All Access

All-Access Weekly Digest

Houston

Houston Members

Houston Alerts

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Houston.

Axios Houston

A picture of the Houston skyline with the letters IAH

blue

Axios Houston Thought Bubble

Light the prayer candles. It's time for baseball.

Driving the news: The Astros will defend their 2022 championship starting at 6:08pm Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park, the first of a seven-game home stand.

All 30 MLB teams will play on Opening Day, the ceremonious first day of the season.

The intrigue: Thursday's game will be televised nationally on ESPN as the Astros' new first baseman, José Abreu, faces his former team for the first time.

Plus: Megan Thee Stallion will throw out the first pitch, Mark Wahlberg will say "Play ball!" and Cody Johnson will sing the national anthem.

The Opening Day Street Fest will be 3–6pm outside the ballpark.

The Astros will also unveil the 2022 World Series champion pennant in left field tonight, and fans at the game will receive a free schedule magnet.

💭 Jay's thought bubble: Add in the excitement from the team's dynastic 2022 campaign and the drama of the White Sox beating the Astros in the 2005 World Series and you've got one hell of an event.

Astros to open regular season against Chicago

Framber Valdez will have the mound for Opening Day against the Chicago White Sox. Photo: Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Light the prayer candles. It&#x27;s time for baseball.Driving the news: The Astros will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="defend their 2022 championship" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/06/astros-world-series-champions-2022-phillies-lose" data-vars-content-id="06c1776e-a158-4b65-a72d-75bafa7c343c" data-vars-headline="Astros to open regular season against Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/06/astros-world-series-champions-2022-phillies-lose" target="_self">defend their 2022 championship</a> starting at 6:08pm Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park, the first of a seven-game home stand.

Sports

It's difficult for Texas cities to lower speed limits on residential streets, and a series of bills in the Texas Legislature aim to make it a bit easier.

Driving the news: Senate Bill 1663, filed by Houston Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado, would allow cities to lower speed limits on residential streets to 20 mph without having to go through a series of costly traffic studies.

Rep. Ana Hernandez, also a Democrat representing Houston, filed a similar version of the bill in the House.

Why it matters: For pedestrians, the lower the speed, the more likely they are to survive a collision.

The risk of death is 10% at 23 mph, according to AAA. It jumps to 25% at 35 mph and increases as the speed gets higher.

The risk is higher for older people, even at slower speeds.

"It's literally life and death," Jay Blazek Crossley, who oversees the Texas-based nonprofit Farm & City, told Axios. "On our streets where we live, the idea that we design them to be dangerous for children and all of us is just unacceptable. There's no benefit to making our streets dangerous."

State of play: State law allows counties to lower speed limits on residential streets in unincorporated areas to 25 mph, but cities have to conduct traffic studies, enforcement investigations and other time-consuming and costly tasks before taking a similar action.

The bills would essentially give cities the same privileges as counties.

"Most cities have interpreted it as just blocking, making it harder so that they don't bother to change the speed limits," Crossley said.

The other side: Rachel Hale, who represented the Texas Eagle Forum during a hearing on the Senate bill this week, said the legislation is "harmful to families" because it's too broad.

"I'm normally in favor of local control. This initiative is part of Vision Zero, making people so miserable that they switch to mass transit, walking or biking," Hale said, referring to the name of an effort in Houston and other large Texas cities to reduce traffic deaths. "I live in rural east Texas. Those are not viable options."

"Free people want the freedom to move around the way they see fit," Hale said. "If they narrowed it in scope, we might support it. But right now, it's too broad."

What they're saying: "The folks who are against it, I think they're exaggerating a bit," Alvarado told Axios. "We did talk afterwards, and they would like to have some sort of clarification [for what constitutes a residential street]."

"We're giving cities local control," Alvarado added. "We spend a lot of time talking about local control, and you've seen a lot of instances where that is being stripped away from local municipalities. Here we're giving them the discretion to do so."

Plus: Houston's chief transportation planner, David Fields, wrote testimony in support of the bill.

