HOUSTON – NRG Stadium will be fully repaired and ready for a home game Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, barring any unforeseen weather circumstances, an NRG Park spokesperson reiterated to KPRC 2 Wednesday.
The timetable for a full repair of the NRG Stadium roof damaged by Hurricane Beryl was always set for the end of September.
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That falls in line with the original projection for all panel repairs forecasted by Texans principal owner Cal McNair during training camp.
Damage to the home of the Texans was damaged caused by the Category 1 storm that ripped off multiple panels on the roof.
One of the panels was repaired in time for the Texans’ home opener Sept. 15 against the Chicago Bears, and the roof was open and the team had fireworks. And the second panel was always set to be ready for the Jaguars game, an NRG Park release stated, and an NRG Park spokesperson stated that release still holds true.
During the Texans’ home game against the New York Giants, fans in the uncovered area dealt with uncomfortable conditions due to the direct sunlight peeking through the uncovered portions of the roof despite the air conditioning in the facility. Some of those fans moved to other sections for relief.
The stadium, which is owned by Harris County, is expected to have the panels for the roof arrive and be installed by the fourth game of the regular season.
“NRG Stadium sustained damage to two roof panels as a result of Hurricane Beryl,” NRG Park said in a press release Aug. 29. “We want to take this opportunity to update the community, fans and all stakeholders on the situation. Weather permitting, we are pleased to report the following: The second roof panel is anticipated to be fully repaired before the Texans’ home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, September 29th noon.
“Guest safety remains our top priority. We appreciate the patience and support of our guests as we work diligently to restore the stadium roofto its full operational capacity. As guests plan their visit to NRG Stadium, we recommend they stay informed about weather forecasts and prepare and dress accordingly, whether it be for rain, heat, or other conditions. Until the roof is fully repaired, whether it is open or closed, portions of the stadium foor and seats will be exposed to the elements.
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“I’m always going to be myself,” Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “I really don’t get into the hoopla and away crowd, home crowd, I really don’t mind. I just try to execute and do my game, do what I need to do at a high level.
“I love our crowd. They do a good job of bringing juice and energy. I hope, since it’s a night game, people come a little earlier. Maybe because of the Houston traffic, people come a little late. And, then on offense, if they could be quiet a little more, that would help, especially when we’re going fast, it’s hard for the guys to hear me. So, I think we can be a little better with that. But, hey, we love the energy.”
McNair said at the start of training camp that the team expected the retractable roof to have the capability to be open or closed until NRG Stadium is fully repaired.
The damage wasn’t as significant as 2008 when Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, damaged five panels.
“The studies on that are ongoing, and we’ll learn more as we kind of work through it,” McNair said at the beginning of camp. “There are several panels that were damaged. These things aren’t on your local shelf at the do-it-yourself Home Depot. Wonderful stores that are around. They’re special-ordered, specially-made, so it’ll take a while. We’re hopeful that we’ll get them about a month into the season.
“The studies are showing that we’ll be able to keep the roof closed or open. So, we’ll have the choice to do that. And then we have a couple of events coming up, or we’ll get to study and see, how the building is able to condition.”
NRG Stadium, the home of the Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, was seen with multiple missing panels from its retractable roof in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
“Like many of our neighbors in the Gulf Coast region, NRG Park sustained damage from Hurricane Beryl, including to the roof of NRG Stadium,” NRG Park CEO and executive director Ryan M. Walsh said in a statement at the time of the storm. “HCSCC officials are collaborating with state, county, and city officials to assist with recovery efforts throughout the region. This collective undertaking requires all of us to work together with a strong commitment to our community. While we assist with these efforts, we are also assessing the extent of damages to NRG Park facilities. We look forward to seeing our neighbors at NRG Park soon as we return to normal operations.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
