Question for Hightower and Cinco Ranch Fans...

[GreaterHoustonCoach]

Hey folks, as an old HISD vet, I was just curious of what you guys, who are used to the likes of Hall, Mercer, and Rhodes thought of ol' James W. Delmar Stadium tonight... Tonight was the first time in years I was able to catch a game there, and I thought that for one of the city's oldest venues, the renovations HISD has done were great... I thought it ended up being a great neutral site for your teams, equilateral distance from your areas of town, and an accomadating size...

Not a big deal, but was curious on your thoughts of the facility, other comments, etc???

[HHSDT93]

Honestly, I think it was still too small. The bleachers should've extended to the 10 yard lines to accomadate for some of the people. I know I was in line at the Hightower side when they started telling us there was standing-room-only spots left. I think whenever that happens, it's a major lack of foresight by whoever schedules these events.

This was a big-time football game, with a lot of publicity in the Houston area, and I just think the stadium was too small. Nothing was really wrong with the stadium, but I liked Pasadena Memorial better.

I will say that Delmar was a little better than playing at the Rig.

I'll agree though, the renovations done were pretty solid. Not sure how close Cinco is, but I left my house at 5:25 and got to the stadium at around 6. 35 minutes, a few minutes shorter to get there than it did to get to Pasadena for me.

Overall, it would've been a good stadium to host maybe a first round, maybe second round game, but for the magnitude of this game, I think it should've been at Rice Stadium.

[hedgehog]

I'm glad somebody brought this up. What is the deal with the Houston area?!?!?! Why aren't they using the best venues? No games at Rice. No games at the Berry Center. Reliant Stadium is never used. The Astrodome is a thing of the past. Teams are having to resort to HISD stadiums?!?!?! They should at least use Woodforest Stadium in The Woodlands if they're going to pass those others up but they don't even do that!

I understand that the Owls have to use Rice Stadium, but I also know that they don't play at home every week, or on Friday nights for that matter. I've heard the Berry Center charges too much....is this true?

This is one of the many reasons Dallas is better than Houston in every which way....Dallas knows how to handle playoff games!

[GreaterHoustonCoach]

I did see that it was standing room only, but to answer your questions, Berry Center Stadium seats only 11,000 to Delmar's 12,000, and Woodforest Bank up in the Woodlands would have been a ridiculous drive and still only seats 9600...

Rice was probably not going to host a game in order to get ready to host the Bayou Bucket between them and UofH tomorrow, and I dont think the Astrodome is even operational for football anymore...

Tully is a great neutral venue but probably would have been a little too close to Katy to satisfy the administrators organizing the game...

All in all, Delmar was probably the best location and size for the game, and I really think they didn't do a bad job... The stadium itself is a little old and in a weird part of town, but I was tickled with the condition HISD had it in...

Congrats to HISD personnel, I think they did a great job...

[v2the4]

the renovations at Delmar were fairly good....they didnt have any speakers in the visitors side of the field, so it was a lil hard to hear over the bands. I think they could have done something better with the parking...it took nearly 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot from the visitors parking lot because HISD didnt open any other exit gates, which I thought was stupid. they were not even directing traffic after the game!!!

the stadium was too small to handle a playoff game of this magnitude. This game should have been played at Rice or UH, or even at Galena Park or Woodforest if they wanted to take the homefield advantage away from either team...thats why the game wasnt played at Tully....too close to Katy, but its big enough to handle the crowd..

[GreaterHoustonCoach]

the renovations at Delmar were fairly good....they didnt have any speakers in the visitors side of the field, so it was a lil hard to hear over the bands. I think they could have done something better with the parking...it took nearly 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot from the visitors parking lot because HISD didnt open any other exit gates, which I thought was stupid. they were not even directing traffic after the game!!!

the stadium was too small to handle a playoff game of this magnitude. This game should have been played at Rice or UH, or even at Galena Park or Woodforest if they wanted to take the homefield advantage away from either team...thats why the game wasnt played at Tully....too close to Katy, but its big enough to handle the crowd..

once again, Woodforest is smaller than Delmar and would have, along with GPISD Stadium or UH, been a ridiculous drive for teams from the West and South parts of town...

