Facilities within NRG Park need roughly $2 billion of repairs, according to a new assessment that will inform the complex’s next master plan.
The Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation released a facilities condition assessment Wednesday detailing the costly repairs needed in the park that is home to the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
The assessment estimated a 30-year capital expense project is needed to address the aged facilities. With a price tag of $116 million alone, the mostly costly repair outlined in the assessment is a new rooftop.
But it’s still unclear who might bare the costs of repairing the multi-billion dollar complex.
“NRG Park is one of our region’s most valuable public assets,” Martye Kendrick, executive director of the sports corporation, said in a statement. “To ensure NRG Park continues to serve the community effectively, we will need investments that match the high level of activity the park supports.”
“At the same time, we must balance our responsibility to the public as responsible stewards of this county-owned asset,” Kendrick said.
County leaders have for years called for upgrades to NRG Park.
Former Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation CEO Ryan Walsh last year said the complex generates roughly $60 to 65 million per year hosting the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Texans home games and other sporting events, and concerts, but that’s not including all of the overhead and all of the costs of operating the facility.
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Key tenants of NRG Park say the assessment highlights challenges that need to be address in the near, and long term.
“Our goal remains to provide the best possible gameday experience for our fans and also recognize the importance of NRG Park and NRG Stadium to our entire community,” Houston Texans President Greg Grissom said in a statement. “Together, with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, we look forward to supporting Harris County and HCSCC to identify the best solutions to address these challenges.”
Since its opening in 2002, the park has seen more than 100 million visitors, bringing in more than 5.5 million visitors every year.
Planning for the park’s next master plan is underway, including a multi-year capital improvement plan. More than $35 million worth of projects have already been planned and budgeted, , according to the sports corporation.
The facility assessment did not include an analysis of NRG Arena or the Astrodome.
