Yeah it did. Supposedly it’s really nice now. I think it was posted itt but it was voted one of the nicest airports in the county recently.
Spoiler IAH's massive international terminal project nearing completion By Jeff Jeffrey Oct 17, 2023 Major construction work on George Bush Intercontinental Airport’s (IAH) $1.23 billion effort to revamp its international terminal is on pace to wrap up by the end of the year, Houston Airport System Executive Director Mario Diaz said during his annual State of the Airports address Oct. 16. Diaz told the hundreds of guests assembled at the Marriott Marquis Houston that IAH is scheduled to complete the renovation of Terminal D next month and that most of the terminal will be opened to passengers by year’s end. Additional gates will be opened in January, Diaz said. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re making significant progress on the largest capital improvement project in the history of Houston airports,” Diaz said. “Modern seating and power outlets were just installed and are now available to passengers throughout all 12 existing Terminal D gates. New top-floor, energy-efficient light counters and sleek gate counters have brought new life to the terminal.” Diaz added that the terminal will soon be able to accommodate 10 narrow-body airplanes or six wide-body planes simultaneously. The expansion and redevelopment of the Mickey Leland International Terminal, a major portion of the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program, broke ground in October 2019, starting with tearing down the old Terminal C North. The ITRP includes the installation of an International Central Processor, a renovated Terminal D concourse, a new international concourse called Pier D West and a new baggage-screening facility. Diaz said the new ICP will be a “case study of efficiency” and will house 66 check-in kiosks, 24 baggage drop-offs and a 17-lane Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. “Once completed, this crown jewel will elevate the experience for international travelers, both inside and outside the airport,” Diaz said. Next year, IAH is scheduled to open a new a new curbside experience that will feature eight lanes for arrivals, 11 lanes for departures and two additional levels of terminal parking. “The roadways that are stressed today will flow so much better by late 2024,” Diaz said. “We will offer more than 700 additional parking spaces than we do today. Right now, hundreds of people are working as hard and fast as they can to get the job done, but it is no easy feat. They are working around the clock to complete the project on time, on budget and as safely as possible.” Elsewhere at IAH, the airport is in the process of updating its domestic terminals, as well. Diaz said Terminal A soon will be completely redeveloped. And in January, United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAL) will break ground on a $2.6 billion replacement of Terminal B. The new Terminal B will feature an updated central processor and additional gates, Diaz said. In all, the modifications to Terminal B will double the current building’s footprint while tripling the curbside capacity. There will also be a new security screening checkpoint, ticketing lobby, and inbound and outbound baggage systems. Both departures and arrivals will be on the ground level, and signs will be installed to ensure that drivers know which direction to travel. Improvements at William P. Hobby Airport Meanwhile, William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is preparing to undergo its own $470 million expansion to support the continued growth of Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), Diaz said. The upgrade will include seven additional gates, a new baggage-handling system, more baggage carousels and a canopy over the departure area. Additionally, Hobby — the first five-star airport in North America, according to the Skytrax World Airport Star Rating — is adding several new restaurants to its lineup. In the coming weeks, Dallas-based Velvet Taco, Houston-based Fat Cat Creamery and Galveston's The Spot will all open locations in Hobby. Those restaurants are among 11 new concepts that have opened at Hobby over the past year, Diaz said. Many of the new restaurants came in the wake of a Houston City Council vote in April to award a 10-year food and concession contract to Areas HOU JV, a joint venture led by the U.S. arm of Spain-based Areas, instead of 4 Families of Hobby, a joint venture between Pappas Restaurants Inc., Lemond Kitchen and KG Concessions. That vote was quickly followed by 4 Families and Pappas Restaurants filing a lawsuit against the city of Houston and the Areas JV, alleging that the city failed to comply with applicable state law, city policy and procedures in the procurement, “undermining the objectivity and integrity of the procurement process.” The lawsuit is ongoing. The improvements at IAH and Hobby come at a time when Houston’s airports are seeing near- record traffic. Diaz said this summer saw 17.9 million passengers flying into and out of Houston, surpassing 2019 levels. Eight of the top 10 single