Looking at NRG Stadium's future as Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and Texans build new facilities

As NRG Stadium, currently named Houston Stadium for the World Cup and soon to be renamed Reliant Stadium, approaches its 25th football season, changes are underway.

The Houston Texans announced a new practice facility near Bridgeland, while the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo just announced a new agricultural complex near Highway 288.

So what does the future look like for the iconic stadium?

The latest comments from the Texans on NRG Stadium are that they’re all in on keeping the stadium one of the best in the NFL. They plan to stay, but they are building the Toro District in Bridgeland, which includes new offices, practice facilities, and retail to draw in the fans.

The Rodeo’s announcement to build a new one-million-square-foot complex for an arena, barns, and educational space answers their need for more space. But is it all a prelude to both the Rodeo and the Texans building new homes?

“The Astrodome, the 8th wonder of the world, eventually outgrown by the teams. The Astros and Oilers moved on to other facilities and a different market for the Oilers. The stadium doesn’t work, and it was designed for both.” Robert Eckels, Harris County Judge from 1995 to 2007, said.

Eckels was on the ground floor when NRG was designed and built.

“NRG is a state-of-the-art facility. Over time, the market will evolve, the teams will evolve,” Eckels said.

When asked what the timeline is for the stadium’s future, Eckels said, “NRG as a facility, both the Texans and the Rodeo will both move on to more facilities as their need evolve. I think the core for the football games and the Rodeo…it will be hard to build something to compete with NRG Stadium.”

With all of this talk about NRG Stadium and its viability, the question that lingers is what to do with the Astrodome.

SEE ALSO: Despite an Astrodome study, the fate of the ‘8th Wonder’ remains unknown