Venues need more love than just UH games

While UH sports fans eagerly await updates on the plans for a new football stadium to replace Robertson and renovate Hofheinz Pavilion, we at the Daily Cougar would like to propose that the athletics department take advantage of the limited time the facilities have.

Both Robertson and Hofheinz could be ideal places for high school football, soccer or basketball games. They could also be a fun place to see a concert or other form of entertainment.

Robertson has already proved to be useful, serving as the home for the Houston Dynamo since 2006, and it is transformed into Frontier Fiesta every March.

More events like this on campus could lead to increased student involvement and would give commuter students a reason to consider UH as a destination for something besides classes and studying.

Recently there was a high school basketball game at Hofheinz between Galveston Ball and La Marque on Feb. 12 after the UH game against Tulane. While the Cougars pulled in an announced — and likely exaggerated — attendance of 5,134 fans, the high school game was the more popular draw.

Approximately 7,000 fans showed up, but some spectators felt the figure was even higher. While UH had to split some of the revenue from the game with Galveston ISD, more arrangements like this could be a successful way to raise funds.

The idea of more fans showing up for a prep game than a UH game is a little unsettling, but if people will come to campus and spend money, why not take advantage of the situation?

When Rice Stadium hosted a playoff game between Katy and Pearland during the 2010 playoffs, a whopping 41,368 people showed up. The 5A state championship between Eueless Trinity and Pearland brought in 43,321 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texans being adamant about high school sports is nothing new, and UH capitalizing on it would be a positive opportunity.