The roof of NRG Stadium is still damaged, but the Texans will play a preseason home game there on Saturday. The team expects to start the regular season before the missing roof panels are repaired.
Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm, hit Houston last month, and the stadium was not spared.
“The studies are ongoing and we will learn more as we go through it,” Texans owner Cal McNair said at the start of training camp via Aaron Wilson of KPRC. “There are several panels that were damaged. These things aren’t on the shelves of your local hardware store. There are wonderful shops nearby. They are special ordered and custom made, so it will take a while. We hope to get them about a month into the season.”
The Texans host the Giants on Saturday and then the Rams on August 24. Their first home game is on September 15 against the Bears.
McNair said the sunroof is in perfect condition, so the Texans could open it if they wanted. But given the temperatures in Houston this time of year, it’s almost certain the roof will remain closed for the next six weeks.
The damage from Beryl was not as extensive as that caused by Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, in 2008. The Texans’ first home game of the season was postponed because five roof panels costing $5 million needed to be repaired.
