If you build it, they won't come

After spending $81 Million tax dollars, the cruise ship terminal at the Bayport Terminal remains empty. According to elected officials at the time of the ground breaking for the terminal, Bayport was going to create 39,000 jobs. Unfortunately, none of these 39,000 are for the cruise terminal. From the Houston Chronicle:

More than 30 miles away from where those travelers gathered, the Port of Houston Authority's $81 million cruise terminal is shuttered, with no cruise ship ever making regular stops there. And no cruise line has announced plans to call on the 2-year-old Bayport Cruise Terminal.

And here is what was said in 2004 on groundbreaking day:

"The cruise business will be a highly appealing aspect of Bayport because of its close location to several popular Mexican and Caribbean vacation destinations," Pasadena City Councilman Bill Welch said...

"With the addition of the Bayport cruise terminals, we can sail to more glamorous and colorful locales," Councilman Welch said. "Many people who cruise from Houston live in this area and drive into town on Friday night. They stay in a Pasadena hotel, eat at local restaurants, perhaps even take in attractions such as NASA or the Kemah boardwalk.

I was never as optimistic about the cruise ships at Bayport as those who were to benefit from it. Going on an expensive vacation usually doesn't include driving by large industrial plants or visiting the city of Pasadena (sorry Pasadena). The area isn't exactly like The Strand in Galveston, or the French Quarter in New Orleans.

If given a choice between sailing out of Bayport or Galveston, I would take the drive to Galveston and enjoy The Strand. But those interested in a cruise no longer have that choice. This is a classic $81 Million "If you build it, they will come" misunderestimation. KPRC of Houston also covered this issue in 2009.

PHA officials claimed in 2009 that cruise ships will come to the port. Two years later the cruise terminal sits empty with no ships in sight.