PrintConstruction Of New Houston Arena Begins
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The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and the Houston Rockets and Comets jointly hosted the groundbreaking ceremony, which included Houston Mayor Lee P. Brown, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority Chairman Billy Burge, and Leslie Alexander, the owner of the Houston Rockets and Comets.
"This is an extremely exciting time for the city of Houston, the Rockets and Comets, and our fans," said Leslie Alexander. "We are honored to participate in the launch of the new Houston Arena. It is a product of the efforts of an entire community, and it will forever represent and include the entire community."
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To mark the official launch of the Houston Arena, six ceremonial rockets, each three-feet in height, were launched 700 feet into the air from the construction site in downtown Houston. Children from six Houston community groups supported by the Houston Rockets and Comets decorated the rockets in honor of each of the six NBA and WNBA championships won by the teams. Children from Casa de Esperanza, Phoenix Outreach Youth Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of Houston, Tejano Center for Community Concerns, Chinese Community Center, and Kim's Place at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center presented their decorated rockets during the groundbreaking ceremony. Following a launch countdown by the audience, the rockets blasted skyward and a large cloud of confetti and colorful puff balls descended on the groundbreaking site.
"It is very rewarding to be part of this history-making event," said Billy Burge, Chairman of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. "This will be another first-class facility for the city of Houston and a major step toward the revitalization of downtown Houston."
With the Houston Arena scheduled to open in September 2003, construction is planned to take approximately 25 months. The multi-purpose arena will accommodate an estimated 18,500 patrons for basketball, 17,800 for hockey and 19,300 for concerts. Designed to enhance the fan experience, the interior of the arena will offer easy accessibility through a street-level concourse and a sunken seating bowl located approximately thirty-two feet below grade. With approximately 62 percent of the arena's seating capacity located in the lower bowl, the state-of the-art facility will feature one of the largest, lower seating bowls in the nation. A seven-story parking garage, with 2,500 spaces, will be constructed on a two-block area south of the arena and will be connected to the arena by an enclosed skybridge.
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Morris Architects, HOK Sports Facilities Group, and John Chase Architects designed the Houston Arena, which will feature a simple, yet sophisticated style and offer timeless appeal. Interior amenities will include 92 luxury suites, an estimated 2,800 club seats, and two spacious club seat lounges. The arena also will house a restaurant, which will offer traditional seated dining as well a unique ledge dining area with a spectacular view overlooking the playing floor. The Rockets and Comets business offices and practice facilities will move to the new arena upon its completion.
With a budget of $175 million, the multi-purpose arena will be owned by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and operated by the Houston Rockets organization under the terms of a 30-year lease. The arena will be located in downtown Houston on a four-block site bounded by LaBranch, Jackson, Bell and Polk Streets.
