Looking for info for all of us North-Champs people headed down to Houston for the first time. Here are my initial questions and I hope others will chime in with questions of their own.
When does the load-in queue really start to form up if we want to be near the front?
Is there anything we need to know about the loading dock area? Big grades we will have to roll things up?
If you’re a team that has been to both Detroit and Houston, a compare-and-contrast would be helpful.
Not related to load in but how good is the public transit? Is it easy to get around or is renting a van or two a better option?
Also what about trailer and other parking around the venue?
If possible, stay near a Metro line. The Metro offers FIRST passes for the days we’re all at champs and by far was the easiest way to get around town as an out of state team. Here’s a link to them though if you aren’t planning on picking them up in person, order quick: Convention Pass
The entrance for load in has been on Chartres St. at the intersection with Walker St. Chartres St. is a northbound one-way street on the east side of the elevated Hwy 59/69 on the east side of the George R Brown Convention Center.
Chartres Street & Dallas Street to Walker Street & Chartres Street - Google Maps
Some time on the day of load in, the police start putting a line of traffic cones to separate out the left most lane for vehicles doing load in. You will want to join the line starting from Chartres St. and Polk St. I have arrived around 2 pm before and seen the line up.
Volunteers can enter from the second left-most lane of Chartres instead of joining the load in line. This line move much faster.
Once past the security at the Chartes and Walker gate, you will turn and start going southbound on an internal road that is just on the west side of the GRB building. The loading bays will then be on the right side. They have usually allowed several vehicles to unload at a time. I think vehicles like moving vans can back up to some of the loading bays to unload. Don’t expect to be allowed to stay for very long. The vehicles then exit onto Chenevert St. Teams usually unload and leave a pile by the road then move their stuff inside after the vehicle leaves. Teams that unload on the road (personal vehicles and buses) will have to carry or push their stuff up ramps that are about 3-4 ft high. The ramps are not extremely steep but it would be best to have several people manage heavy carts. The surfaces around the loading bays have a lot of joints so carts with small wheels will have problems, especially if they are heavily loaded.
This all depends on which hotels you are staying at. There is one hotel across the street with a skybridge that takes you to the GRB without going outside. Look up the location of your hotel on Google Maps, get the directions to the George R Brown Convention Center then click on the “transit” icon just above the search. It will show you how far you walk at each end. An example is shown below. I think for the downtown hotels, one would mostly be taking the Light Rail Line.
George R. Brown Convention Center to JW Marriott Houston Downtown - Google Maps
You should contact whoever has been sending you emails abut your arrangements to attend Houston Champs for information on where to park buses and trailers.
There is a lot of street level parking lots for cars to the west of the GRB as well as an underground lot right across the street from the GRB (Avenida De Las Americas). Generally, the ones a bit further away will charge less. You are generally paying for parking for the day and evening. Be aware that the ones near Minute Maid Park and The Toyota Center may charge for day parking up to 6 pm then charge you again for after 6 pm if there are events at either of those two venues.
If one is volunteering at Houston Champs, there is free parking in the parking lot that is at the back of GRB, under the elevated Hwy 59/69 and in a nearby surface lot.
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