Metro tracking names for rail station

Astrodome leads online poll for new identity near NRG Park

It’s unlikely, but just in case prepare to exit at the Stadium McStopperface Rail Station next time you go to a Texans game.

That’s one of the — albeit impossible — rail station name suggestions Metropolitan Transit Authority has received, since announcing it was changing the name of the Reliant Park Station stop, which serves NRG Park.

Though the county changed the name of NRG Park, that didn’t include the cost of flipping the names on Metro’s rail station and maps. After NRG and Metro couldn’t come to agreement on a name change and the cost involved, transit officials said they would proceed with a new name.

After casually discussing some possible names, Metro started an online poll with three likely options: Stadium/ Arena, Astrodome and Holly Hall.

Each gives train riders an idea of the location, since the station is the primary transit stop for NRG Park, Texans games and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The Astrodome, while still a political discussion, also helps locate the area, as does Holly Hall, which is the closest major street along Fannin where the rail stop is located.

The poll closes Sept. 18, but is appears Astrodome is already well ahead of its competitors. As of the morning of Sept. 7, 57.7 percent of the votes were for the Astrodome stop. Stadium/ Arena and Holly Hall were far behind.

More than a quarter of the votes went to writein options.

Most write-in suggestions miss the mark because one of Metro’s goals is to give travelers geographic information about the stop, either by naming a nearby landmark or street crossing.

In the past two years, Metro also has tightened its own rules related to station names, barring company names from the title. A similar preference prevailed when the EaDo/Stadium Station was built, referring to BBVA Compass Stadium, but without the corporate naming rights attached to the station.

The rail stop closest to TDECU Stadium on the University of Houston campus also avoids the credit union’s name.