The Abandoned Astrodome And Its Future

[tigereye]

A recommendation to renovate the Dome for "multi-purpose use" without detailing what exactly those multi-purposes would be makes me wonder. What exactly would they have come up with that makes sense after nobody else has been able to make the numbers work for years now?

Here's an idea.

A new Reliant Arena isn't needed at all. The Dome could be the new Reliant Arena. And it could be larger or even smaller as well. Ever heard of the Saitama Super Arena?!? It uses movable seating sections which can change the seating capacity from as large as 37,000 seats to small as 9,000 seats. Use the floor for exhibition space as well. A true multipurpose convention & entertainment venue hosing a multitude of events.

http://www.saitama-arena.co.jp/e/facility.html

[chuckdee]

http://swamplot.com/...ome/2012-03-23/

Really cool - wonder how much that oiler sign would sell for at auction?

Is it sad or cool that it's still sitting there? Sad because it's not used and millions are spent for nothing, cool because it's not knocked down yet.

There's some saying that escapes me goes something like " You can't f up if you don't do anything"

lol

Both the Oiler and Astro signs are very cool looking. They would look great next to my autographed Earl Campbell helmet and JR Richard Jersey.

[chuckdee]

Here's an idea.

A new Reliant Arena isn't needed at all. The Dome could be the new Reliant Arena. And it could be larger or even smaller as well. Ever heard of the Saitama Super Arena?!? It uses movable seating sections which can change the seating capacity from as large as 37,000 seats to small as 9,000 seats. Use the floor for exhibition space as well. A true multipurpose convention & entertainment venue hosing a multitude of events.

http://www.saitama-a...e/facility.html

Farmers and Flee markets too!

[devonhart]

[Earlydays]

Saw the Astros there that year......in it's day, it was very "cool" and nothing like it anywhere else in the country!

[brian0123]

That was an awesome scoreboard! Did people in the 60's wear their church attire to everything?

[Earlydays]

.........Did people in the 60's wear their church attire to everything?

No question, people did dress up more going out in the '60's and before. Things started to get progressively more casual in the '70's. For example, men wore coats and ties while traveling on airplanes.

JFK (who didn't wear hats) was also a big influence on business men no longer wearing hats as part of the "business uniform".

[readam]

When asked about his first visit to the Astrodome back in "65, our teacher said, "It took my breath away for a moment of seconds!"

[lockmat]

"Astrodome Tomorrow" has a proposal for the Dome. Here are some images from their facebook account: http://www.facebook....299333546760590 (saw it on Tory's blog)

Some notes about their proposal (some of which I'm not sure have been updated or are obsolete)

- Will have a monorail that goes around the site. That's the ring you see.

- I voiced my concern about Texans tailgating and Rodeo carnival space. Their reply: "Good question, thanks for asking. We are committed to developing a master plan that takes away no tail-gating space or space for the carnival rides. Integral to our approach is the idea that, as needed, the space we are designating as roof-garden-over-parking will be available for use by tailgaters, cook-off, and carnival for the duration of those events. This is consistent with our commitment to enhance both visitor experience and tenant operations.

It should be noted that the master plans previously presented by Reliant management and CSL reduce the footprint of the rodeo carnival."

- The Astrodome roof would be solar panels and have programmable decorative lighting that could be visible from nearby and orbit. They could depct planets, galaxies or abstract designs.

- Includes a skate park

- Will have a water feature that represents the simplest form of fractals

- 90 acre green park

- Parking garage underneath the park

- etc

A few images. They have many more with explanations in their facebook image gallery.

Edited November 14, 2012 by lockmat

[luciaphile]

If any other insomniacs are now worriedly trying to get up to speed on Julia sets, thanks to lockmat sharing this cornucopia of delights, this is the best treatment I've found so far. As is often the case with mathematical topics, wikipedia was too arcane:

http://www.jcu.edu/m...ettes/Julia.htm

[Mister X]

I love it. Build a Texas Cyclone on it and we practically have AstroWorld back too. What a great way to relish, enjoy and appreciate an exciting part of Houston's history. The 'Astro' era could have its own outdoor/indoor shrine and be a beautiful gateway to Reliant, the Houston Texans and the Rodeo.

Of course, I realize that this doesn't scream corporate functionality and I don't see a clear path to unbridled profits at this time (which seems to be the only thing most shortsighted people at HAIF only care about) but it's a great idea just the same.

Good luck with this one. As someone who just wants to save the dome for the sake of civil pride (don't care about raising your taxes to do it either), I'm willing to throw my support behind just about anything at this point that will preserve this (still) living symbol. The Astrodome is a larger than life monument to one of the greatest, most excessive, exciting periods in our city's history. It's not just another old stadium. It helped to put Houston on the map and deserves more respect than just any old ordinary white elephant.

