Houston May Lose Its Dome

Pollstar Staff
12:45 pm, Wednesday, 11/06/2013
News

The Houston Astrodome is likely to be demolished after Texas voters rejected a referendum that would have turned the stadium into a giant convention center.

Photo: AP Photo

Circa 2013

The Astrodome, a marvel in 1965, was the first domed and air-conditioned stadium and became Houston’s defining landmark, a symbol of the city’s can-do spirit.

“We can’t allow the once-proud Astrodome to sit like a rusting ship in the middle of a parking lot. This was the best effort (to revamp the stadium), and voters have turned it down,” said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.

The referendum would have authorized up to $217 million in bonds.

While some supporters vowed to continue fighting for the stadium, preservation groups said there was really nothing more that could be done.