"Speed is the most direct factor in determining whether a person who is hit dies, is injured, or walks away unharmed in a pedestrian-vehicle crash," Fields said. "The data is clear."

116 pedestrians were killed on Houston streets in 2022, according to Texas Department of Transportation records.

What we're watching: The future of the bills. The Senate bill was left pending in the committee after Wednesday's hearing.

The fight in Texas to lower speed limits

Proposed legislation would allow cities to lower speed limits on residential streets to 20 mph.

Illustration of a road sign with a snail icon on it.

Transportation

It&#x27;s difficult for Texas cities to lower speed limits on residential streets, and a series of bills in the Texas Legislature aim to make it a bit easier.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Senate Bill 1663" data-vars-click-url="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&amp;Bill=SB1663" data-vars-content-id="3680660d-d2f0-4295-a700-3343fe2312af" data-vars-headline="The fight in Texas to lower speed limits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&amp;Bill=SB1663" target="_blank">Senate Bill 1663</a>, filed by Houston Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado, would allow cities to lower speed limits on residential streets to 20 mph without having to go through a series of costly traffic studies.

Politics

Officials are setting the stage inside NRG Stadium for the NCAA Final Four and championship games next weekend — which won't feature the Houston Cougars after a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Hurricanes on Friday.

Driving the news: Media got a sneak peek Friday as workers installed the court and additional seating inside the stadium, which is normally outfitted for the Texans and most recently hosted the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. 

By the numbers: The court, manufactured by Michigan-based Connor Sports, is made of sustainably grown wood and weighs 56,000 pounds.

Workers spent four hours last Friday morning piecing together the 381 panels.

The intrigue: Schools that win the NCAA championship have the option to purchase the floor, as Villanova did after winning when Houston last hosted the Final Four in 2016, per the New York Times.

In Villanova's case, the court cost about $100,000 and was purchased by an anonymous donor. 

Part of the court where Kris Jenkins took his famous game-winning buzzer-beater, which includes marks from his shoes, is on display at a cafe on campus.

The Times reports that 10 out of the last 11 champions have purchased the floor.

Houston's Final Four preparations coming together

Workers installed the court Friday inside NRG Stadium.

A high-angle shot of workers constructing the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four court inside NRG Stadium

The court traveled 1,677 miles from Amasa, Michigan, to Houston. Photo: Jay R. Jordan/Axios

College basketball

Officials are setting the stage inside NRG Stadium for the NCAA Final Four and championship games next weekend — which won&#x27;t feature the Houston Cougars after a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heartbreaking loss" data-vars-click-url="https://www.chron.com/sports/college/article/houston-miami-score-highlights-injury-17859214.php" data-vars-content-id="47052117-3da2-447f-9fc0-b52875a37900" data-vars-headline="Houston&#x27;s Final Four preparations coming together" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chron.com/sports/college/article/houston-miami-score-highlights-injury-17859214.php" target="_blank">heartbreaking loss</a> to the Miami Hurricanes on Friday.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Media" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/jayrjordan/status/1639281655587192832" data-vars-content-id="47052117-3da2-447f-9fc0-b52875a37900" data-vars-headline="Houston&#x27;s Final Four preparations coming together" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/jayrjordan/status/1639281655587192832" target="_blank">Media</a> got a sneak peek Friday as workers installed the court and additional seating inside the stadium, which is normally outfitted for the Texans and most recently hosted the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Data: Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index; Chart: Axios Visuals

It might cost you a pretty penny to see the reigning champion Astros in person this year.

Driving the news: Axios compiled the cost of four tickets, parking, souvenirs, drinks and hot dogs for all 30 Major League Baseball teams.

The Astros are among the most expensive, at $355 per game — well above the league average of $256.

Zoom out: The Arizona Diamondbacks were the cheapest in all the MLB at $152. To see the Boston Red Sox, the most expensive, it will cost $385.

