A Look At Houston's Reliant Stadium (Photos)
Amid a season of incredible disappointment, which included the firing of head coach Gary Kubiak, the Houston Texans suddenly find themselves on the precipice of finishing with the NFL's worst record. Houston's fall from grace is particularly noteworthy because the club came into 2013 winners of the AFC South, during the two previous seasons.
While the 12-year-old franchise has fallen on hard times, one thing the 2002 expansion team has going for them is their impressive stadium. Below is a behind the scenes look at the utterly massive Reliant Stadium. The NFL's very first retractable roof venue, like its signature tenant, opened for business in 2002.
The 71,000-seat facility sits within the Reliant Park complex (just south of the Medical Center area of Houston), at the intersection of Kirby Drive and the South Loop I-610. Easily accessible via both freeway and surface streets, Reliant Stadium can be found seven miles south of downtown Houston, six miles southeast of the Galleria/Uptown neighborhood and three miles south of Rice University/Rice Village.
Readers can also view a fan's review of attending the world famous Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which of course takes place at the very same Reliant Stadium.
Here is a look at an entrance to the stadium, just off Kirby Drive.
Reliant Stadium stands immediately adjacent to the legendary Houston Astrodome (closed in 2008).
The Texans entire operation is headquartered at Reliant Stadium. The team's outdoor and indoor practice fields are reached via a walking bridge that crosses above Kirby Drive.
The locker-room area sports walls painted in Texans colors.
The visiting locker-room is clearly not intended to make the opposing team feel at home.
The press box's field view work area, combined with a more spacious media gathering hub.
Reliant Stadium features numerous club areas, built to support 7,000 club seats and roughly 200 luxury suites.
Stadium concourses are both wide and full of dining options.
In addition, NFL fans can view a behind the scenes look at AT&T Stadium, located 265 miles north, in Arlington, Texas.