NICOLE SOMMA
Updated
The Houston Astrodome, in Texas, was one of the most innovative stadiums of its time. Opened in 1965, it became the first major covered and air-conditioned stadium, a feature that made it possible to enjoy games and shows without depending on the heat, rain, or other weather conditions.
Its construction cost around $35 million, although the total investment and associated works are usually placed at higher figures. Updated to present-day values, the cost cited in some estimates is around $358 million. Known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the venue changed the way large stadiums were conceived in the United States.
From historic setting to inactive stadium
The Astrodome was the home of MLB's Houston Astros from 1965 to 1999 and the NFL's Houston Oilers from 1968 to 1996. It also hosted basketball games, concerts, and large-scale shows. In 1992, it even hosted the Republican National Convention.
One of its best-known innovations was the installation of artificial turf in 1966. Natural grass did not thrive under the venue's lighting conditions, so it was replaced by a synthetic surface that eventually became popular under the AstroTurf brand. The solution influenced the design of playing fields in other stadiums.
However, over the years, the Astrodome lost prominence to more modern facilities. The Oilers left in 1996, and the Astros played their last game there in 1999. Although the venue continued to be used for other events, its activity gradually declined until it was left practically empty.
Why did it close its doors?
The turning point came in 2008, when authorities determined that the Astrodome did not meet fire safety code requirements. The building lost authorization to receive the public and stopped functioning as an event venue.
Since then, Harris County has studied different alternatives to reclaim the space. One of the most ambitious proposals came in 2013: to invest about $217 million to transform it into an exhibition and events center. However, voters rejected the project at the polls.
In 2018, a more affordable alternative was approved, valued at $105 million, which involved raising the floor to street level and building parking underneath. The plan was put on hold in 2019 due to doubts about its feasibility and usefulness once reopened. None of these initiatives was ever carried out.
A future that is still undecided
In November 2024, the Astrodome Conservancy presented a new proposal to restore the venue. The project, called Vision: Astrodome, envisions a transformation valued at around $1 billion, with retail spaces, restaurants, offices, and cultural areas, in addition to new facilities inside the structure.
The initiative aims to turn the old stadium into a multi-use space and connect it with the rest of the NRG Park complex. However, the proposal needs funding and the backing of the institutions and organizations involved in managing the venue. So far, it has not materialized.
The Astrodome continues to be a symbol of American sports innovation, but it also represents a challenge for Houston authorities: how to preserve a historic structure without taking on a renovation cost that still does not have secured funding.
More than six decades after its inauguration, the stadium is still standing, although without a defined function. Its history left a mark on sports architecture; its next chapter depends on Houston finding a viable way to bring it back to life.