Following the announcement of a new Houston Astros entertainment district in the southeastern area outside Minute Maid Park, it appears that the Houston Rockets are following suite. According to reports, the Houston Rockets are in early discussions to create their own entertainment district across two blocks in Downtown, Houston.
Discussions surrounding the proposed Houston Rockets entertainment district are still preliminary. In June 2023, Senate Bill 1057 passed, which would enable the city to allocate hotel-occupancy taxes of the Hilton Americas Hotel to expand the George R. Brown Convention Center and develop its surrounding areas.
On July 24, Houston City Council approved Houston First’s land acquisition proposal for the George R. Brown Convention Center. The proposal would enable the corporation to continue its transformation of the convention center as well as development of the surrounding convention area, which according to Houston First, include plans for an entertainment district.
“Houston First looks forward to beginning work on the previously announced transformation of the George R. Brown Convention Center and surrounding convention and entertainment district,” a Houston First spokesperson told the Houston Business Journal.
“We need to modernize George R. Brown, we need to expand it, we need to create an entertainment district, we need to add more walkable amenities,” Heckman said. “When we’re able to do those things, the connectivity to the east side will be a transformation.
The proposal encompasses two blocks in Downtown, Houston between the Toyota Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Houston First plans to create an entertainment district with activations up to 365 days a year.
Whether or not the planned entertainment district will be under the banner of the Houston Rockets is still unclear. According to Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First, the Rockets are in discussions with the city regarding the proposed development.
As to what the Rockets have revealed about their aspirations with the project is scarce. Thus far president of business operations for the Rockets, Gretchen Sheirr, has simply noted “that there are opportunities for development on the east side of Toyota center”.
More details about the proposed entertainment district are expected to be released in the coming year or so.
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