Dynamo Stadium Step Closer to Reality

HOUSTON - Another small step is taken toward sealing a deal to build the Houston Dynamo Soccer stadium.

The Harris County Sports Authority has appointed a task force to look into the project after the city and county asked the Sports Authority to get involved. The task force will talk with city and county officials to find out exactly what is needed of the sports authority.

Here's what's proposed. The city and county would own the land. Each would give $10 million to build the $80 million stadium.

Dynamo owners would pay the rest. The stadium would be built East of Highway 59 on Texas at Dowling. Dynamo has been in Houston for 4 years.

"The Sports Authority has always been good at getting things done. It built Minute Maid Park on time on budget, Reliant Stadium on time on budget, Toyota Center on time on budget," says Oliver Luck Dynamo General Manager.

The problem with the sports authority getting involved is it signed a no-compete clause with Toyota Center, promising not to build another stadium within 10 years and 10 miles of downtown Houston.

The clause is mostly to prevent concerts from being taken away from Toyota Center.

Although co-owner of Dynamo A.E.G. is the second largest concert promoter in the world, Dynamo owners say they would not have a problem with holding off on holding concerts at the new 22,000 seat stadium until that no-compete clause expires in October of 2013.

The Houston East End Chamber of Commerce is holding it's breath through all the negotiations. It's been fighting for years to get the stadium built in the East End.

"We're looking forward to the economic impact. The entertainment and restaurant venue around dynamo stadium is already growing. It will grow even more once the stadium is finally approved," says Diane Lipton President of the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce.

Erik Mrok owns Lenox BBQ on Harrisburg. He would love to see the stadium and the extra business.

"It's definitely going to be a boost here. Everything will be downtown. You're going to have basketball, baseball and soccer all within a triangle," says Mrok.

From here the sports authority task force will meet with city and county leaders, take a recommendation back to the sports authority board so it can take a vote on whether to move forward with participating in building the Houston Dynamo Soccer stadium.