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July 27, 2007, 5:23PM
Notre Dame in talks for neutral-site game at Reliant
Irish already slated for San Antonio, Cowboys' stadium a possibility

By JOSEPH DUARTE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
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Officials from Lone Star Sports & Entertainment have held preliminary talks with Notre Dame about bringing a football game to Reliant Stadium.

“It’s all very preliminary,” said David Brady, director of Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. “We’ve at least opened the dialogue. We’ve talked to them about their future schedule and the potential of a game here.”

Notre Dame plans to schedule a football game each season at neutral sites starting in 2009.

Notre Dame would be designated the "home" team in any game played in Houston. No exact year has been targeted during the early stages of talks, but a team "with local appeal" -- likely from the Big 12 or Conference USA -- could be a possible opponent.

Houston "is certainly in the mix,” said John Heisler, Notre Dame’s associate athletics director. “We’ve said from day one that Texas and Florida are two states that we’re the most interested in.”

Notre Dame will play games – against yet-to-be-determined opponents -- at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., in 2011 and 2014.

The Fighting Irish also will play Washington State in San Antonio’s Alamodome on Oct. 31, 2009, and are in discussion with Baylor about playing at the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium in Arlington in 2012. Heisler said no agreement has been signed with Baylor, but that discussions are “pretty well along” and a deal is imminent.

Along with Houston, other neutral sites that could be considered to host a Notre Dame game are Jacksonville, Fla., and Tampa, Fla. Heisler said the presence of a bowl game in a prospective city is also a plus. Lone Star Sports & Entertainment is also in charge of the Texas Bowl.

Heisler said the goal is to play in different parts of the country in an attempt to return Notre Dame to its independent roots and make games more accessible to fans. Texas and Florida also are hotbeds for recruiting.

The Fighting Irish regularly schedule West Coast games against Southern California and Stanford and have a Big Ten presence in the Midwest. Heisler said there are plans to schedule more games against Big East opponents, and by playing in Texas (Southwest) and Florida (Southeast), that will satisfy the school’s desire to play in those regions of the country.

“Let’s celebrate being an independent,” he said. “Let’s schedule like an independent.”

TerryD,
According to a TV station in Louisville, UofL's AD is in a preliminary discussion with the Irish about a Louisville/ND matchup. A while back, there was a rumor about a game between the two to be held in Cincy's NFL stadium. Have you heard any talk around South Bend about that rumor?

I have heard some rumors of that venue and/or the dome in Indianapolis.

Wouldn't the Bearcats love ND vs. Louisville at the Bengals venue?

I don't know if the two schools are talking about a one game (neutral---probably split gate, not ND "home" game) or two.