Reliant Arena
Encyclopedia
The Reliant Arena, formerly the "Astroarena", is a 350,000 square feet (33,000 m²) sports center in Reliant Park
, in Houston, Texas
, USA. It is one of the state's major arenas and convention center
s. Reliant became the home of the Women's National Basketball Association
's Houston Comets
for what proved to be their final season
. The team folded after failing to secure new ownership.
The main partition on the first floor is the "Arena Proper", a 24,000 gross square foot arena that seats up to 8,500 people. While dwarfed by the stadiums within the complex (the Reliant Astrodome
seats 60,000 and Reliant Stadium
seats 70,000) as well as other arenas in the city (the Toyota Center
seats 18,500, Robertson Stadium
seats 32,000, and Minute Maid Park
seats 42,000), it serves as an ideal location for events that cannot possibly fill such large arenas.
In addition to the Arena Proper, there are four exhibit halls within Reliant Arena. The largest hall is Exhibit Hall D, boasting 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) of space. The second is Exhibit Hall A, which has 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) of space. Exhibit Halls B and C each have 50000 square feet (4,645.2 m²) of floor space as well.
The upper level maintains smaller meeting rooms and office space as well as the "Stockman's Club".
was being completed.
The Arena has since been utilized for several other events, including the National Catholic Youth Conference in 2003 and the peripheral events of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
.
The Arena has also been a favorite stop for professional wrestling
promotion
s such as World Wrestling Entertainment
and World Championship Wrestling
. Over the past decade, it has hosted multiple episodes of WCW Thunder
and WWE SmackDown!, shows hosted by each company. Additionally, it hosted WCW's Fall Brawl pay per view in 1993.
After previously occupying the Compaq Center from 1998 to 2000, the PBR held a Bud Light Cup
event in Reliant Arena in 2001; this was their last big-league event in Houston to date.
In 2005, the Arena was used as a shelter for residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina
after it was deemed that the Reliant Astrodome
would be insufficient for comfortably housing over 30,000 residents. It served as auxiliary housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina along with other parts of Reliant Park, and was the site of the field clinic set up to care for those displaced by the hurricane. This led to the cancellation of a My Chemical Romance
concert, which led to a small riot.
The Arena is a potential home for a relocated af2
team, the Texas Copperheads
. The Copperheads played the 2006 season in nearby Katy
.
On July 16, 2007 the arena played host to the first indoor stop on the 2007 Vans Warped Tour
.
On December 12, 2007 team owner Hilton Koch
announced that the Comets would be moving from the Toyota Center
to Reliant Arena for the 2008 WNBA season.
In July 2008, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
held its Victory Road 2008
pay-per-view
event at the arena.
Reliant Park
Reliant Park is a complex in Houston, Texas, USA, named after the energy company Reliant Energy. It is located on Kirby Drive at the 610 Loop...
, in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA. It is one of the state's major arenas and convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
s. Reliant became the home of the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
's Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
for what proved to be their final season
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
. The team folded after failing to secure new ownership.
Building format
Reliant Arena consists of multiple rooms and divisions on two separate floors.The main partition on the first floor is the "Arena Proper", a 24,000 gross square foot arena that seats up to 8,500 people. While dwarfed by the stadiums within the complex (the Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...
seats 60,000 and Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
seats 70,000) as well as other arenas in the city (the Toyota Center
Toyota Center (Houston)
The Toyota Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Houston, Texas. It is named after the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. The arena is home to the Rockets of the National Basketball Association, the principal owners of the building, and the Aeros of the American Hockey League.Rockets...
seats 18,500, Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
seats 32,000, and Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
seats 42,000), it serves as an ideal location for events that cannot possibly fill such large arenas.
In addition to the Arena Proper, there are four exhibit halls within Reliant Arena. The largest hall is Exhibit Hall D, boasting 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) of space. The second is Exhibit Hall A, which has 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) of space. Exhibit Halls B and C each have 50000 square feet (4,645.2 m²) of floor space as well.
The upper level maintains smaller meeting rooms and office space as well as the "Stockman's Club".
History
Construction of Reliant Arena originated in the early 1970s and completed in 1974 adjacent to the Astrohall. Although the Astrohall (renamed Reliant Hall temporarily) was its next door neighbor, it was demolished in May 2002 to make way for a parking lot when Reliant StadiumReliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
was being completed.
The Arena has since been utilized for several other events, including the National Catholic Youth Conference in 2003 and the peripheral events of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called RodeoHouston, is the world's largest live entertainment and livestock exhibition. It also includes the richest regular-season rodeo event. It has been held at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, since 2003...
.
The Arena has also been a favorite stop for professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
s such as World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
and World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
. Over the past decade, it has hosted multiple episodes of WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
and WWE SmackDown!, shows hosted by each company. Additionally, it hosted WCW's Fall Brawl pay per view in 1993.
After previously occupying the Compaq Center from 1998 to 2000, the PBR held a Bud Light Cup
Built Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series is the "major league" tour of the PBR competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won...
event in Reliant Arena in 2001; this was their last big-league event in Houston to date.
In 2005, the Arena was used as a shelter for residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
after it was deemed that the Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...
would be insufficient for comfortably housing over 30,000 residents. It served as auxiliary housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina along with other parts of Reliant Park, and was the site of the field clinic set up to care for those displaced by the hurricane. This led to the cancellation of a My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
concert, which led to a small riot.
The Arena is a potential home for a relocated af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
team, the Texas Copperheads
Texas Copperheads
The Texas Copperheads were a professional arena football that played in af2, the minor league for the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2006 as member of the National Indoor Football League . They played their home games at the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center in Cypress,...
. The Copperheads played the 2006 season in nearby Katy
Katy, Texas
Katy is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area...
.
On July 16, 2007 the arena played host to the first indoor stop on the 2007 Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
.
On December 12, 2007 team owner Hilton Koch
Hilton Koch
Hilton Koch is a furniture dealer and store owner in Houston Texas at Hilton Furniture. He was the owner of the former Houston Comets of the WNBA before they folded.His catch phrase is "Oohhhhh, That's a Fact Jack"....
announced that the Comets would be moving from the Toyota Center
Toyota Center (Houston)
The Toyota Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Houston, Texas. It is named after the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. The arena is home to the Rockets of the National Basketball Association, the principal owners of the building, and the Aeros of the American Hockey League.Rockets...
to Reliant Arena for the 2008 WNBA season.
In July 2008, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
held its Victory Road 2008
Victory Road (2008)
Victory Road was the fourth Victory Road professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by American promotion, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
event at the arena.