Reliant Park
Encyclopedia
Reliant Park is a complex in Houston, Texas
, USA, named after the energy company Reliant Energy
. It is located on Kirby Drive at the 610 Loop
. This complex of buildings encompasses 350 acres (1.4 km²) of land and consists of five venues: Carruth Plaza
, Reliant Stadium
, Reliant Center
, Reliant Arena
and Reliant Astrodome
.
The complex hosts many sporting events and conventions each year, the largest of which are the Houston Texans
games, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
, and the Grand Prix of Houston
.
The complex is served by the Reliant Park Station
, a light rail
station on the Red Line of the METRORail
light rail system. It also includes one of the world's largest parking lots (holding 26,000 total) and sees nearly 750 events yearly. Up until 2005, the lot also served as a parking lot for Six Flags Astroworld
, which has since closed.
and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, was also the home of Super Bowl XXXVIII
(held February 1, 2004), where the New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 and where Janet Jackson
's Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy
took place. Reliant Stadium hosted WrestleMania XXV
on April 5, 2009 with a sellout attendance of 72,774 and a live gate of $6.9 million.
The stadium was the first NFL stadium with a retractable roof and natural grass. The stadium that can be configured to utilize a 125000 square feet (11,612.9 m²) space for general session, catered functions, exhibits, concerts, and much more. In addition, Reliant Stadium offers four massive concourse levels for special events. The design of the stadium roof provides a very flexible rigging congiguration for major audio and visual presentations. 200 suites complement Reliant Stadium.
Offering over 706000 square feet (65,589.5 m²) of contiguous single-level exhibit space divisible into 11 separate halls, Reliant Center boasts 61 meeting rooms configurable into over 100 variations, 2 major conference centers, 118 loading bays, over 150000 square feet (13,935.5 m²) of registration space. Reliant Center is equipped with a technological infrastructure capable of providing high-speed internet access, pre-wired fiber optic cabling backbone, on-site production facilities, 120 television monitors, and web-casting abilities. Exclusive services include on-site support from telephone and internet, electrical, food and beverage, rigging, security and event staffing. Each meeting room has its own dedicated sound, lighting and networking capabilities. A 280000 square feet (26,012.9 m²) marshalling area on-site with over 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) of space for shuttle transportation.
Along with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Reliant Center hosts some of the largest conventions and trade shows in Houston. Some examples of these events are the Offshore Technology Conference, Nutcracker Market, Houston Auto Show, International Gem & Jewelry Show, Houston Gun Collector's and Antique Show, and the Houston Boat, Sport and Travel Show - to name a few.
, Houston's former indoor soccer team and smaller wrestling events such as WCW Thunder
.
With fixed seating in the main arena for 5,800 and floor space encompassing approximately 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²), Reliant Arena is ideal for general sessions and events for less than 10,000. Reliant Arena's pavilion also provides 1,700 fixed seats and is surrounded by over 325000 square feet (30,193.5 m²) of exhibit space divisible into four halls. Reliant Arena also includes over 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) of meeting space.
Some of the latest events to come through Reliant Arena are the And 1 Mix Tape Tour, Hannah Montana
, The Cheetah Girls, and Sesame Street Live
.
The Reliant Astrodome, formerly known as just the Houston Astrodome, is called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by many as it is the first domed structure of its size created without a pillar supporting it in the center. The Astrodome opened for business on April 9, 1965 and was the home of the Houston Astros
and Houston Oilers for over thirty years before both teams moved out, the former to Minute Maid Park
and the latter to Nashville, Tennessee
. The Astrodome has been the home of many other special events, including the Republican National Convention
, the NBA
All-Star Game
, and World Wrestling Federation
(WWF) WrestleMania X-Seven
. The venue has also seen the likes of historic recording artists such as Elvis Presley. Up until 2002, Reliant Astrodome was also the host of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest of its kind in the world. The last concert in Reliant Astrodome was the largest attended event ever in the building, featuring George Strait on March 3, 2002 at the Livestock Show and Rodeo where he sang to 68,266 people.
The Astrodome (and Reliant Park in general) gained nationwide attention in September 2005 when it was opened as a massive shelter for refugees fleeing Hurricane Katrina
. Each building except for Reliant Stadium (which was configured for the Houston Texans
) hosted several thousand refugees, and local media dubbed the complex "Reliant City". This "city" was itself evacuated when Hurricane Rita
threatened Texas
later that month, but many returned after the scare and moved out shortly before the end of the year.
that is configured throughout Reliant Park's parking lot. The speedway hosted the Grand Prix of Houston
, a Champ Car
race held in 2006
and 2007
. The pit lane and paddock for the race teams were located in Reliant Arena. Due to the merger between Champ Car and the Indy Racing League in 2008
, the 2008 Grand Prix of Houston was canceled. The status of the Grand Prix beyond 2008 remains unclear.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, USA, named after the energy company Reliant Energy
Reliant Energy
RRI Energy, Inc. , based in Houston, Texas, United States, was an energy company that provided electricity to wholesale customers in the United States. The company was one of the largest independent power producers in the nation with more than 14,000 megawatts of power generation capacity across...
