The Pecan Park Eagle

Those landings make some blocked view seats unsaleable twice. They are a serious design failure at TDECU Stadium.

Please don’t blame Jim Crane for ever saying he doesn’t have enough money to improve the Astros. He shot most of his wad counting it out to Drayton McLane, Jr. on the purchase of the franchise back in 2011. If you want to blame anyone for using up that inflated purchase tab, blame McLane for using nearly half his profit on the construction of that new football stadium for Baylor University in Waco. For $260 million dollars, the new “McLane Stadium” brought to Baylor exactly what their alumni had a right to expect for big money – a first class venue with a pronounceable name that combines a charming riverside site with the kind of solid look of a football kingdom-to-come.

“HURRICANE HURRY” AND LIMITED FUNDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABSENCE OF A “STRONG FINISH” LOOK.

What we got at UH for $120 million dollars was a stadium that looks as though it’s already been hit by a hurricane because of the design-hole features in the exterior walls, the unpronounceable name of “TDECU Stadium,” and more access and handicap patron participation issues that can possibly withstand the shaking of the proverbial “what have you done here” stick. In other words, we got what we paid for, plus some issues that we could have been spared with a little more thought factored into the design process.

Aside from the lack of easy and clear, or adequate, elevator service to the highest seating level, my major complaint as an alumnus and season ticket holder is the presence of those landing bases for stairs that exist in at least four places on both sides of the stadium grandstands. They carry with them a problem that never existed at our former Robertson Stadium in this way –  or in any other local modern venue serving football or baseball in the Houston area.

The landings exist at “TDECU” as the receiving level for fans entering the upward-aisles that lead to their assigned seats. The trouble is, while those fans are on the landings, looking up the aisles for where to go next, or turning for moments or minutes to stare at the playing field, or just make a cell phone text or call, those who purchased the aisle seats behind those “you will only sit here once” seats  because they did not realize what they were getting into, are totally blocked from seeing much of anything but the ebb and flow of upward, downward, and stationary human bodies parading before them in their relentless search for seats, sight, food and drink, or the rest rooms.

I thought I was buying unobstructed seats on the railing for the entire season. What I got was seats that were even worse than the way the Cougars played football last Friday night. I figure the day may yet come when the team gets better and I will regret trying to watch a game from this blighted and blocked perspective. Tomorrow is the day I will pursue exchanging what I bought for something better.

In the meanwhile, and not yet along with other members of the Cougar family who are already calling for his head, I am still hopeful that Tony Levine can prove all his detractors wrong and turn out to be a good coach with some ability to rally the Cougars from this awfully disappointing season start to the UH college football season.

HAPPY LABOR DAY, EVERYBODY!
OUR DAY WILL COME.
IN TIME.