Why it matters: The Astros return with several key players and unlimited excitement this year as they go for the first back-to-back World Series wins since the New York Yankees won three straight in the late '90s.

What's next: Tickets for Thursday's Opening Day game against the Chicago White Sox start at $99 before taxes and fees.

Yes, but: If you're simply into sports and don't mind the team, you can catch the abysmal Rockets on Friday night for $10, if you purchase your tickets on Gametime.

How much seeing the Astros will cost this year

Price for tickets, souvenirs and snacks is well above average.

It might cost you a pretty penny to see the reigning champion Astros in person this year.Driving the news: Axios compiled the cost of four tickets, parking, souvenirs, drinks and hot dogs for all 30 Major League Baseball teams.

Driving the news: Four men's college basketball teams — Miami, San Diego State, UConn and Florida Atlantic — will square off inside NRG Stadium tomorrow for a chance to play in Monday's NCAA championship game.

No Texas teams, namely the Houston Cougars, are in the Final Four.

State of play: Thousands of spectators are expected to flock to downtown's Discovery Green and the south side's NRG Park for festivities, from Megan Thee Stallion's Friday night concert to the games inside the stadium.

Parking might be a nightmare downtown and near NRG Park. Consider taking the MetroRail, which is free all weekend, or biking to the venues.

What to do: Free festivities start Friday morning inside NRG Stadium with the TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels youth wheelchair basketball scrimmage at 10am.

From 11am to 3pm, you can catch the four teams practicing on the court.

The AT&T Block Party featuring Grammy-winning Megan Thee Stallion starts at 4pm. The free tickets were gone within hours, but there are other things to do inside the nearby George R. Brown Convention Center at the Final Four Fan Fest.

On Saturday, runners will participate in the Men's Final Four 4-Miler, starting at 8:30am downtown.

Then at Discovery Green, Lil Nas X will headline the Move by Coca-Cola concert starting at 3pm. Free tickets are still available.

San Diego State will play Florida Atlantic starting at 5:09pm, and Miami plays UConn at 7:49pm.

On Sunday, the Men's Final Four Dribble will host a parade of dribblers ages 18 and under who will go from Hermann Square to the Final Four Fan Fest starting at 1pm.

Tim McGraw and Keith Urban headline the Capital One JamFest starting at 2:30pm. Free tickets are still available.

Wrapping up the weekend, the championship game will be played at 8:20pm Monday at NRG Stadium.

The intrigue: With all the events, Houston's public safety officials say they are well prepared.

Houston Police have hundreds of officers working the events, according to Police Chief Troy Finner.

What they're saying: "We never go over the numbers, but hundreds, seen and unseen," Finner said at a press conference this week. "You're going to see marked units, and you're not going to see some plainclothes officers. We've got it covered."

Plus: Paramedics, rescue crews, fire department inspectors and first aid professionals will also be standing by, according to Fire Chief Samuel Peña.

If you go: Text "mffsafety" to 888-777 to receive event-specific safety information.

Your guide to Final Four weekend in Houston

Four men's college basketball teams will square off inside NRG Stadium.

Kris Jenkins of the Villanova Wildcats shoots a game-winning three-pointer with the clock at 0.5. 

Kris Jenkins' memorable buzzer-beater happened the last time Houston hosted the Final Four in 2016. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

It&#x27;s finally here.Driving the news: Four men&#x27;s college basketball teams — Miami, San Diego State, UConn and Florida Atlantic — will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="square off" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-29/2023-march-madness-mens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times" data-vars-content-id="c3d01c4d-b0cd-433b-8eb2-6e889712bf07" data-vars-headline="Your guide to Final Four weekend in Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-29/2023-march-madness-mens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times" target="_blank">square off</a> inside NRG Stadium tomorrow for a chance to play in Monday&#x27;s NCAA championship game.

Jay R. Jordan

Featured stories

Your guide to Final Four weekend in Houston

The fight in Texas to lower speed limits

Astros to open regular season against Chicago

How much seeing the Astros will cost this year

Houston's Final Four preparations coming together