Seven feet below safe

Tri again: Drought-ravaged Lake Houston forces Tri Girls to cancel swim portionof Sunday triathlon

This Sunday, Lake Houston will not be filled with triathletes — the water issimply too low to permit safe swimming.
Photo via TriGirl Sports
If you think this looks like a pretty beach, think again — this shore should befive feet under Lake Houston's waters.
Photo via iWitnessWeather

Chalk another victim up to the state's raging drought.

One of the most popular entry-level triathlons in our area, the Tri Girl Sports Sprint Triathlon at Lake Houston, reluctantly found itself succumbing to Mother Nature's evil clutches for this year's race, scheduled for Sunday.

"After meeting with the parks officials, we are cancelling the swim portion of the triathlon," race director Carrie Godfrey posted on the Tri Girl Sports website.

The swim portion — the event's first leg — is particularly important. It often serves to thin out and separate the packs of competing athletes in the popular pastime of triathlons.

No swim portion? Every budding triathlete's dream come true, right? Not for those choosing triathlons as their sport of choice for that very element. The swim portion — the event's first leg — is particularly important. It often serves to thin out and separate the packs of competing athletes in the popular pastime of triathlons.

"[We] went to the race site today and attempted to walk into the lake," Godfrey continued. "The lake is currently seven feet below 'normal' level. There are plans to refill the lake with water from Lake Conroe; however, this action will not take place until after the race."

"When [we] walked over 100 yards into the lake, the water was only calf deep," she said. "The lake floor was scattered with objects that would be dangerous to bare feet (clam shells, fish hooks, etc)."

The statistics — and the race directors — don't lie. Lake Houston is abnormally low and there will be no triathletes merrily trouncing its surface this year.

"Since we were not willing to walk through the mud in our bare feet and dodge the objects, we cannot ask the same of our athletes. We feel it would be unsafe and the parks officials requested that we not allow the swim portion."

The swim portion will be replaced with a one-mile run, effectively changing the event from a triathlon into a duathlon.

unspecified

chill out

Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

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