Astrodome
Icons at Risk
By Krista Walton | From Preservation | May/June 2008
Astrodome
Location: Houston
Architects: Hermon Lloyd & W.B. Morgan; Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson
Year: 1965
Proclaimed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" when it opened, the Astrodome was the world's first large, multipurpose enclosed stadium built with a self-supported domed roof. Equipped with air conditioning as a way to bring professional sports to Houston, "The Dome" has been largely vacant since 1999, when baseball's Astros left the stadium for a newer ballpark. More recently, it provided temporary shelter for New Orleans residents in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina. But this relic of our recent past faces an increasingly uncertain future. Although the Texas Historical Commission says the Astrodome is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, a group of local investment companies is planning to redevelop the structure, possibly turning it into a 1,300-room hotel and convention center. "From football games to the rodeo to entertainment events, the Astrodome has touched millions of people's lives in this city," says David Bush, spokesperson for the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance. "It's an integral part of our history."
Comments
Submitted by Make Sense at: May 27, 2008
The public officials have made the Dome obsolete not the facility. I have been to events in all of the Houston facilities and I will venture to say the experience in the newer parks is not that much different. I have a general problem with one use stadiums in that they are generally a waste of our public funds and primarily improve the owner's balance sheet of the franchises, etc. With regard to the Dome. I think we should keep it aroud as an affordable entertainment venue. More and more people are coming into the City of Houston and people can barely afford to participate in events anymore. People want entertainment and we have a facility that we should be able to use to offer reasonably priced events in. Football, Basketball, Concerts, etc. are all very expensive for people to attend. Baseball and the Rodeo are also getting out of hand when you take into account the cost of the the parking and food. I would think our city officials who want to appeal to all of the voters would understand it would be nice to be able to afford to take the family out to an event for a reasonable amout. It could be a tractor pull with $10 tickets, $5 parking, $3 beer and $2 hot dogs for the kids. The staduim would be packed and everyone would win. The event does not matter it is going with the family.