well you don't say whether you are renting a car. you could take the rail downtown--there are a number of restaurants and bars there. that would be easy and you wouldnt have to park etc.

Thanks for your reply. We have not decided about renting a car but if we're going to a bar we will probably take a taxi or public transportation. Is there a particular neighborhood or street where we should focus our distination? For example in Tampa you go to Ybor City or 2nd Ave in Nashville.

as far as neighborhoods not too far from Reliant...30 mins less....with bars/restaurants would say Rice Village or West Univ. The Stadium area is not generally a good social area for what you are looking for. Downtown to stay and visit eatery/bars would be good option also, this will allow you to use rail to stadium on game day and taxi to get around downtown spots. If you do or stay Galleria/rice village/ west univ area rental car would be the way to go for that option. Would also look up hotels in Kirby blvd/hwy59 area...live in suburbs not sure what call area. BTW I hope you are coming to root for the Texans, dont want you headed back hm with defeat !! good luck .

Would not stay in the Galleria or hwy 59 area if your purpose is to go to a game in Houston because the Stadium is on the southern side of downtown and The Galleria and Hwy 59 are way TH west of there.

Do not underestimate Houston's size - it has 2.2 million people in an area nearly twice the size of NYC. It is a sprawling mess.

I live here so do not use the Metro much, but I would stay downtown within a block or two of Main and use the Metro to get to the stadium and other places.

http://www.ridemetro.org/schedulesmaps/railsched.aspx

http://www.downtownhouston.org/resource/maps/

I have yet to understand why a city that grows out is call a sprawling mess, while a city the grows up is somehow ideal . .

Russ, are you not from uhh huh Dallas ? kirby/hwy59 area...you go right down kirby towards Rice Univ etc and you will be not far from Reliant. Traffic is traffic you make time, sure they are aware of 71k people will be attending the game. I suggested rice village area for shops, bars, many restaurants...the hotels around the old Compaq Center ( now a church ) would be 5-10 min drive at best to all the bars, restaurants in vicinity or even towars Rice Village, where you shop, drink, eat and best part walk to all these places once you arrive in Rive Village. But also as Rich mentioned Downtown stay would be good also and allow you to take rail to the Game.