NRG Stadium Roof: Hurricane Beryl rips open top of Houston Texans' stadium

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NRG Stadium
(Getty Images)

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the Houston Texans' NRG Stadium was left with damage to its retractable roof. The storm has left millions of people without power, and one of the country's biggest stadiums was no exception to its wrath.

The area affected is unfortunately used to storms battering its shores. That doesn't soften the blow every time one rips through. NRG has been victim to multiple now, bringing its infrastructure into question.

Here's what actually happened to the stadium's roof following Monday's storm.

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NRG Stadium roof damage during Hurricane Beryl

Several panels were found missing from the retractable roof of NRG Stadium.

NRG Park CEO and executive director Ryan Walsh released a statement on Tuesday, saying "HCSCC [Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation] officials are collaborating with state, county, and city officials to assist with recovery efforts throughout the region.

"This collective undertaking requires all of us to work together with a strong commitment to our community. While we assist with these efforts, we are also assessing the extent of damages to NRG Park facilities. We look forward to seeing our neighbors at NRG Park soon as we return to normal operations."

The Texans' first home game isn't until Aug. 17 when they host the Giants in a preseason contest, and their regular-season home opener is on Sept. 15 against the Bears.

It's important to note Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros, did not sustain serious damage from the storm. 

NRG Stadium roof damage during Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike was a Category 2 storm in September 2008 when it hit Houston and the stadium, resulting in five missing sections from NRG Stadium, known then as Reliant Stadium. Additionally, a Texans home game in September of that year was postponed due to the damage.

Debris also landed on the field, and the result was $10 million in renovations, including $4 million toward the roof. There's no telling what the damage from this year's storm will cost yet, but the race to get the roof fixed before the preseason begins in August will begin soon.

NRG Stadium 2008
(Getty)

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Hurricane Beryl wind speeds

By the time Beryl hit the Gulf Coast of Texas on Monday it was a Category 1 storm. At that point, it had sustained winds up to 80 miles per hour at landfall and brought severe weather into the Houston area.

Six to eight inches of rain fell over the metro area of the city, and local authorities reported flooding along roads along with widespread power outages. At least eight people have died since the storm made landfall in the U.S.

Since then, the storm has weakened to a tropical depression. Beryl had previously made its way through Mexico and the Caribbean as a Category 5 monster. Nevertheless, tornados were still reported in parts of southern Louisiana, showing the ferocity of the storm even in its final days.

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Sarah Effress is an editorial intern for The Sporting News. She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, and loves to talk soccer and women's college sports.
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