Texans fans cope with not packing stands
Jorge S. Ortiz Paz, a lifelong Houston sports fan, was already disappointed with this football season when he found out wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was going to be traded in March. Now as he sat in Christian’s Tailgate Bar & Grill instead of in the stands, he realized he spoke too soon.
For the first time, the stands in NRG Stadium were empty for Sunday’s home opener. Ortiz Paz, who said he likes to watch all live sports, is eagerly awaiting when he’ll be able to go to any game.
“When those doors open again, I want to get in there,” Ortiz Paz said. “I want that energy.”
The team announced in mid-August that no fans would be permitted in the stadium. The Texans have been monitoring metrics and consulting with medical and public health officials about having fans return to the stadium and hope to get approval for 15,000 fans to attend the next home game Oct. 4 against Minnesota.
Some fans plan on going back as soon as it’s allowed. Jeff Wagner, who moved to Houston a year ago, said he’d been able to get tickets through his company and enjoyed going with co-workers. If his company stops offering tickets, he said he might go on his own.
“It was just a great environment to go and be social — back when we could do that,” Wagner said.
He said he’d feel safe if he were able to socially distance himself and because it’s outdoors. His friend, Anoop Dharma, who just moved to the area, said he’s not sure it’s worth the risk. He plans to just watch at a restaurant on TV or grill out at a friend’s house.
“If I brought something back to my house without knowing, I could spread it to someone else,” Dharma said. “I might as well just be socially distant for the time being.”
Even watching the game at the bar made J.P. Sanchez a little uneasy.
“It’s getting a little busy, so I’m probably going to go home,” Sanchez said before the game even started. As he saw more people walking through the door, he said he’d be safer to just watch from his couch. He only lived down the road after all.
Sanchez goes to about
one NFL game a year but is an avid college football fan and was a season ticket holder for the University of Texas. But he plans to hold off on going to any games until the virus is contained.
Brandon Meeker, who hosted a tailgate party where he works at Classic Chevrolet of Houston, said the experience is not going to be the same as being at the game, but it’s ultimately what fans make of it.
“What people are going to miss is the atmosphere,” Meeker said. “You have to replace it whether it’s at your house or you find an event like this. You just got to find a way to recreate it.”