[samagon]

I love it. Build a Texas Cyclone on it and we practically have AstroWorld back too. What a great way to relish, enjoy and appreciate an exciting part of Houston's history. The 'Astro' era could have its own outdoor/indoor shrine and be a beautiful gateway to Reliant, the Houston Texans and the Rodeo.

Of course, I realize that this doesn't scream corporate functionality and I don't see a clear path to unbridled profits at this time (which seems to be the only thing most shortsighted people at HAIF only care about) but it's a great idea just the same.

Good luck with this one. As someone who just wants to save the dome for the sake of civil pride (don't care about raising your taxes to do it either), I'm willing to throw my support behind just about anything at this point that will preserve this (still) living symbol. The Astrodome is a larger than life monument to one of the greatest, most excessive, exciting periods in our city's history. It's not just another old stadium. It helped to put Houston on the map and deserves more respect than just any old ordinary white elephant.

This pipe dream is really cool compared to others, and it would be awesome if Reliant would just take lead on making this happen.

I'll agree with the bolded statement, only because decay is a natural part of life!

[Reaper88]

Hey guys, it's happening!

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/48429/houston-ponders-study-to-demolish-astrodome

[ClutchCity]

I read an article in the HBJ about turning the Astrodome into a giant casino. It's probably very unlikely, and unfortunately it's behind paywall but it's still pretty interesting. Granted, they'd have to legalize gambling first.

 

“Houston is going to get the first piece of Texas casino action. One of my clients, a big name in gaming who must remain confidential, is going to buy the Astrodome and turn it into the world’s biggest gambling pit under one roof, with thousands of slot machines on multiple levels and high-stakes table games on the floor."

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2013/03/15/lucky-louie-likes-odds-on-casino.html?page=all

 

 

Edited March 20, 2013 by ClutchCity

[lockmat]

Per Ed emmitt, this is a non story

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett does not consider this new information on the Astrodome as changing anything at this point.

"I looked at it briefly (Monday) and all it is, is how much does it cost to demolish the dome," said Emmett.

"That's something that, if and when Harris County Commissioners Court made the decision to do that, then I'm sure we would go out for bids.

"Unless there's something there I didn't see when it came across my desk, all I saw were two or three options for how to demolish it and turn it into a parking lot. I know that's their position. I'm not denigrating it, but that doesn't really move the ball anywhere."

Judge Emmett said he does not immediately plan to do anything with the information from the Texans and the Rodeo.

"Read it and put it on a shelf," Emmett said. "It's not meaningful at all."

Read more: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/21723499/2013/03/19/houston-texans-rodeohouston-proposing-astrodome-implosion#ixzz2O2XcB4I6

[samagon]

I hope Ed is only tabling turning the area into a parking lot, not demolition. 

 

I think there are still plenty of things they can do with the dome, and certainly I think a lot of Houstonians are at a point where they believe demolition isn't a bad idea. That being said, it would be just like Houston to demo and put in a parking lot. No, lets shake that history and get to a point where we do something purposeful with the land, even if it is a greenspace dedicated to Houston sports history.

[Mister X]

The idea of tearing down the Astrodome is already a dismal enough scenario. But to think that the ground it once stood on gets no more reverence than to become just another parking lot within an ocean of parking lots should be considered an insult by anyone who truly loves the city of Houston. At least leaving the land the dome once stood on as some kind of green space park, small sports museum or some kind of tribute to what it brought to Houston as far as international recognition and the revolutionary architecture that it was at the time it opened would be some small (very small) consolation.  The idea of paving over it and forgetting it like it was just another aluminum building that used to sell cheap furniture back in the 70's on the I-610 feeder road is BEYOND PATHETIC!

 

I understand that nothing could be cheaper and require less thought and imagination than to blow it up and make a parking lot for the Texans and the Rodeo to enjoy more profits on, but Houston is one of the riches cities in the world and if we allow this to happen at a time when our city is booming, I think Houston would lose a lot of respect from the people who matter most - the ones who are here for the long haul.

 

I also understand that it is the "Houston way" to discard old buildings that are no longer profitable or are standing in the way of someone's corporate profits, but this one time we better make an exception. The Astrodome was a game changing, internationally recognizable, unique piece of architecture and those don't come around very often. Houston may never get another one. 

 

Edited March 21, 2013 by Mister X

[livincinco]

I also understand that it is the "Houston way" to discard old buildings that are no longer profitable or are standing in the way of someone's corporate profits, but this one time we better make an exception. The Astrodome was a game changing, internationally recognizable, unique piece of architecture and those don't come around very often. Houston may never get another one. 

