The Abandoned Astrodome And Its Future

[Big E]

9 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

It can't be demolished, it's a State Antiquities Landmark.

I'm sure that status can be removed just as easily as it can be given.

 

11 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

FIFY

I said what I meant.

[Houston19514]

10 hours ago, Big E said:

I said what I meant.

But what you said is objectively false.

Edited March 30, 2023 by Houston19514

[j_cuevas713]

12 hours ago, Big E said:

I'm sure that status can be removed just as easily as it can be given.

 

I said what I meant.

I'm sure any historic status can be removed but it's highly unlikely

[Nate99]

The Ballpark in Arlington/GlobeLife Park/Chocktaw Stadium offers an interesting analog, but it wasn't abandoned, half gutted and turned into a mold spore factory.   They use it for rugby and other minor league type operations (XFL, MLS feeder team). 

Not having to manage the HVAC makes it only just so analogous, but in any case, I can't see how those entities pay for upkeep of something that big. 

Interestingly, the Rangers used that park for only 26 seasons if I counted correctly.  The Astros are starting their 24th at MMP after 35 in the Dome. Time flies. 

[mkultra25]

On 3/29/2023 at 2:08 PM, BeerNut said:

How many centuries for it crumble?

"My name is Astrodomias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

[hindesky]

[Big E]

On 3/30/2023 at 9:34 AM, Houston19514 said:

But what you said is objectively false.

I don't see how it can be objectively false when the thing is still sitting there...abandoned. Reality shows me to be objectively right.

 

On 3/30/2023 at 12:11 PM, j_cuevas713 said:

I'm sure any historic status can be removed but it's highly unlikely

Unlikely is not impossible. And I don't think the state government will split hairs over it if the county and city actually just pushed for it.

 

On 4/1/2023 at 11:44 AM, hindesky said:

This came from the Babylon Bee?

[hbg.50]

8 minutes ago, Big E said:

This came from the Babylon Bee?

That was an April Fools joke...sheesh!

[Big E]

13 minutes ago, steve1363 said:

That was an April Fools joke...sheesh!

The thing is, I'm sure weirder stuff has happened in Houston. Hell, its probably no more out there than some of the other proposals.

[Houston19514]

12 hours ago, Big E said:

I don't see how it can be objectively false when the thing is still sitting there...abandoned. Reality shows me to be objectively right.

As you know, the portions of your post that I fixed for you were:  

"Nobody in the county wants to spend money on an aging dome."   and "NOBODY cares that much."

Those were objectively false statements.  (For example, I live in the county and want to spend money on the Dome, as did nearly half of the people who voted on the 2013 proposal, as did the former county commissioners.) And I and many other people indeed care that much.

[hindesky]

But the majority voted no on multiple votes and no one from the county, city or private companies are willing to spend any money on it.

[ChannelTwoNews]

Ralph Bivins weighs in...

https://realtynewsreport.com/spotlight-shines-on-historic-astrodome/

[hbg.50]

14 minutes ago, ChannelTwoNews said:

Ralph Bivins weighs in...

https://realtynewsreport.com/spotlight-shines-on-historic-astrodome/

Let's hope we start to see some traction!

[bookey23]

His idea to turn the Astrodome into a casino is very interesting. Sort of like how Memphis turned the Pyramid into a giant Bass Pro Shop with a hotel and tons of restaurants. I doubt it'll ever happen, but that's a very interesting outside-the-box idea

[Houston19514]

20 hours ago, hindesky said:

But the majority voted no on multiple votes and no one from the county, city or private companies are willing to spend any money on it.

Just to keep things accurate.  There has been one vote on one proposal.  There have not been multiple votes.

As to the statement that no one from the county, city or private companies being wiling to spend any money on it . . .  that is just a clear lack of leadership.  Whether it is going to be refurbished/reused or demolished, either way requires some money and leadership to make something happen. (City leaders get a pass on this one since it is owned by the county.) Pathetic and embarrassing.

Edited April 4, 2023 by Houston19514

[Big E]

On 4/3/2023 at 11:55 AM, Houston19514 said:

As you know, the portions of your post that I fixed for you were:  

"Nobody in the county wants to spend money on an aging dome."   and "NOBODY cares that much."

