, with a laundry list of needs from deferred maintenance over the years. But McNair’s quote and Tomon’s history suggest stronger ambitions: The team may want a new stadium entirely.

Two sources familiar with the Texans’ thinking told the Chronicle the Texans have explored the possibility of a new stadium, though the team has not committed to that path. The team has not proposed a new stadium in the lease negotiations, and the ultimate decision will depend on what makes the most financial sense for the Texans, the Rodeo and Harris County, which owns the campus and leases it to the two organizations, the two sources said.

“Our priority has always been to support a renovation of NRG Stadium and that’s where our focus remains,” Texans spokesperson Omar Majzoub said in a statement to the Chronicle. “As we’ve said before, we are committed to exploring all potential solutions to ensure long-term success and we look forward to working with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Harris County and HSCCC (the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp.) in identifying the best path forward.” 

A decision could likely hinge on the price tag of a renovation. If the combined costs of maintenance – $1.4 billion is needed over 30 years at the stadium, according to a recent assessment – and premium features the Texans may want to add begin to approach the cost of a rebuild, the team could decide a new stadium is the better option. 

It may also be difficult to retrofit NRG Stadium with some of the premium features the Texans may seek. Thirty years ago, some of the biggest draws of new stadiums were retractable roofs and roll-in turf fields. Now, the industry prioritizes more space for luxury suites and clubs, ideally closer to the field; and bigger concourses where fans can watch from bars and restaurants.

Meanwhile, a new stadium could also bring logistical advantages for the Texans and the Rodeo. Namely, the organizations would not have to juggle renovations with active Rodeo and football seasons.

A new stadium could prove to be a tough sell with taxpayers. Houston and Harris County’s elected leaders are paying off the debt they incurred to build NRG Stadium 25 years ago, using taxes on hotel rooms and car rentals. 

The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, the joint venture that financed Houston’s stadium-building spree in the late 1990s and early 2000s, still owes $1 billion in principal debt on the bonds that paid to build NRG, Daikin Park and Toyota Center. It is not scheduled to pay them off until 2056, according to financial statements.

The Texans also have benefited from a team-friendly deal at NRG Stadium for the last two decades. The team put up revenue from permanent seat licenses toward the construction of the stadium, but it does not have to contribute toward most maintenance costs, unlike the Rockets and the Astros. The county is on the hook for those costs at NRG Park.

And the Texans often get more money in tax rebates than they have to pay in rent, according to financial audits – meaning the government essentially pays the team to play at NRG.

Here is the entire Chron read: Exclusive: The Houston Texans may push for a new football stadium.

Let’s see. Local ISDs are laying off librarians. Teachers need a pay raise. Local municipalities need more police officers. We are always behind on repairing local infrastructure.

There is no appetite in 2025 for spending more public dough on stadiums or major renovations. The owner of the Astros has made investments over at The Yard. Heck, he is even investing in property next to Daikin Park.

The Texans owner needs to make it work using his own funds. Sorry, pal.

The featured photo is from NRG, and it looks okay by me.

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Pretty soon, Donald Trump will have 40% of the country believing Ukraine started the war against Russia. That is what America voted for.

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Former Astro Josh Reddick is 38 today. Happy Birthday, Josh!