[GreaterHoustonCoach]

oh and I looked at capacities and Galena Park, though much nicer, is also smaller than Delmar...

If those who care wish to know where I got the capacity info, here is the link:

http://www.texasbob.com/stadium/region_index.php?Region=8

Delmar Stadium - 12,000
GPISD Stadium - 10,300
Woodforest Bank - 9,600
Berry Center Std. - 11,000

[cyfallsbooster2]

the renovations at Delmar were fairly good....they didnt have any speakers in the visitors side of the field, so it was a lil hard to hear over the bands. I think they could have done something better with the parking...it took nearly 30 minutes to get out of the parking lot from the visitors parking lot because HISD didnt open any other exit gates, which I thought was stupid. they were not even directing traffic after the game!!!

the stadium was too small to handle a playoff game of this magnitude. This game should have been played at Rice or UH, or even at Galena Park or Woodforest if they wanted to take the homefield advantage away from either team...thats why the game wasnt played at Tully....too close to Katy, but its big enough to handle the crowd..

Have you ever been to a game at Tully?!!! I have been to 1. It took 2 HOURS to get out of the parking lot! It really ruined the high I was feeling after the Cy Falls win over Katy. That is the most crap stadium I have ever been to because of the parking exit strategy. Mainly because apparently there is none. I am going to the Katy game tomorrow to hook up with some Katy friends, but I assure you, I will either park somewhere else and walk or leave the game at half.

[Jayhawker]

I'm glad somebody brought this up. What is the deal with the Houston area?!?!?! Why aren't they using the best venues? No games at Rice. No games at the Berry Center. Reliant Stadium is never used. The Astrodome is a thing of the past. Teams are having to resort to HISD stadiums?!?!?! They should at least use Woodforest Stadium in The Woodlands if they're going to pass those others up but they don't even do that!

I understand that the Owls have to use Rice Stadium, but I also know that they don't play at home every week, or on Friday nights for that matter. I've heard the Berry Center charges too much....is this true?

This is one of the many reasons Dallas is better than Houston in every which way....Dallas knows how to handle playoff games!

..SO 8 TEAMS CAN SPLIT THE COST TO PLAY IN A DUMP?
where the fans have to pay more for everything - parking, food etc.?

[GreaterHoustonCoach]

..SO 8 TEAMS CAN SPLIT THE COST TO PLAY IN A DUMP?
where the fans have to pay more for everything - parking, food etc.?

did you go to the game? It wasn't a dump, it was a great stadium, 3 year old surface, in the middle of houston, where people like me (a high school coach and fan of houston high school football in general, not just one team) can get to a centralized location to catch a great game, and a great atmosphere, the stands were full and the game was a great one...

Like I said earlier, the stadium may is old, but as a man who grew up playing and celebrating the traditions of high school ball in this area (3rd generation houston area high school ball player), i thought the facility's location and renovations were surprisingly nice... Great setting for one of the area's most competitive games in recent history...

[HomeofChampions'06]

One of my roommates from college was at the game and was quite impressed with the condition and overall seating of the stadium. I really think Reliant should be used more though. I've never been to Delmar so I can't personally throw my judgement on it. I can't even remember if Katy has ever played at Delmar. Unless I am missing something they haven't played there in the 13 years I've watched Katy football.

[katyfan52]

did you go to the game? It wasn't a dump, it was a great stadium, 3 year old surface, in the middle of houston, where people like me (a high school coach and fan of houston high school football in general, not just one team) can get to a centralized location to catch a great game, and a great atmosphere, the stands were full and the game was a great one...

