Reliant Stadium in Houston

The Reliant Stadium is the largest stadium in the city of Houston. It is located in an area called Reliant Park and is near the core of the city, in close proximity to a myriad of other entertainment venues. The construction of the stadium cost the city a whopping $449 million dollars and was officially opened to the public in August, 2002. The very first game to ever be held in the Reliant stadium was a football game between the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys.

It was the NFL franchise, the Texans, and their partner the Livestock Show and Rodeo that collaborated with building the new stadium. In October 2000, Reliant Energy purchased the naming rights to the stadium that was to be built and named it Reliant Stadium. The stadium was designed by HOK Sport, which is the world's leading sports architecture firm. The firm designed the stadium to embody Houston's vision and the sense of adventure that is prevalent in Texas. The aim of the stadium was to have a high-tech, futuristic look that would provide an open-air feel to the thousands of people that gathered there. Reliant Stadium boasts the world's first retractable roof which is what the famous stadium has become known for internationally. Overall, it took the city two and a half years to complete the construction on Reliant Stadium.

Reliant Stadium serves as a major economic engine to the city of Houston producing thousands of jobs and contributing more than $450 million dollars to the local economy. More than half of the stadium's revenue comes from private financing. Some of its private financing come from the numerous sponsors that support the upkeep of the stadium. Reliant Stadium has a myriad of sponsors, like Verizon Wireless, Coca Cola, and Holiday Inn.

The stadium also features four private suites that can be used for events such as parties. Banquets, receptions, and other events can all be held at the Reliant Stadium. A myriad of large and small lounges, bars, suites, and concession stands creates the perfect environment for various functions. Many locals and tourists attend the stadium for the events. Although the stadium was designed with NFL sporting games in mind, other events like Monster Jam, Wrestle Mania, Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Texas Bowl, and concerts from famous musicians bring millions of people to the stadium each year. The stadium is most known for hosting the Super Bowl in 2004.

The stadium has the capability to seat 71,500 people and is over 1.9 million square feet. More than 97,000 square feet of the area features natural grass that is used as a playing surface for football games. The stadium is home to the NFL team, The Texans. The Texans offices are also located in the Reliant Stadium, and is open for business year round. The Texans are new to the NFL and recently joined several years ago in 2002 as an expansion team from the previous NFL franchise, the Houston Oilers.