. It is located on Kirby Drive at the 610 Loop
Interstate 610 (Texas)
Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a forty-two-mile loop around the downtown sector of city of Houston, Texas. Interstate 610, colloquially known as "The Loop", "Loop 610", "The 610 Loop", or just "610", traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston and its surrounding areas...
. This complex of buildings encompasses 350 acres (1.4 km²) of land and consists of five venues: Carruth Plaza
Carruth Plaza
Carruth Plaza is a Western sculpture garden in Houston, Texas. It is part of Reliant Park. Completed in 2003, the plaza was named after Allen H. "Buddy" Carruth, former chairman of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo....
, Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
, Reliant Center
Reliant Center
Reliant Center is a convention center in Houston, Texas, USA, part of the Reliant Park complex that was constructed around the Astrodome and Reliant Stadium. Reliant Center hosts various events year-round, including portions of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, who maintains its offices on the...
, Reliant Arena
Reliant Arena
The Reliant Arena, formerly the "Astroarena", is a 350,000 square feet sports center in Reliant Park, in Houston, Texas, USA. It is one of the state's major arenas and convention centers. Reliant became the home of the Women's National Basketball Association's Houston Comets for what proved to...
and Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...
.
The complex hosts many sporting events and conventions each year, the largest of which are the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
games, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called RodeoHouston, is the world's largest live entertainment and livestock exhibition. It also includes the richest regular-season rodeo event. It has been held at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003...
, and the Grand Prix of Houston
Grand Prix of Houston
The Grand Prix of Houston was an annual auto race on the Champ Car World Series circuit. It was held in a street circuit located in downtown Houston, Texas, United States of America for four years, then returned for two years on a course laid out in the parking lot of the Reliant Park Complex...
.
The complex is served by the Reliant Park Station
Reliant Park Station
Reliant Park is an island platformed METRORail light rail station in Houston, Texas, United States. The station was opened on January 1, 2004, and is operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas . The station is located at the intersection of Fannin Street and Holly Hall...
, a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
station on the Red Line of the METRORail
METRORail
METRORail is the light rail line in Houston . It is the second major light rail service in Texas following the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. With an approximate daily ridership of 34,155, the METRORail ranks as the fourteenth most-traveled light rail system in the United States, with the...
light rail system. It also includes one of the world's largest parking lots (holding 26,000 total) and sees nearly 750 events yearly. Up until 2005, the lot also served as a parking lot for Six Flags Astroworld
Six Flags Astroworld
AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA...
, which has since closed.
Carruth Plaza
Carruth Plaza is a sculpture garden built in honor of Allen H. "Buddy" Carruth. Buddy was the long term president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Carruth Plaza has eight bronze statues and an obelisk.Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium, home to the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, was also the home of Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
(held February 1, 2004), where the New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 and where Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy
Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy
Super Bowl XXXVIII, which was broadcast live on February 1, 2004 from Houston, Texas on the CBS television network in the United States, was noted for a controversial halftime show in which Janet Jackson's breast, adorned with a nipple shield, was exposed by Justin Timberlake for about half a...
took place. Reliant Stadium hosted WrestleMania XXV
WrestleMania XXV
WrestleMania XXV was the twenty-fifth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on April 5, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas...
on April 5, 2009 with a sellout attendance of 72,774 and a live gate of $6.9 million.
The stadium was the first NFL stadium with a retractable roof and natural grass. The stadium that can be configured to utilize a 125000 square feet (11,612.9 m²) space for general session, catered functions, exhibits, concerts, and much more. In addition, Reliant Stadium offers four massive concourse levels for special events. The design of the stadium roof provides a very flexible rigging congiguration for major audio and visual presentations. 200 suites complement Reliant Stadium.
Reliant Center
The Reliant Center is a convention center located amongst the sports venues in Reliant Park. It opened in 2004 and hosts various events year-round, including portions of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, who maintains its offices on the second floor of the building. It runs over a quarter mile in length.Offering over 706000 square feet (65,589.5 m²) of contiguous single-level exhibit space divisible into 11 separate halls, Reliant Center boasts 61 meeting rooms configurable into over 100 variations, 2 major conference centers, 118 loading bays, over 150000 square feet (13,935.5 m²) of registration space. Reliant Center is equipped with a technological infrastructure capable of providing high-speed internet access, pre-wired fiber optic cabling backbone, on-site production facilities, 120 television monitors, and web-casting abilities. Exclusive services include on-site support from telephone and internet, electrical, food and beverage, rigging, security and event staffing. Each meeting room has its own dedicated sound, lighting and networking capabilities. A 280000 square feet (26,012.9 m²) marshalling area on-site with over 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) of space for shuttle transportation.
Along with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Reliant Center hosts some of the largest conventions and trade shows in Houston. Some examples of these events are the Offshore Technology Conference, Nutcracker Market, Houston Auto Show, International Gem & Jewelry Show, Houston Gun Collector's and Antique Show, and the Houston Boat, Sport and Travel Show - to name a few.
Reliant Arena
The Reliant Arena, formerly known as the "Astro Arena", is a 350000 square feet (32,516.1 m²) sports center. It was completed in 1974 and located adjacent to the Astro Hall (later renamed the Reliant Hall), which was later demolished in May 2002 to make room for more parking. The Arena has been the home of several different events, including the Houston HotshotsHouston Hotshots
The Houston Hotshots were a professional indoor soccer team in Houston, Texas. They played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1994 to 1997, and moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999 after the CISL folded...
, Houston's former indoor soccer team and smaller wrestling events such as WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
.
With fixed seating in the main arena for 5,800 and floor space encompassing approximately 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²), Reliant Arena is ideal for general sessions and events for less than 10,000. Reliant Arena's pavilion also provides 1,700 fixed seats and is surrounded by over 325000 square feet (30,193.5 m²) of exhibit space divisible into four halls. Reliant Arena also includes over 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) of meeting space.
Some of the latest events to come through Reliant Arena are the And 1 Mix Tape Tour, Hannah Montana
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
, The Cheetah Girls, and Sesame Street Live
Sesame Street Live
Sesame Street Live is the live touring show based on the children's television show Sesame Street.Produced by Minneapolis-based VEE Corporation, the show opened on September 17, 1980, with a production of Sesame Street Live "Missing Bird Mystery" playing at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota...
.
Reliant Astrodome
The Reliant Astrodome, formerly known as just the Houston Astrodome, is called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by many as it is the first domed structure of its size created without a pillar supporting it in the center. The Astrodome opened for business on April 9, 1965 and was the home of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Houston Oilers for over thirty years before both teams moved out, the former to Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
and the latter to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. The Astrodome has been the home of many other special events, including the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
, the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
, and World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF) WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania X-Seven was the seventeenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 1, 2001 at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The event was the first WrestleMania held in the state of Texas...
. The venue has also seen the likes of historic recording artists such as Elvis Presley. Up until 2002, Reliant Astrodome was also the host of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest of its kind in the world. The last concert in Reliant Astrodome was the largest attended event ever in the building, featuring George Strait on March 3, 2002 at the Livestock Show and Rodeo where he sang to 68,266 people.
The Astrodome (and Reliant Park in general) gained nationwide attention in September 2005 when it was opened as a massive shelter for refugees fleeing Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Each building except for Reliant Stadium (which was configured for the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
) hosted several thousand refugees, and local media dubbed the complex "Reliant City". This "city" was itself evacuated when Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
threatened Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
later that month, but many returned after the scare and moved out shortly before the end of the year.
JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park
The JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park is a temporary street circuitStreet circuit
A street circuit is a racing circuit composed by temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor races. Facilities such as the paddock, pit boxes, fences and grandstands are usually placed temporarily and removed soon after the race is over but in modern times the...
that is configured throughout Reliant Park's parking lot. The speedway hosted the Grand Prix of Houston
Grand Prix of Houston
The Grand Prix of Houston was an annual auto race on the Champ Car World Series circuit. It was held in a street circuit located in downtown Houston, Texas, United States of America for four years, then returned for two years on a course laid out in the parking lot of the Reliant Park Complex...
, a Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
race held in 2006
2006 Champ Car World Series Season
The 2006 Champ Car season was the third and penultimate season of the Champ Car World Series era of American open wheel racing. It began on April 9, 2006 in Long Beach, California and ended on November 12 in Mexico City, Mexico after 14 races. The Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series...
and 2007
2007 Champ Car World Series Season
The 2007 Champ Car season was the 29th and final season of the Champ Car World Series, however only its fourth season under the Champ Car title. It began on April 8, 2007 and ended on November 11 after 14 races...
. The pit lane and paddock for the race teams were located in Reliant Arena. Due to the merger between Champ Car and the Indy Racing League in 2008
2008 IndyCar Series season
The 2008 IndyCar Series season was the 13th season of the IndyCar Series. Its premier event was the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25. The first race was held March 29 at Homestead. It was the 97th recognized season of top-level American open wheel racing....
, the 2008 Grand Prix of Houston was canceled. The status of the Grand Prix beyond 2008 remains unclear.