Dynamo fans gathered Monday for the second of three rallies designed to raise public support for a new, dedicated stadium for the MLS club. | Katy Umaña/The Daily Cougar
The Dynamo Supporters’ Alliance the their second of three planned rallies this weekend to raise support to build a new stadium for Houston’s MLS club.
More than 100 fans showed up to the stadium’s proposed location to remind Harris County representatives of their promise to build the club a new home.
For Eric Nordstrom, founder of the Dynamo Supporters Alliance, it is time to end the waiting.
“The city committed to this project a long time ago, and it’s literally been the inaction of the commissioner’s court and, specifically, El Franco Lee and Silvia Garcia to put this issue on the agenda,” Nordstrom said. “All we ask to happen is that this issue be put on the agenda and once and for all have a full and open hearing.”
The rally was held at the East End of downtown, at the intersection of Rusk and Dowling, where the gathered fans hope the new stadium will be built.
“The residents have been on board for this since Day 1. Eighteen or 19 months ago, I think it was November of 2008, the Dynamo were out here with the East End Chamber of Commerce speaking in favor of the downtown stadium project,” Nordstrom said.
The area is viewed as superior to the second proposed location at South Rice and Westpark Toll Road, where residents are in strong opposition to adding new infrastructure to an already overcrowded area.
Nordstrom added his opinion to the throng in support of the original site.
“They know what this means for their neighborhood and their community, and they know what it means to transform these six empty lots into a vibrant cultural center for the East End,” Nordstrom said.
If the stadium is built at this location, it will not only bring in money for the community but for the city of Houston.
The Dynamo will provide $60 million from its own budget to build a stadium they will not own.
“It’s a stadium that is still going to be owned by the city; the Dynamo will be lease holders. So it’s going to be basically the Dynamo spending private money to directly benefit the city of Houston,” Nordstrom said.
While the problems of the funding and the site of the stadium have been resolved, the fans are still waiting for ground to be broken.
“This has been an even longer wait for the Dynamo,” UH student and Dynamo Supporters’ Alliance member Katy Umana said.
“The Dynamo relocated from San Jose to Houston because they couldn’t secure a soccer-specific stadium deal. Now, they face similar hurdles with city and county officials. We’re here to inform people why this deal is good for our city and county,” Umana said.
It’s safe to say that many Dynamo fans came out to the rally because they had witnessed the magic that can happen when the team plays at Robertson Stadium. The team has won two MLS cup championships at UH’s stadium, where they played games that Houstonians will remember for years to come.
Fans gathered Saturday not to forget the seasons played at Robertson, but to ensure that the Dynamo get a new home that will help them build on their past success.
“As great as the atmosphere is in Robertson, the facilities are outdated and not at the standard necessary for a professional soccer team, especially a successful one. The team’s stadium should be their home,” Umana said.
The Dynamo Supporters’ Alliance has been struggling to get a stadium built for years now, but they remain optimistic that it will happen soon.
They invite any and all Dynamo fans to come support the cause at the third rally, which will be held at the same location March 20.
“Hopefully it will be a celebration,” Nordstrom said.
