The Houston Astrodome and Either Wonder of the World could come back to life with a new $1 billion plan from the Astrodome Conservancy to transform the structure into a 450,000 square feet of “revenue-generating space” with four buildings under one roof.
In 1965, the 9.5-acre, 70,000-seat Astrodome in Houston made its debut as the first domed stadium in the world. Over the course of nearly four decades, the Astrodome hosted everything from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, to Selena, Elvis, Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes”, and Muhammed Ali.
At one point, it was one of the most-visited man-made attractions in the entire United States. Since 2009, the Eighth Wonder of the World has been largely abandoned leaving the rest of us to wonder what’s to come of it.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the Astrodome Conservancy are prepared to invest $1 billion into redeveloping the iconic structure as a part of Vision: Astrodome. The redevelopment project would be headed by Gensler Houston design firm.
The proposed concept would include four separate buildings housed inside the Astrodome with a boulevard connecting the structure with NRG Park buildings similar to Highline in New York, according to Houston Chronicle. Surrounding the Astrodome, the design firm imagines a year-round retail village filled with shopping, restaurants, and art installations.
The design firm also proposed a new ground floor under which would be space for 1,500 parking spots.
At this moment, the development plan is just a proposal. Chris Boleman, President and CEO of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – one of two tenants of NRG Park – told the Houston Chronicle that the rodeo hasn’t been in conversation with the Astrodome Conservancy for over a year and is instead invested the future of NRG Park.
“The hurdle is, from their perspective, that there are higher priorities at NRG Park,” said Beth Wiedower Jackson, executive director of the Astrodome Conservancy.
“The assumption is that the Astrodome’s redevelopment is not possible without significant Harris County dollars and resources. Their argument is that support should first be spent on maintaining NRG Stadium.”
,Speaking to Houston Public Media, Phoebe Tudor said of the Astrodome:
“It represents something that’s a very authentic period in our history. The Astrodome was built around the same time that we had the space race and NASA was centered here. It was just a very special time and people don’t want to forget that.”