A $1 billion proposal is the latest plan to renovate and save the iconic Houston Astrodome

HOUSTON – The Houston Astrodome has been in limbo, waiting for its chance at a second life since it closed more than 15 years ago.

It was a technological marvel when it opened in 1965. But its heyday is long gone and there hasn’t been a sports team since the Astros left in 1999, closing to all events a decade later.

Over the years, there have been numerous ideas for its redevelopment and rebirth, from converting it into an indoor water park to flooding the sunken floor to recreate naval battle scenes. But none of these plans met with success sufficient public support or financing.

The latest proposal to renovate the Astrodome was unveiled Wednesday by a nonprofit organization focused on saving the beloved domed stadium. The group, the Astrodome Conservancy, proposes to redevelop the inside of the building to create new areas for restaurants, shops, offices and cultural spaces. But like the previous plans, this one could suffer a similar fate, with a price tag of $1 billion and an initial lack of support from local entities that would have to give permission for the project to proceed.

Beth Wiedower Jackson, executive director of the conservation organization, said that unlike previous proposals, her organization believes theirs is backed by data and would be economically viable in part because there would be enough private investment to support it.

“This is a big, big, bold vision. And those earlier plans, even admitted by Harris County officials, were a first step toward a future Astrodome. And this is the full swing of the bat. And this gives people something to be excited about,” Jackson said.

The plan, Vision: Astrodome, proposes the construction of four state-of-the-art buildings within the stadium that would house restaurants, shops and offices. Similar areas for shopping and dining would also be located around the Astrodome and connected to other amenities around the stadium. The Astrodome is located within NRG Park, a 350-acre complex that includes NRG Stadium, right next to the Astrodome and home to the NFL’s Houston Texans, as well as an arena and exhibit halls.

“The Astrodome is now ready for its next chapter, redevelopment,” said Phoebe Tudor, president of the conservancy. “It’s time for all of us in Houston to come together and do something hard, work together to repurpose the Astrodome.”

Nicknamed ‘the eighth wonder of the world’ the Astrodome heralded a change in the way people attended sporting events. It also hosted several cultural events, including concerts by Elvis and Tejano music star Selena and the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King.

Some people have called for its demolition. But a 2017 designation by the Texas Historical Commission as a monument to the state’s antiquity essentially protects it from large-scale destruction. The stadium also maintains a strong one a foothold in memories from many people both inside and outside of Houston.

Rafi Kohan, whose 2017 book “The Arena” examines the place sports stadiums hold in American culture, said the construction of the Astrodome came at a time of incredible technological innovation in the United States, and that it helped transform Houston from what some saw as a ‘hinterland’. Cow Town” to become a leader in technology. Houston became home to the space program with the opening of the Johnson Space Center in 1964.

“There was and remains a lot of civic pride around the Astrodome, what it represented, the kind of space age achievement, you know, in stadium form,” Kohan said.

Douglas Brinkley, a historian and professor at Rice University in Houston, said the Astrodome has enormous historical relevance and is worth saving.

“It’s our fault for neglecting it or not investing in it. But a turnaround is now awaiting us. We are going to get this done,” Brinkley said.

But whether there remains enough support in Houston to renovate and save the Astrodome remains to be seen. It costs between $100,000 and $200,000 per year to maintain the stadium.

The Astrodome is owned by Harris County and operated by the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation.

The office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county’s top elected official, declined to comment on the conservancy’s proposal.

James Dixon, the president of the sports and convention company, said in a statement that he respects the conservation efforts, but “over the past few years we have seen several concepts that, while thought-provoking, have not resulted in viable funding and maintenance solutions. .”

Dixon said his organization and the province are working with other stakeholders on a plan for the future of NRG Park and that “the solution for the Astrodome must be decided within that context.”

One of those stakeholders, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which holds its annual event at NRG Park and would have a say in what to do with the Astrodome, disagreed with the conservation organization’s proposal.

“The Astrodome Conservancy’s proposed plan does not align with the strategic vision and operational requirements of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,” Chris Boleman, the group’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

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