Texans’ President Swap Signals Imminent Stadium Standoff with City

Could the McNair’s new president lead to the team changing stadiums… or cities?

In a sequence of stunning moves, the Houston Texans abruptly fired team president Greg Grissom and immediately appointed Mike Tomon to the same role. The flurry of changes has sparked questions among the fanbase. Grissom, a consummate professional, had been with the organization since its inaugural season in 2002. He assumed the role of president in 2021, shortly after the hiring of general manager Nick Caserio and amidst the turmoil surrounding the Deshaun Watson situation.

It’s not uncommon for teams to overhaul their front office and restructure after a season ends. While the Texans’ coaching staff has resembled a revolving door of faces and names, the front office has historically been far more stable—arguably more reliable than your WiFi connection when you don’t need it. Since taking over as acting owner, Cal McNair had largely retained the same core group of executives for several years.

Then came yesterday’s press release, announcing the hiring of Mike Tomon, a seasoned executive from a sports marketing firm owned by Jerry Jones. The statement emphasized Tomon’s “extensive background in stadium development,” leaving many to wonder if this signals a shift in priorities for the Texans’ future.

Not financial literacy. Not brand management. Not community relations. Stadium development. I’m not some caveman deciphering hieroglyphics on stone, but if that’s not a clear signal of the McNair family’s intentions for a new stadium, I don’t know what is.

The press release sparked an uproar and a wave of social media investigations into why the Texans so pointedly emphasized Tomon’s expertise in “stadium development.” The findings suggest that Houston could be on the brink of a rapidly unfolding saga that could shape the team’s future in more ways than one.

According to Sports Business Journal, the Texans have a lease at NRG Stadium through 2031. Like many NFL stadiums, the NRG Park grounds are owned by Harris County, enabling the team owners to partially fund the stadium and surrounding areas with city tax dollars. In other words, billionaires own the team, but the city’s residents foot the bill for the arena they play in. At just 22 years old, NRG Stadium is already considered middle-aged—much like how I felt as a senior in college surrounded by freshmen and sophomores—compared to its NFL counterparts.

With the stadium lease from Harris County set to expire in the not-so-distant future, the McNair family appears to be laying the groundwork for prolonged negotiations. Any longtime Houstonian who remembers the Houston Oilers vs. Adams family mega-drama over the Astrodome might recognize the early signs of a similar standoff brewing.

Just two months ago, we reported that the stadium was slated for a multi-million-dollar upgrade. Notably, the video board—designed by Mitsubishi Electric back in 2013—is now considered “among the last of those models in operation.” And let’s not forget the roof, which suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Beryl in July. Repairs dragged on until the end of September.

Do I think the McNair family is planning a sudden relocation à la the Tennessee Titans debacle? No. But Houston doesn’t need two eyesores sitting side by side on Kirby Drive. Between the hiring of a new team president and the need for imminent stadium renovations, prepare for a drawn-out conflict between the ownership group and the city, with millions—if not over a billion—dollars in renovations at stake.