My parents often shared how they witnessed the Astrodome’s construction in the early 1960s when they were kids. They were awe-inspired by the structure, having never seen anything like it before. They recounted family drives to what they considered the countryside, just to catch a glimpse of this massive dome being built in southwest Houston. They described miles of open country with the steel-domed structure gleaming in the sun.
Fast forward to the early 1980s. Now I’m a kid who has gone to see the Astros, Oilers, and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo at the Astrodome. I was amazed by the domed roof, the massive exploding scoreboard, the colors of the seats, and the rush of air-conditioning as we entered from a blazing parking lot. I was fascinated by the Astrodome. I remember one night during the holidays when my dad drove some relatives visiting from North Texas to see the Astrodome at night, simply because some had never seen it in person. Consider this scenario: it was dark, but they wanted to see it anyway. The Astrodome simply captured people's imaginations.
The Astrodome served as Houston’s civic and cultural living room for many generations. It seemed that nearly everyone in the sports and entertainment industry made an appearance there. The president of the United States was present the night the Astrodome opened. Its impact was profound, with headlines from around the world telling grand stories of this first-of-its-kind structure.
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Phoebe Tudor - Chairman, Astrodome Conservancy
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Beth Wiedower Jackson - Executive Director of the Astrodome Conservancy
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Jerry Alexander - Gensler Architects (L)
Kristopher Stuart - Gensler Architects (R)
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Jerry Alexander - Gensler Architects
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Mason Hunt
Mason Hunt - Board Member, Astrodome Conservancy
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Ryan LeVasseur - LeVass Ventures
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However, it has been 25 years since the Astros left to play in Downtown Houston. It’s nearly 22 years since the rodeo departed, and the Houston Texans didn’t even exist when the Astros moved out of the Dome. Over the span of two decades, the Astrodome has transformed from a source of pride for Houston into a subject riddled with misinformation, largely fueled by social media keyboard warriors. People frequently claim that their taxes are currently being spent on a wasteful building, that it is filled with asbestos, that it’s a money pit, that we all voted to tear it down, and so on. As a native Houstonian, it is disheartening to hear fellow residents express such negative opinions that simply aren’t true.
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So, once again, let’s clarify a few points:
1. The Astrodome does not cost taxpayers millions of dollars per year. All original bonds, including renovation costs from the 1980s, have been paid off. The Dome is a fully-owned asset of Harris County.
2. Asbestos abatement took place ten years ago as the Dome was prepared for renovation and future use.
3. Harris County repainted and cleaned the Dome’s exterior in 2015 to match its original appearance from 1965, something that hadn't been done since the mid-1990s.
4. The revocation of the Astrodome’s Certificate of Occupancy was due to the need for a fire alarm system update, not because the building is in disrepair. The update is not financially sensible without a main tenant or current public/private use of the building, which will come when plans move forward.
5. Thanks to local Houstonians, the Astrodome became a State Antiquities Landmark in 2017 and received a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark marker in 2018, graciously funded by the Houston Astros. This designation means alterations to the building cannot occur without the approval of the Texas Historical Commission, which protects structures like the Astrodome from demolition while allowing renovations to ensure sustainability for operation. However, the rodeo appears to want to reverse this standing to facilitate the possible demolition of the Astrodome. Estimates for demolition are upwards of $100 million. Do any of the detractors want to help pay to destroy a building?
6. The Astrodome is a product of over-engineering by the teams that designed it. This engineering excellence is one of the traits that earned the building the title of the Eighth Wonder of the World.
7. There was no vote to demolish the Astrodome. The 2013 vote to allocate public funds for renovation was merely a bond vote. Talks of demolition emerged because, at the time, there was no alternative plan.
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Then there’s the saying, “If they tore down Yankee Stadium, they can tear down the Astrodome.” Well, let’s discuss that. While Yankee Stadium was significant from a sports perspective, mainly to New York Yankees fans, it was neither the first of its kind nor did it put New York City on the international map like the Astrodome did for Houston. Furthermore, the new Yankee Stadium was built across the street from the old one on public parkland, which necessitated the demolition of the old stadium to maintain the same amount of park space. That’s why Yankee Stadium was torn down, in addition to its engineering not being in the same league as the Dome built here in Texas.
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While we’re at it, let’s consider the Eiffel Tower, which Parisians once regarded as an outdated eyesore following the World’s Fair in 1889. It was later repurposed as a transmission tower and became an international symbol of the city. By contrast, the Astrodome became Houston’s international symbol the moment construction began in 1963.
So that leads us to today. Some people have great memories of the Astrodome, while others did not live here or are too young to remember it at all. It almost seems as if the Astrodome has been intentionally ignored, allowing a state of apathy to set in. That’s unlikely, but it’s a thought. Either way, the question of what should become of the Astrodome feels as exciting as the Loop 610 at Highway 59 exchange at 5 p.m. No one is excited because they feel powerless to act, and the situation just feels stuck.
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Since 2016, the Astrodome Conservancy has been navigating the process of how to bring the Dome back to life. Those efforts culminated on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, when the conservancy unveiled “Vision: Astrodome,” an ambitious $1 billion proposal to repurpose the Dome into a multi-use venue, preserving its historic integrity while creating 450,000 square feet of new space for events, dining, offices, and retail. Developed in collaboration with architecture firm Gensler, the plan integrates the Dome into the larger NRG Park complex, preserving its signature features while adapting it to meet modern needs and serving the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
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“The Conservancy is in a unique position to take the lead on this issue because we understand the opportunities, challenges, advantages, and encumbrances facing the iconic Astrodome better than any other entity,” said Beth Wiedower Jackson, Executive Director of the Astrodome Conservancy. “We aim to bring Harris County, the Houston Texans, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and the public together to find a solution that benefits all and ensures a bright future for our beloved landmark, the Astrodome.”
Some of the key elements include:
- Four New Buildings: Inside the Dome, centered around a flexible arena
- Restaurants, Retail, and Hospitality: Spaces for dining, shopping, and entertainment
- Boulevard-Style Walkway: Inspired by New York's High Line
- Expanded Parking and Facilities: To serve NRG Park's existing tenants
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The Astrodome Conservancy’s proposal involves $750 million in private funding, aiming to minimize public investment. The plan seeks to retain the Dome's historic integrity, activate the structure year-round, and ensure it serves future generations.
In 2020, the conservancy launched a community engagement initiative called “Future Dome," which found that 86% of respondents agreed the Astrodome should be reused, with 81% supporting the allocation of public funds towards it.
“We are confident that because of the Astrodome’s designation as a historic landmark, redevelopment can leverage significant private dollars—dollars that are not available for new construction or other improvements to NRG Park—to minimize public investment. We can create a successful public-private partnership to ensure this Houston treasure will have a bright future,” said Phoebe Tudor, Astrodome Conservancy Chairman.
In response, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation have stated they are designing their own plans for NRG Park. What many people do not consider is the power of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. As tenants (not owners) of NRG Park, they have significant influence over the overall master plan for the complex. Sustainability must always be part of the conversation regarding a major organization like the rodeo, but they have an excellent opportunity to integrate one of Texas's biggest icons (a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark) into their brand, which celebrates Texas history and western heritage, and leverage it to drive additional revenue for scholarships or operational investment. The Astrodome can be a gateway to a massive sports, entertainment, and mixed-use complex that celebrates and complements the rodeo brand and the Houston Texans. Houston shouldn’t be lagging behind on this concept; we should be leading it.
