The Blame Game

I don't blame Hilton for the move to Reliant.

I blame the fair weather fans of Houston.

Plain and simple.

And my only regret is that I might be viewed in that manner, so let me make it perfectly clear... my decision not renew has nothing, whatsoever, to do with our team. It has everything to do with Reliant Arena, and Reliant Arena only.

Decision to Stay Home

Hilton's decision was likely an easy one. And mine was, too. Sad... but easy.

I've been a season ticket holder since mid-way through the inaugural season of the WNBA in 1997. I rode the joyous wave of championship after championship, and I've seen them through many heart breaking times.

My commitment to this team, to women's sports and to providing dreams and aspirations to young girls has been unwavering.

Initially, I purchased two season tickets, and over the past two years have downsized to one... for a little over the price of my intial investment. I've also renewed my tickets and given them away or let them go unused in years that I knew I would be too busy and travelling too much for work to attend.

I followed them from Compaq to Toyota. Last year I even attended a pre-season game at Del-Mar (an old, old, old sup-par high school arena).

I just can't follow them to Reliant.

Hilton's decision to move the team was based on purely financial considerations. My decision to stay home was based on a NUMBER of factors:

1. Integrity. Reliant Arena is beneath the integrity of these professional athletes. I shudder at the thought of our players being looked down upon by the visiting team. It's just a disgrace.
2. Physical Location. It is physically impossible for me to travel through rush hour traffic... from where I work to home and then to Reliant. I can't leave for work at 630am and not go home before the game. And I can't give up an extra hour of my life to traffic. I just can't. It doesn't work for my life and my priorities.
3. Poor Parking. Mind you, I've been to the dog sw a multitude of times, and while I don't know the attendance numbers, I can tell you that I've walked a quarter of a mile to the arena... many times in the rain. Imagine doing that two to three times a week, in the rain. And yes... it rains that much in Houston!
4. Security. The area of town isn't the greatest. You could maybe say that about Toyota Center, but the parking garage was connected with a covered walk and was as bright as daylight.
5. Spoiled. Yes. Toyota spoiled me. The oak bars, deluxe meals and never crowded restrooms of Club Level made for such a pleasurable experience... that the comparably priced dog show dogs, dome foam and sterile, indestructable restrooms of Reliant make me feel like I should get about a $300 rebate on my ticket. No?
6. Financial. Just like Hilton couldn't afford for seats to go unfilled. I can't either. I'm just not willing to donate $850 for a seat that will go unused, except for weekend games. I might as well buy individual VIP or floor seats.

Sad.

Decision to Move

We all saw it coming, so I can't say I'm suprised.

The Comets announced this week that they will move from the A-List Toyota Center to the Z-List Reliant Arena (yes, that's where they hold the dog show... the gun and gem shows).

Hilton Koch has this to say:

"We are very excited that Reliant Arena will be the new home for the (Comets). As an organization, our goal is to provide Comets fans with a phenomenal in-arena experience [read: high school gymnasium feel] while at the same time maximizing the team's long-term growth potential [read: continuing existence].

Reliant Arena's smaller venue [capacity of 5,800... which should be an easy sell and make every game a sell-out... but it's Reliant, so I'd expect about half that] will be a great setting for our boisterous fans and will help create a powerful home-court advantage."

Sad.