HOUSTON – Now in its 16th year of use, NRG Stadium remains among the premier stadiums in the NFL.
However, the next four Super Bowls will be played in either brand new stadiums, or in facilities that have been renovated.
To secure the Super Bowl five years from now in 2022, NRG will no doubt have to look different than it does now.
The question Harris County leaders, the Houston Texans and the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation are wrangling with right now, is how much different.
“I'm not sure what the answer to that is, but you have to evaluate the competitive set, the competitive nature, and I know the county is evaluating what is going on at NRG Park and they will continue to invest in it,” said Ric Campo, chairman of the Super Bowl 51 Host Committee.
Channel 2 has learned those conversations were taking place long before the Super Bowl and they continue to take place.
It’s too early to say what those upgrades might cost, and in spite of what other cities have done and are doing to stay in the game, Campo doesn’t believe Houston needs a brand new stadium to be awarded the Super Bowl five years from now.
“Even though it's 16 years old, it's still state-of-the-art. The way it was built, it's a timeless design. That design is not going to change,” Campo said.