Like I said earlier, the stadium may is old, but as a man who grew up playing and celebrating the traditions of high school ball in this area (3rd generation houston area high school ball player), i thought the facility's location and renovations were surprisingly nice... Great setting for one of the area's most competitive games in recent history...
Coach, he was not dissing Delmar, he was referring to Texas Stadium where DFW has a lot of their playoff games, sometimes triple+ headers.

[TX5AFanatic]

I was more or less impressed with it after hearing all the gab about how bad it was. Entrances and exits were a bit tighter than I would have liked and the concessions were weird. Go to one for popcorn and after waiting a minimum 15 mins you have to go to another one for water and wait another 15 mins? Other than that the field itself was ok.

[TX5AFanatic]

..SO 8 TEAMS CAN SPLIT THE COST TO PLAY IN A DUMP?
where the fans have to pay more for everything - parking, food etc.?

Did I just get lucky? I didnt have to pay for parking

[HHSDT93]

I still don't believe that there isn't ONE 15,000 seat stadium that could've fit the bill for all the fans that came out to this one. 12,000 is just too small a capacity to hold a third-round game and it showed.

Hell, Stallworth Stadium would've been good. It probably would be harder to get to than Delmar, but 16,500 seat capacity would allow those Canes fans who had to stand at the game... not stand. :D

After looking around at Texasbob's, it's awful seeing so few stadiums with a seat capacity of over 12,000. Houston needs to know there's big-time football games to be played and there are more fans than they might think. May need to adjust to that in the future.

[GreaterHoustonCoach]

looked again today, looks like the biggest high school stadiums in the houston areas are as follows:

Tully Stadium - 15000

Pasadena Memorial - 16800

Stallworth Stadium - 16500

all are in uncentralized areas, i believe tully is the closest to the beltway atleast...

[rwilleby]

I thought the stadium was okay... Aisles were a little tight because folks think they are for chatting and not walking... Visit at home or in the parking lot...

Playing surface seem nice... Easy to get to and get out of once you hit the freeway... Is it my first choice? Nope... Will it do? I guess it will...

[v2the4]

Delmar was okay if you were looking for a centralized location for high school football with two teams coming from the suburbs....but, I think when/if the new soccer stadium gets built, they will allow high school football to be played at that facility and that will really give a centralized location for everyone, being it will be in downtown Houston.

I dont think any stadium will have the perfect traffic plan, unless you are playing at Reliant. I have no idea why they are not using the astrodome. it hasnt been condimmed for non use as a facility..why not open it up for triple headers on saturday similiar to the way Texas stadium in dallas and the alamodome in san antonio are being used? at least they have a great deal of parking and the elements will not be a factor...but I guess the folks down there at reliant feel the dome can only hold animals during likestock show time.

but with all things being said, its playoff time...teams have to travel....have you ever wondered why all the valley teams have to travel up to San Antonio to play games? or why the el paso teams never host games at UTEP, but insted have to go to lubbock, odessa or abilene for their games?

I dont think traveling across town would have hurt either one of these schools last night...both crowds would have shown up regardless of where they played.

[dada]

From what I heard...Berry Center was asking for too much money...don't know how true that is...Rice is being used today. Reliant isn't gonna mess up their field with a Monday night game coming up. So Delmar was probably as "Neutral" as you can get. Delmar SAY'S it can hold 12,000...but that dosen't mean it should...I was at Whataburger today and it said "Max. Capacity 80"....that dosen't mean you can invite 85 people to Whataburger and expect them to handle it.

[hedgehog]

..SO 8 TEAMS CAN SPLIT THE COST TO PLAY IN A DUMP?
where the fans have to pay more for everything - parking, food etc.?

Last time I checked these games are not about the fans. It's about the kids, and playing at Texas Stadium is a great experience for each and every one of them. So you can say all you want about the cost and what a dump you think that place is. Why don't you ask one of the kids what they think about that place?

I'm not knocking Delmar Stadium in the least. I haven't even been there recently. I am talking about the Houston area in general. You don't see these sort of problems in Dallas. It sounds like several others agree with me on this one....Houston needs to get with the program.