 

I don't know if it's really fair to imply that this is a problem that is specific to Houston, because this kind of demolition of historic stadiums has happened all across the US.  Does anyone know of a successful example of repurposing a facility like this?

[RedScare]

I also understand that it is the "Houston way" to discard old buildings that are no longer profitable or are standing in the way of someone's corporate profits, but this one time we better make an exception.

 

[RedScare]

I don't know if it's really fair to imply that this is a problem that is specific to Houston, because this kind of demolition of historic stadiums has happened all across the US.  Does anyone know of a successful example of repurposing a facility like this?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nALg1w1IeJo

[livincinco]

That was the best six minutes of my day!

[ClutchCity]

http://swamplot.com/roger-goodell-2500-extra-parking-spaces-does-sound-pretty-good/2013-03-21/

 

Another fun article about how tearing down the Astrodome would create 2,500 parking spots and "enhance Houston's bid" for the Super Bowl in 2017.

[Mister X]

I believe we should let the damned thing sit there and rot until McNair and the rednecks pay to get rid of it themselves.

 

Edited March 22, 2013 by Mister X

[RedScare]

On second thought, X is right. We should turn it into a Texas theme park.

[Mister X]

Anything you want - as long as the structure remains. 

 

 

 

[kylejack]

Excellent piece from Houstorian. http://houstorian.org/why-save-the-astrodome/

[KinkaidAlum]

Yes, there have been a ton of old stadiums demolished. However, how many of them were demolished for surface parking and nothing else?

[Houston19514]

Yes, there have been a ton of old stadiums demolished. However, how many of them were demolished for surface parking and nothing else?

 

I am not in favor of demolishing the astrodome, especially to just replace it with surface parking; but to your question:

 

Shea Stadium comes to mind. 

I think Seattle Kingdome was also demolished and replaced with surface parking for their new foottball stadium. Also:

Milwaukee County Stadium;

Comiskey Park;

Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta;

Veterans Stadium in Philly;

Arlington Stadium;

Mile HIgh Stadium;

Foxboro Stadium (demolished just to replace it with surface parking... later redeveloped);

Giants Stadium at The Meadowlands;

Texas Stadium (used for equipment storage and TxDOT staging area... little different from surface parking);

Three Rivers Stadium;

 

Also arenas were demolished just to be replaced with surface parking lots:

McNichols Sports Arena in Denver;

Market Square Arena in Indy;

the Spectrum in Philly;

Boston Garden;

Chicago Stadium.

 

Edited March 22, 2013 by Houston19514

[Subdude]

From The Atlantic

 

The former Guru Maharaji once said, "God is like the Astrodome. If you haven’t experienced it personally, you don’t know what it is."

For anyone who grew up immersed in the worlds of modernist architecture or professional sports, entering the Dome is an oddly spiritual experience. Natural light pours in from its ceiling, shining down on the decaying site. The torn-up Astroturf field is still surrounded by the late 90s ephemera of its final days (box-shaped televisions, advertisements, endzone signs for its most famous tenants, the MLB Astros and former NFL Oilers).

It's been a decade since the Astrodome hosted any local sports team, and it's in worse shape than ever before. Each year, Harris County grapples with the choice of spending tens of millions to demolish the stadium, or hundreds of millions to save it.

That debate got a little rowdier earlier this month, when the NFL Texans and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (both organizations occupy surrounding properties) released a study claiming the dome could be demolished for under $30 million, less than half the cost County officials have been reporting.

Even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell shared his opinion last week, suggesting that a torn down Astrodome could make it easier for its neighbor, Reliant Stadium, to host a Super Bowl by providing the site an extra 2,500 parking spots.

 

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/design/2013/03/what-should-become-aging-decrepit-astrodome/5095/

 

 

[Subdude]

From CultureMap

 

A new Astrodome idea: Strip the dome to its skeleton and put a park underneath the remains

In the wake of a recent recommendation to demolish the Astrodome and put up a 2,500-spot parking lot in its place, here's another suggestion for what to do with the aging icon: Strip it to its skeleton and make it a park.  

The idea comes from Ryan Slattery, a graduate student at the University of Houston, who tackled the troubled structure's future for his School of Architecture Master's Thesis. A friend posted the basics of his plan on Reddit last week:

Underneath the steel skeleton of the Astrodome, some grass and trees can be planted that can serve three purposes. 1) During Texans season, it can be a tailgate area much like the Grove at Ole Miss 2) During the Rodeo, it can be exhibition space, or outdoor grazing land for the Livestock show part of the HLSR. 3) During the year, it's just a ton of greenspace that can be chalked off for a sports complex (Imagine having your kickball beer league underneath the old Astrodome)."

 

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/03-27-13-a-new-astrodome-idea-strip-the-dome-to-its-skeleton-and-put-a-park-underneath-the-remains/