Those were objectively false statements.  (For example, I live in the county and want to spend money on the Dome, as did nearly half of the people who voted on the 2013 proposal, as did the former county commissioners.) And I and many other people indeed care that much.

If the people of Harris County, as A WHOLE, wanted to spend money on the dome, they would have passed one of the numerous initiatives to do so. If people in the county, once again, AS A WHOLE, cared that much about the dome, it wouldn't still be abandoned. While a few individuals may care, as a general statement, the people of Harris County just don't seem to have any strong feelings in making use of the Astrodome.

[hbg.50]

1 hour ago, Big E said:

If the people of Harris County, as A WHOLE, wanted to spend money on the dome, they would have passed one of the numerous initiatives to do so. If people in the county, once again, AS A WHOLE, cared that much about the dome, it wouldn't still be abandoned. While a few individuals may care, as a general statement, the people of Harris County just don't seem to have any strong feelings in making use of the Astrodome.

Unfortunately this is becoming less likely as the demographics of Harris County are changing and the citizenry has less of an emotional connection to the Dome.  Lina Hidalgo is a perfect example.  She wasn't even born until 1991.  It will take the will of a few influential Houstonians to get something done.

[Houston19514]

1 hour ago, Big E said:

If the people of Harris County, as A WHOLE, wanted to spend money on the dome, they would have passed one of the numerous initiatives to do so. If people in the county, once again, AS A WHOLE, cared that much about the dome, it wouldn't still be abandoned. While a few individuals may care, as a general statement, the people of Harris County just don't seem to have any strong feelings in making use of the Astrodome.

Moving the goalposts, I see.  (You originally claimed that NOBODY wanted to spend money on the Dome and NOBODY cared that much.)  And, again, there have not been numerous initiatives offered to the Harris County voters.

Regardless, we are suffering from an embarrassing and pathetic lack of leadership.  Refurbish, find a use for it, tear it down and replace it with something, tear it down and leave a hole in the ground.  Any of those moves require some leadership.  But here we are almost TWENTY-FOUR YEARS after the last baseball game was played in the Dome, with no decision, no direction, no leadership.

[august948]

oops...posted about the in-n-out april fools joke before looking at the previous page.

post deleted

😜

 

Edited April 6, 2023 by august948

[Big E]

On 4/5/2023 at 7:42 PM, Houston19514 said:

Regardless, we are suffering from an embarrassing and pathetic lack of leadership.  Refurbish, find a use for it, tear it down and replace it with something, tear it down and leave a hole in the ground.  Any of those moves require some leadership.  But here we are almost TWENTY-FOUR YEARS after the last baseball game was played in the Dome, with no decision, no direction, no leadership.

Lack of leadership, lack of will, lack of money. Lack of everything, really.

I think the historical designation is the only reason it hasn't been torn down, and nobody has simply cared enough to go out their way to get the designation removed. Its political and bureaucratic inertia at this point.

[Reefmonkey]

On 12/16/2022 at 5:21 PM, editor said:

It is.  So, great — there are two possible locations for large events.  In the nation's fourth largest city.  And both of those are home to sports teams, and one is locked up for a month plus because of the rodeo.

It's like saying, "Whaddaya mean I-10 isn't wide enough? It has TWO lanes now!"

But turning the Astrodome into another concert venue, you’d still have the issue of sports games and the rodeo. Look at the parking situation and traffic snarl around NRG when Taylor Swift came to town. No way you’d be able to have a major concert at the Astrodome take place on the same night as a Texans game, let alone during the rodeo. Even a smaller concert not along the lines of a Taylor Swift concert wouldn’t work happening there alongside those events, and for smaller concerts you do have other venues like the Arena and the Bayou Music Center. 

[august948]

4 hours ago, Reefmonkey said:

But turning the Astrodome into another concert venue, you’d still have the issue of sports games and the rodeo. Look at the parking situation and traffic snarl around NRG when Taylor Swift came to town. No way you’d be able to have a major concert at the Astrodome take place on the same night as a Texans game, let alone during the rodeo. Even a smaller concert not along the lines of a Taylor Swift concert wouldn’t work happening there alongside those events, and for smaller concerts you do have other venues like the Arena and the Bayou Music Center. 

