Over the final two weeks in May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott instituted a graduated opening of the state’s economy. But what does this look like on the ground? What are the prospects moving forward for the larger economic engine in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic? “Mixed in with the controversy that surrounds the reopening plans and whether it’s the right thing to do or not is that nobody really knows what’s next,” said Ryan Walsh, executive director, NRG Park. “All we can do is plan against the worst-case scenario.” Walsh was part of a panel discussion that REDnews recently hosted to explore what the next steps are for Texas businesses and properties now that stay-at-home orders are lifting. NRG Park—the four-stadium, 350-acre property that hosts Texans games, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and other live events—has joined a task force with other
Houston arenas regarding the best practices for opening up their venues.
Following guidelines from the CDC and the White House about strict social distancing requirements would mean that NRG Stadium, for example, would only be able to fill 17 to 18 percent of the 72,000 seats for a Texans home game. NRG Park has been in constant contact with their vendors and the NFL as to how they can safely reopen the stadium, but at the moment there are no set-in-stone plans. Walsh said that one frustration is the mercurial communication coming from various government agencies as to how to proceed. Click to read more at www.rednews.com.