busiest travel days in the airports’ history happened this year. Diaz said Houston’s airports are on track to see 60 million passengers this year, right about where traffic stood in 2019. Ellington Airport's joint training venture with Texas Southern University At Ellington Airport, officials are moving ahead with a new $5 million aviation education facility, which will be operated by Texas Southern University. In May, Houston City Council approved a memorandum of agreement for the Houston Airport System to design and construct an aeronautical hangar, which will contain aircraft storage capacity, offices and classroom space. Once complete, the facility will include 22,000 square feet of aircraft hangar space, 7,200 square feet of office and training/classroom space, 20,000 square feet of aircraft apron, an above-ground storage tank with capacity of approximately 12,000 gallons of aviation fuel, and vehicle parking. In total, the project will be constructed on approximately 2 acres of land that is accessible to an existing taxi-lane connector. “We are excited to support Texas Southern University with an education facility at this aviation center to foster the creativity and ingenuity of America’s next pilots,” Diaz said. Spaceport's continued growth Diaz went on to note that the Houston Spaceport recently celebrated the grand opening of Intuitive Machines’ new Lunar Production and Operations Center. The $40 million center, which broke ground in 2021, spans 12.5 acres and includes 125,000 square feet of office and production space, including 45-foot cranes intended to move Intuitive Machines' lunar lander product through the facility. Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell designed and built the center. Intuitive Machines (Nasdaq: LUNR) confirmed that the company was already shipping its first lunar spacecraft, the Nova Lunar Lander, to Florida ahead of its first planned mission. Besides the Nova lander, the new center has the capacity to assemble and process up to four spacecraft that can carry 1,500 kilograms of cargo each. Intuitive Machines is one of the Houston Spaceport’s three anchor tenants. North Carolina- based Collins Aerospace, a division of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), opened a 120,000- square-foot facility in September 2022. Meanwhile, Houston-based Axiom Space broke ground on a new headquarters there in May 2022.
yes, it’s now a pizza joint operated by the same folks that run Nobies and The Toasted Coconut, I hear it’s pretty good from coworkers, friends, and my ex wife, but have yet to go myself
Damn, always enjoyed watching games there and it’s where I met my best friend ( zachary ) At post oak ice house now, cool spot. Is this new?
The owner said he got rid of it to concentrate on sprucing up penny whistle. All he’s done there in the year since is put up an orange canopy on the patio.
Tickets on sale now www.astros.com/collegeclassic Think I’m getting a 3 day ticket. For sure seeing the Horns v TX State for the wife.
The average age of a registered voter for today’s election is 47. The average age of those who have voted so far is 62. Only 90,000 people early voted.
If we win Monday I’m coming for the NC. What’s the play for hotels? Do I want to be closer to NRG (Medical Center/Museum District) or do I want to be downtown? I’ve only ever stayed in Uptown/Galleria area when I’ve been there. Staying on Marriott points and these are my options currently: Aloft Downtown Magnolia Hotel Downtown Marriott Medical Center/Museum District Westin Oaks at Galleria
will you be renting a car? And what are your interests outside of the game? I’m out of town right now and not on TMB much today, but happy to help later; I live in museum district and know a lot about the surrounding area
I don't recommend staying in the medical center. And the Galleria is not my idea of a good time. I'd 100% be downtown, those two hotels are right next to the red light light rail that takes you straight to NRG. And you're walking distance to the George R Brown & Discovery Green Park, where all of the CFP festivities will be held leading up to the game.
Not sure about the other places but the Westin Oaks is like a mile from our place. I’d probably stay closer downtown for all the stuff that’s going on. We may hit up a concert and go walk around game day to check it out.
Thanks buddy! Not renting a car, will be all Uber/Lyft, hotel shuttle, public transit, etc. My main concern was if it would be chaos getting to and from game from Downtown. My interests are delicious food and drink. Haven’t traveled to Houston in a few years now, but some places I have been previously: Theodore Rex Xochi Ninfa’s various Pappas Bros. stuff Kata Robata Crawfish & Noodles Pho Dien Saigon House Mala Sichuan Bistro Gatlin’s The Pit Room Underbelly Pass & Provisions Giacomo’s State of Grace Lankfords B&B Butchers El Tiempo Cantina Better Luck Tomorrow Julep Poison Girl Anvil Bar Cecil’s Pub Lei Low Bar Lola’s Depot Axelrad Beer Garden Boheme Mongoose vs Cobra Tongue Cut Sparrow West Alabama Ice House Kirby Ice House and one unbelievably delicious hot dog cart on a drunken late night.