[CRclassof02]

the crowd was crazy huge last night and in no way was delmar a great choice of venue for this type of game. this one would have truely been great to play in the astrodome if it had not been condemned. oh well. i look forward to the new KISD stadium that is going to be built. i have heard several pieces of cool info on this building project. its going to be located on the south side of I-10 and built to look somewhat like the Berry Center. plus i heard its going to seat somewhere in the ball park of 18-20 thousand fans:eek:. this would make a great playoff field for even late round games

[HurricaneWatch010]

I'm glad somebody brought this up. What is the deal with the Houston area?!?!?! Why aren't they using the best venues? No games at Rice. No games at the Berry Center. Reliant Stadium is never used. The Astrodome is a thing of the past. Teams are having to resort to HISD stadiums?!?!?! They should at least use Woodforest Stadium in The Woodlands if they're going to pass those others up but they don't even do that!

I understand that the Owls have to use Rice Stadium, but I also know that they don't play at home every week, or on Friday nights for that matter. I've heard the Berry Center charges too much....is this true?

This is one of the many reasons Dallas is better than Houston in every which way....Dallas knows how to handle playoff games!

reliant is the site of the state game so i see why thats not an option... as for rice? yes.... lets use it

[Gomer93'KHS]

I tell you what Katy independent school district needs a new stadium just for Katy's home games!!! We sell out regular season games even before we get into the playoffs. We also have to many high schools in Katy not to necessitate a new indoor stadium. Oh and Delmar is not a bad stadium and it serves it's purpose. We do what we can with what we have!!! :D

[78 Spartan]

We have this discussion on this board every year.

More big games should be played at Rice Stadium. It's a perfect configuration for football, will accommodate as big a crowd as necessary, it's centrally located, and with artificial turf there is never a problem with the playing surface. Plenty of free parking at Rice, and great concessions also. Burgers grilled on an open flame for everyone to smell!

Play them at Rice. Reliant is a TERRIBLE venue for high school football. Way too big, lousy accoustics, and a field that gets easily chopped up by HS doubleheaders. Before you even get to talking about the parking and concessions costs. Give the money to Rice University, not to the Houston Texans.

Play them at Rice. The Astrodome may not be condemned, but I bet the concession stands haven't been licensed in years, and the place smells like a science experiment gone bad.

Play them at Rice.

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

I hear alot about the playing suface at Reliant. I've always wondered, how come Reliant doesn't have field turf?

[CAKEETO]

Coach, the place is a dump, and the HISD people were absolutely horrible, along with the concessions. The parking lot was bad, parking was worse, and they did not have near enough entrances or areas to sell tickets. i will never go to an HISD venue again. Simply Horrible!!!!

[H-TownLion]

From what I heard about the two teams selecting a venue, I heard Cinco wanted to play at Tully, but Hightower said no, too far for our fans. Then Hightower countered with Mercer, but Cinco said no, too close to your fans. Berry was also turned down by Hightower, which is way too far for their fans. Delmar was selected because its the biggest stadium left that could hold a big crowd that was out there Friday night that both teams agreed on.

Why isn't Robertson Stadium available to use for playoff games? The Dynamo is done for the year, that would have been a fine facility to hold a big playoff game.

[Texas Bob]

Have you ever been to a game at Tully?!!! I have been to 1. It took 2 HOURS to get out of the parking lot! It really ruined the high I was feeling after the Cy Falls win over Katy. That is the most crap stadium I have ever been to because of the parking exit strategy. Mainly because apparently there is none. I am going to the Katy game tomorrow to hook up with some Katy friends, but I assure you, I will either park somewhere else and walk or leave the game at half.

I got out in a few minutes after the game. It's a great venue.

[The Original]

I hear alot about the playing suface at Reliant. I've always wondered, how come Reliant doesn't have field turf?


The grass looks like it belongs in someone's backyard, after a game theres holes everywhere in the ground. It has a somewhat brown tint to it honestly...:ninja: