Will this week's game be postponed or moved due to Ike? [Yes] [Archive]

Keith

09-11-2008, 09:04 AM

The Texans have not really said much yet officially, and it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't discuss plans more openly until late this afternoon or tomorrow.

Given the evacuations ordered, I am having a harder time seeing this game played as scheduled on Sunday afternoon, even though the storm itself will have moved on by then. If I had to guess right now, I'd say this game will be moved back to Monday night and played at Reliant Stadium, assuming no significant damage to the stadium.

All speculation still at this point.

eta - here is the latest email from the team:

HURRICANE IKE UPDATE
The Houston Texans are currently evaluating the severe weather conditions projected for the Gulf Coast region. The team is in contact with the National Weather Service and the National Football League to determine the status of the Texans vs. Ravens game scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 14.
We will communicate updated game information throughout the day via HoustonTexans.com and regular email alerts.

papabear

09-11-2008, 10:00 AM

One thing I heard and this could have changed by now, but that if the Ravens palne could land then they thought they would be able to play the game Sunday. If not they will move to Monday. I think they are planning on the storm having passed by Sunday to play the game.

cadams

09-11-2008, 10:22 AM

my guess is they will move it to monday. many of the people will be returning from evacuating on Sunday, which could cut attendance.

nunusguy

09-11-2008, 11:25 AM

Their problem is as I understand it is their only shot at the game is this
weekend & Monday ? And if they make up their minds to play it here and the storm turns out to be too intense, too destructive (lets hope not!), for a game in this window they are out of luck and won't play it.
Therefor I'm gonna be surprised if the Texans don't elect to go with an alternative location while they've still got the time for that option.

HPF Bob

09-11-2008, 05:20 PM

Attendance won't matter. The Texans already have their money.

A move to Monday night might be judicious (and mayyyyybe ESPN will show it as a doubleheader) but that's as far as any changes.

TheMatrix31

09-11-2008, 05:27 PM

Saw on the ESPNews bottom line that it was moved to Monday Night at 7:30CDT?

I wonder if I'll still get this game on Sunday Ticket....

HPF Bob

09-11-2008, 06:09 PM

I saw the same crawl.

Keith

09-11-2008, 07:09 PM

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=4630

The NFL announced Thursday evening that the Texans' Week 2 game versus the Baltimore Ravens will be played Monday.

Due to the importance of allowing the Houston area to focus on its recovery from the expected arrival of Hurricane Ike on Friday, the Texans' home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens has been re-scheduled for Monday night at Reliant Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Houston time (8:30 p.m. ET). The game originally was scheduled to be played on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 3:15 p.m. Houston time (4:15 p.m. ET).

The Texans-Ravens Monday night game will be televised on local CBS stations in the primary and secondary markets of the Texans (Houston, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and Bryan, Texas) and the Ravens (Baltimore; Washington, DC; Salisbury, MD; and Harrisburg, PA).

TheMatrix31

09-11-2008, 07:10 PM

Any good news for us folks not in the Houston or Baltimore areas?

Keith

09-11-2008, 07:14 PM

Yes, we'll have a gameday thread here on ItB.com so local fans watching the game can offer their insight into what they're seeing on TV.

:D

Actually, I think the game should still be available on DirecTV's Sunday NFL ticket, and ESPN2 is supposedly airing the game too.

eta - This was in the email just sent by the Texans:

HOUSTON TEXANS GAME UPDATE

Due to the importance of allowing the Houston area to focus on its recovery from the expected arrival of Hurricane Ike on Friday, the Houston Texans' home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens has been re-scheduled for Monday night September 15 at 7:30 p.m at Reliant Stadium. The game originally was scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 14 at 3:15 p.m The Texans-Ravens Monday night game will be televised on the local CBS station and on ESPN2.

All tickets to the Ravens game will be honored on Monday night. Please note the following timeline for the game:
Parking lots will open at 3:30 pm (Platinum at 2:30 pm)
Budweiser Plaza will open at 5:30 pm
Stadium gates will open at 6:00 pm

coloradodude

09-12-2008, 12:17 AM

Good Lord.

Now we have an extra day of preparation to take away any excuses. Hopefully, we make a statement to the rest of the league that you shouldn't give the Texans an extra day of prep as opposed to it just doesn't matter how much time you give that bunch cause they're just gonna blow it.

TheMatrix31

09-12-2008, 02:13 AM

Alright, good news on the telecast. I figure DTV would still have it anyway since it pulls Sunday Ticket feeds off the local stations. If not, hopefully ESPN2 broadcasts the game in hi-def.

Keith

09-12-2008, 11:30 AM

Well, according to a quote from Aiello on PFT.com, the game will not be on DirecTV. And frankly, I'm questioning the accuracy of the Texans' email saying it will also be on ESPN2. Hmmm...

From PFT:

“Sunday Ticket is only available on Sunday,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us via e-mail. “The Ravens-Texans game will be televised on the CBS stations in the primary and secondary markets of the Ravens and Texans.”

Here’s the problem. The NFL and DirecTV market Sunday Ticket as a way for fans of teams who don’t live where their favorite teams play to watch their favorite teams’ games. Many folks buy the entire DirecTV package not for the ability to watch every Sunday game, but to watch the one each week that involves the team whose games rarely if ever shows up on the broadcast networks in their area.

So as to all Ravens and Texans fans who don’t live in Baltimore or Houston, they’ll getting screwed out of the main reason they bought the Sunday Ticket package.

And they should get partial refunds.

We recommend not holding your breath. ...

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/12/ravens-texans-wont-be-on-sunday-ticket/

popanot

09-12-2008, 01:23 PM

Man, this is sad... I'm debating whether to start Flacco this week in my FFL because of the crappy showing the Texans D' put on us last week. :mad:

TheMatrix31

09-12-2008, 01:30 PM

Well, according to a quote from Aiello on PFT.com, the game will not be on DirecTV. And frankly, I'm questioning the accuracy of the Texans' email saying it will also be on ESPN2. Hmmm...

From PFT:

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/12/ravens-texans-wont-be-on-sunday-ticket/

That is ****************ed up.

popanot

09-12-2008, 04:15 PM

FYI, for the Sunday Ticket folks.

RAVENS-TEXANS GAME WILL AIR ON DIRECTV
Posted by Mike Florio on September 12, 2008, 4:32 p.m.
Well, we’re not quite sure why or how it happened, but the good folks at the NFL and ESPN have decided that the Monday night game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans will be available to DirecTV customers.

“After taking a closer look at it, we have decided that our Sunday Ticket subscribers will receive Monday night’s telecast of the Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans game,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us by e-mail a few moments ago.

The game won’t be available via DirecTV in Baltimore or Houston, but it wouldn’t be available via DirecTV in those cities if they played the game on Sunday. In those cities, it can be seen on the local CBS affiliate.

Kudos to the league and ESPN for doing the right thing.

HPF Bob

09-12-2008, 05:47 PM

It doesn't indicate that Austin is getting the game on KEYE. I still don't understand where ESPN is factoring into this unless they are picking up the telecast but if they are, why should DTV and other satellite options be necessary?

Keith

09-12-2008, 07:22 PM

Chron.com article on game being televised on DirecTV for Sunday Ticket subscribers.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5998295.html

DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer said NFL Sunday Ticket customers around the nation will be able to see the Ravens-Texans game live Monday night.

ESPN has exclusive rights to the Monday night window but agreed with the decision to make the Texans available on Sunday Ticket.

"We had conversations with the NFL today and determined this was the appropriate decision in order to best serve football fans," said ESPN spokesman Bill Hoffheimer. "Also, we will update our national viewers during the regularly-scheduled MNF game between the Eagles and Cowboys with in-game highlights of the Ravens-Texans."

From McClain's blog (http://blogs.chron.com/nfl/2008/09/if_texans_beat_ravens_they_pla_1.html):

The Ravens are scheduled to come to Houston on Sunday. They could wait as late as Monday. NFL rules say visiting teams are supposed to be in a city 24 hours before the game, but in emergency situations like this, that rule is relaxed.
Depending on what happens with Ike, of course, there's always a chance the game could be postponed again. The NFL always has a plan, but right now, it hasn't been disclosed to us. ...

The last thing the Texans and Ravens want to do is to move the game. Remember last season when there was so much speculation about where the Texans and Chargers were going to play because of the fires that burned out of control in the San Diego area? They ended up playing it when and where they were supposed to. The Texans might as well have forfeited because they played such a horrible game against the Chargers.

HPF Bob

09-12-2008, 10:29 PM

So that's where ESPN comes in. They had to consent for another game to butt into their protected time slot (obviously any competition, no matter how minor, pulls a percentage of viewers from the game they're showing thus diminishing the value of the ads they are selling).

So I guess that means you'll get the Texans if you have Sunday Ticket or if you are in the local markets for Houston and Baltimore.

Keith

09-13-2008, 01:16 PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5999358.html

Reliant Stadium has been damaged. There will be no game on Monday. More to come once teams discuss with the league.

HPF Bob

09-13-2008, 02:38 PM

It would be really cool to see the game moved next door to the Astrodome but I'm guessing that the Dome is not in playable shape anymore.

So, what's Kyle Field doing this week?

TheMatrix31

09-13-2008, 04:40 PM

Is there any reason why this game isn't being moved to another stadium?

The bye week idea is AWFUL.

chuck

09-13-2008, 05:33 PM

Is there any reason why this game isn't being moved to another stadium?

The bye week idea is AWFUL.

I have no idea why they can't play the game Monday in San Antonio. Or New Orleans. Or who cares where. You're right, the Texans having their bye at week two is horrible.

HPF Bob

09-13-2008, 05:37 PM

Per McClain:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5999358.html

Texans have moved their game with the Bengals for that week to their scheduled bye week (Oct. 26th) so both teams will have Nov. 9th free to play the game.

TheMatrix31

09-13-2008, 05:42 PM

I hate it.

We have to sacrifice our bye week? Damn.

chuck

09-13-2008, 06:17 PM

You'd think that for $350 million a collection of monkeys could figure out how to build a stadium that would withstand a stiff breeze. What a bunch of idiots. I've never liked that stadium. It's ugly, the open roof gives no sense of being outside, and it's broken. I bet you anything that the stadium isn't repaired in time for the Colts game. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the team didn't play a single game in Reliant Stadium this year. Reliant my ass.

HPF Bob

09-13-2008, 07:37 PM

chuck

09-13-2008, 08:54 PM

It does seem a bit ironic that the baseball stadium that was built on the cheap is ready to go with only minor damage while the football stadium that was built with a future Super Bowl in mind and declared "state of the art" has major problems. The Astrodome next door appears to have survived, just as it did with Alicia 25 years ago.

I can see them both from where I live - the Dome and Reliant. The Dome is sitting there looking the same as ever. Reliant has what look like massive rips in the roofing or at least significant sections missing - there are large dark strips contrasting with the white roof.

As you mention MMP has escaped unscathed. Of course the league wants the Astros to play their series against the Cubs elsewhere, but that's a horse of a different feather.

Reliant sucks. I've always thought so and said as much after my first visit. But, sensitive as always to the considerations of others, I muted my criticism once it became obvious that the overwhelming consensus was positive. Looking back I think that the consensus would have been positive if presented with Butler Stadium given the excitement over the new franchise.

I'm planning on visiting Lambeau this year. That's some sort of consolation I suppose.

popanot

09-14-2008, 06:39 AM

HPF Bob

09-14-2008, 11:42 AM

Reliant is open to a large expanse of nothing, whereas MMP is shielded by a large city, freeway structure, and GRB. There's a big difference. Ike was hardly "a gust of wind" judging by the devastion in the area, which we are all experiencing to some degree or another.

I disagree. Ever been in any downtown when it is windy? The tall buildings amplify the wind speed around them making it even windier at ground level. That's part of what happened to the Georgia Dome during the SEC basketball tournament last spring. These downtown venues are far more vulnerable to wind damage, not "shielded".

Frankly, I couldn't give a rats ass about the Texans schedule, Reliant, or the impact of having the bye week in Wk2. My main worry is how to keep my wife and 3 young kids cool, fed and healthy in the next couple of weeks. It's going to get nasty around here if they can't get power going and the food, fresh water and gas supply going soon.

And yet you had time to come online to a football website and vent. I'm glad you and your family made it through okay. Once you get the electricity back, everything will return to normal and they will have crews from all over the country down there working to get you back on as fast as they can. If they have to replace a lot of lines where you are, you'll probably have to wait longer but I predict that 80-90% of the affected area will be back on by the end of the week. Only the hardest hit areas will need to wait longer.

I went through Alicia myself and I have had family scattered all throughout Florida and the Gulf Coast so I know how recovery goes. The media will always paint the worst possible picture for you. Pockets of devastation down by the coast will be really hard times but much of the rest of the region will be largely back to normal by the end of the week.

popanot

09-14-2008, 11:58 AM

I disagree.Then we agree to disagree.

And yet you had time to come online to a football website and vent. .Please forgive me for trying to have some sense of normalcy here. I went through Alicia was well and this is far worse.

HPF Bob

09-14-2008, 12:21 PM

There was no internet or cell phones back during Alicia so I'd say things are probably better. :)

Mike

09-14-2008, 09:26 PM

Having moved here 10 years ago, I was a hurricane virgin. I must say that I was scared when it kicked up and got bad. My house is certified for windstorm of 140mph, but I swear I've never heard sounds like I heard the other night. Happy to say that I live near my towns water supply and apparenly we were some of the first to get back power. What an experience. My house only suffered minor shingle damage and my fence got tore down but I am lucky.

Hope you others in Ike's way get your electricity and life back to normal. You are in my prayers.

papabear

09-16-2008, 12:46 PM

I disagree. Ever been in any downtown when it is windy? The tall buildings amplify the wind speed around them making it even windier at ground level. That's part of what happened to the Georgia Dome during the SEC basketball tournament last spring. These downtown venues are far more vulnerable to wind damage, not "shielded".

I'm with Popanot on this one. The buildings might swirl the wind and make it windier at ground level, but the more stuff there is the more friction there is to slow down the winds. That's why winds speeds are always higher up off the ground then they are at ground level.

The stadium should have been able to handle Ike though, and I'd be surprised if there isn't a lawsuit down the road...much like the one for the juice box's climate control and the problems they had with the roof. Wind is a weird thing. My fence is 20? years old. Half the wood is rotted, and it was already crooked and leaning over. It's fine, but the nice new one my neighbor put up a year or two ago is down.

superbowlbound

09-16-2008, 05:32 PM

i'm with you, PB. I'd be mighty surprised if there isn't a lawsuit filed. Aside from the fact that a 350 million dollar stadium should be able to handle a category 2 storm without large sections of the roof being completely torn off, just look at the lost revenue. I'd be shocked if we're able to play in reliant before november, if at all. Rice stadium? please. we'd be better off at the Rob.

HPF Bob

09-16-2008, 07:16 PM

papabear

09-17-2008, 08:38 AM

WMH

09-17-2008, 09:14 AM

I have a question, it sounds incredibly in-sensitive, especially with everything going on around here, but I am going ask anyway......:confused:
With Rice having a capacity of about 50K, how will our season tickets be handled? How many season ticket holders are there?

Just curious.

cadams

09-17-2008, 09:15 AM

Gee, there was a time when a football stadium didn't need a roof to play a game. If the rest of the structure is sound and no more pieces from the roof are apt to drop, they should just play the game.

yeah, i dont know what all damage there is, but if possible just open the roof and play like it is a regular stadium, rain or shine.

Joshua

09-17-2008, 09:18 AM

It's my understanding that about 90% of the stadium are season ticket holders. Since it holds 70,000 and change, by my estimation, about 63,000-65,000 are season ticket holders. Don't know how they'll handle that.

I agree on the open roof. I thought it was silly we had a roof in the first place. However, after the Pitt game when all of the fans complained so much, I guess McNair guessed right in having a roof. I hate to say it but we're probably not the most diehard fanbase in the world.

papabear

09-17-2008, 09:29 AM

papabear

09-17-2008, 09:31 AM

yeah, i dont know what all damage there is, but if possible just open the roof and play like it is a regular stadium, rain or shine.

I hope that's what they do, but the stadium doesn't have the drainage of an open air stadium. A decent rain could turn the field into a lake.

cadams

09-17-2008, 12:25 PM

I hope that's what they do, but the stadium doesn't have the drainage of an open air stadium. A decent rain could turn the field into a lake.

this still baffels me. i know a lot of people in houston are wimps with regard to sports (see the steelers game a couple of years ago) but how do you build a football stadium that can't handle rain?

papabear

09-17-2008, 12:46 PM

this still baffels me. i know a lot of people in houston are wimps with regard to sports (see the steelers game a couple of years ago) but how do you build a football stadium that can't handle rain?

Jut repeating what I heard. I don't even know if that's true. It was designed to have a roof, but if you think about how our field works it makes sense. The field is basically just a bunch of "trays" with grass and dirt in them that are moved into and out of the stadium as needed. They sit on a concrete floor in the stadium or in the parking lot outside. Most outdoors stadiums have several layers of gravel/sand with drainage pipes to let the water out. There's no need (or room) for that with this set up as long as the roof is working. I think it is only a problem in the case of pretty heavy rains in a short amount of time.

CWade

09-17-2008, 02:13 PM

I saw somewhere that the stadium was built to only withstand something like 115 mph winds....or basically pretty close to what it got. That's a little stupid IF it's correct.

They are considering playing with an open roof, but the problem is that since they planned on having a roof, the drainage system couldn't handle a big rain without it turning into a lake.

Isn't the roof of Reliant some 260ft up in the air? Ike's 110mph winds are measured at ground level-up 260ft they would be considerably faster. Buoys were measuring, IIRC, 135mph winds at 122m when Ike was still a 105mph storm.

Warren

09-17-2008, 09:51 PM

This article (http://www.egr.uh.edu/parameters/spring2003/?e=sporting) talks about the stadium design and says that the roof was supposed to withstand winds up to 120 mph. The desire to make Reliant more of a multipurpose facility than a pure football field (it hosts more rodeo events per year than NFL games) seems to have a lot to do with why it wasn't set up to have an open roof indefinitely. The floor without the drainage system is probably a lot more useful for non-football events.

Rice Stadium may be the next best option but I don't think it's a real attractive one for the team. Even if every Reliant ticketholder gets a seat at Rice, Rice would clearly be a step down in quality for the fan -- sightlines, benches instead of seats, no luxury boxes (right?), fewer concessions and bathrooms, less parking and access for traffic, no video screens (right?) etc. The team would need to do something to make up the difference to the fans, not to mention the hit it would take in lost signage, video, and other in-stadium advertising revenue.

HPF Bob

09-18-2008, 03:28 AM

The typical outdoor football field is built on a "crown" where the area between the hashmarks is higher up than the sidelines. That's so rain can flow down to the sidelines and provide better traction in the middle of the field.

In domed facilities, the crown is not needed so they were built without one, all the better to stage non-football events. I think that's the real issue here although I see it being a factor only if the game was played in a downpour. Excessive rains might also flood the field level seats closest to the sidelines.

But if the roof is the only thing wrong and the sod is portable, I just don't see why it would matter to the point of relocating the game. Football was designed to be played in adverse weather conditions.