Inside Reliant Stadium
Review by Vik Vij, Stadium Journey Correspondent
They say everything is bigger in Texas. Houston’s Reliant Stadium, home of the Texans, is certainly no exception. One of the first things you notice about Reliant is the sheer size of the stadium. Sitting next to the Astro Dome, the former 8th Wonder of the World, Reliant looks modern, majestic and flat out enormous.
Another impressive feature about Reliant stadium is the tailgating in the parking lots. Forbes Magazine recently anointed Houston as the top tailgating city in the country. With Texas’ strong BBQ and Tex-Mex heritage, walking through the parking lot can do wonders for a person’s senses of taste and smell. The good weather in Houston during football season also encourages fans to arrive early and linger in the parking lot before the game.
Tailgating at Reliant Stadium
Once you finally head into Reliant Stadium, you’re once again struck by the enormity of the stadium. The capacity of the NFL’s first retractable roof stadium is over 71,000. Most of the fans are very passionate and the game day experience is what you would expect from a Texas-sized crowd. Almost all the fans are dressed in the red, white and blue team colors and keep the noise level inside the stadium very loud. With that being said, on the numerous occasions I have attended Texans’ games, I have only dealt with one unruly and obnoxious fan. I suppose it was understandable as this was during the David Carr era, but it was off-putting. On all the other times I have been to Reliant Stadium, I have not had any other negative experiences with obnoxiousness.
In terms of concessions, expect a Texas-sized selection. There is more than just the average ballpark fare. While you can get nachos, corn dogs, hotdogs, burgers and French fries, fans attending games can also expect BBQ and Mexican fare. Chopped salads offer a freshly made healthy alternative for stadium goers. Prices are typical for any stadium. Expect to pay between $5 and $9 for most meal options.
Reliant also offers an impressive and extensive beer selection. Of course, all the varities of Budweiser and Miller are present, but the real treat comes when exploring some of the other beers available. Shiner and St. Arnold, two beers from Texas, are available, as are Dos Equis, Corona, Fat Tire, Pyramid and Blue Moon. The prices are between $7.75 and $10 for 20 ounce drafts. There are also standard 12 ounce beers available for $5. Margaritas are available and can be purchased by the yard.
Mass transit may not have taken off in Houston yet, but there is one Metro train line running on Main Street. Its runs from downtown Houston to just south of Reliant Stadium. This is perhaps one of the best aspects of attending a game at Reliant Stadium. Round trip tickets on the train are $2 and fans can get off literally right outside the gates. Parking is almost entirely prepaid and usually costs around $20. Unless you’re planning on tailgating directly off of your truck, take the train and avoid the hassle of parking. Another benefit of the train line is the enormous variety of restaurant and bars that have opened along the train line. Within a few blocks of the train line, fans can find anything under the sun. From prime steak houses such as Vic and Anthony’s or Morton’s to BBQ shacks to Mexican restaurants to Cajun to Chinese to burgers to anything you can imagine and more, Houston offers endless food options.
One of the best bars along the Main Street train line is The Flying Saucer (705 Main St. Houston, TX 77002). The Saucer, as locals frequently call it, offers nearly every beer in the world as well as a full liquor bar. Let me repeat that. Nearly every beer in the world is available. Close to 100 are available on tap and hundreds more are available by the bottle. The two-story establishment has a laid back style and offers food service till 1am on most nights. The food is mostly typical bar food such as burgers, fried food and nachos. Some of the more interesting selections are soft pretzels and chicken Philly cheese steaks. The staff is generally friendly and helpful. The bar is right along the train line and is approximately 10 to 15 minutes from Reliant Stadium. In addition to avoiding parking, fans can safely and legally get to Reliant after having a pre-game beer.
The Flying Saucer
Cabo Mix-Mex Grill is located one block from the Main Street Metro line (419 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002) and is another highlight in Houston’s downtown. This Tex-Mex grill offers a variety of selections including enchiladas, ceviche, nachos and tacos. The spacious second floor patio is another plus at Cabo. The view of downtown, even from the second floor, is much more dramatic than from street level. The food is somewhat pricey, as most entrees range from $12 to $19. The restaurant offers full bar service and the margaritas are both reasonably priced and good.
FANFARE SCORE: 30.5
Food and beverage: 4.5
Lots of variety, prices on par with other stadiums.
Atmosphere: 5
First retractable roof, enormous, fan passion, huge Jumbo tron
Neighborhood: 5
The train line makes all of downtown Houston part of the neighborhood. Anything under the sun is available and only a few minutes away by a $1 train ride. Tons of bar and restaurants.
Fans: 4
The fans are very passionate but are frequently hard on the team. Considering the history, it could be worse.
Access: 3.5
Parking is somewhat difficult without a pre-paid pass. The train line is very helpful. Bathrooms are plentiful, spacious and generally clean.
Return on Investment: 4.5
Ticket prices are also typical of other NFL stadiums. They start around $60 and range up from there. The sightlines are all incredible, the atmosphere is fun and with the Texans having a good season (so far), it’s well worth the investment.
Etc.: 4
Bonus points for being the first retractable roof stadium, being on the train line, a huge variety of beers and foods.