Since it's part of NRG Park I would imagine all scheduling would be coordinated to avoid these issues (like it is today).  But, Judge Hidalgo has pretty much said the dome isn't a priority so I wouldn't expect anything to happen other than it sit there and rot.

[Reefmonkey]

59 minutes ago, august948 said:

Since it's part of NRG Park I would imagine all scheduling would be coordinated to avoid these issues (like it is today).  But, Judge Hidalgo has pretty much said the dome isn't a priority so I wouldn't expect anything to happen other than it sit there and rot.

Right but the point is coordinating to avoid these issues means the Astrodome couldn’t be used while NRG is being used, and so fixing up the astrodome wouldn’t fix the problem that we are short one venue for concerts whenever NRG is being used for something else.
 

I’m not a huge fan of Hidalgo but she’s been in office for 4 years, and the Astrodome had been sitting and rotting for 20 years before she took office, so I’m not really sure it’s fair to lay all this on her narrow shoulders. 

Edited May 9, 2023 by Reefmonkey

[Houston19514]

2 hours ago, Reefmonkey said:

Right but the point is coordinating to avoid these issues means the Astrodome couldn’t be used while NRG is being used, and so fixing up the astrodome wouldn’t fix the problem that we are short one venue for concerts whenever NRG is being used for something else.
 

I’m not a huge fan of Hidalgo but she’s been in office for 4 years, and the Astrodome had been sitting and rotting for 20 years before she took office, so I’m not really sure it’s fair to lay all this on her narrow shoulders. 

She may not be the only person to bear some blame, if you want to look back over 25 years and lay blame on people who once could have made different decisions, but the fact is, she is the chief executive of the county and the county owns the Astrodome.  She asked for the job and then asked to keep the job.  It is absolutely fair to blame her for the inaction and utter lack of leadership.  

Edited May 9, 2023 by Houston19514

[Ross]

43 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

She may not be the only person to bear some blame, if you want to look back over 25 years and lay blame on people who once could have made different decisions, but the fact is, she is the chief executive of the county and the county owns the Astrodome.  She asked for the job and then asked to keep the job.  It is absolutely fair to blame her for the inaction and utter lack of leadership.  

The Dome is a no win situation for the County Judge. Whatever happens, half the population will be mad. Doing nothing is a better option politically.

[Blue Dogs]

On 4/6/2005 at 9:24 AM, gambitx said:

The astrodome is starting to become old and non used i think it should be just destroyed

NO WAY IN HELL The Astrodome will be torn down anytime soon considering it's now a National Historic Landmark.

[august948]

15 hours ago, Blue Dogs said:

NO WAY IN HELL The Astrodome will be torn down anytime soon considering it's now a National Historic Landmark.

There we have it then, it won't be torn down and we won't do anything with it.

Here's the real future of the Astrodome...

[Houston19514]

17 hours ago, Ross said:

The Dome is a no win situation for the County Judge. Whatever happens, half the population will be mad. Doing nothing is a better option politically.

That’s not a good excuse.  A leader could put together a plan and get buy in from important parties and make something happen.  Leadership is required.  Don’t ask for a job and then hide under your desk because making decisions s might make someone mad.

[Ross]

1 hour ago, Houston19514 said:

That’s not a good excuse.  A leader could put together a plan and get buy in from important parties and make something happen.  Leadership is required.  Don’t ask for a job and then hide under your desk because making decisions s might make someone mad.

There are a myriad of other issues the County Judge needs to be working on. The Astrodome is at the bottom of the list of issues to be considered. I would be pissed if she wasted any time on the Dome at all.

There is no way to build consensus on a plan for the Dome when half the population wants it torn down and half wants it reused. No amount of leadership can overcome that.

[Houston19514]

1 minute ago, Ross said:

There are a myriad of other issues the County Judge needs to be working on. The Astrodome is at the bottom of the list of issues to be considered. I would be pissed if she wasted any time on the Dome at all.

There is no way to build consensus on a plan for the Dome when half the population wants it torn down and half wants it reused. No amount of leadership can overcome that.

Nonsense.  It is irresponsible to just let a huge asset sit there rotting.  It is not a waste of time to attend to the county's assets (or, if you prefer, its liabilities).  One thing is certain, "leadership" cannot overcome the divide if they don't try.  Another thing is for sure, we don't hire "leaders" to avoid making decisions when they are difficult.