The proposed plan to keep the "dome" up on pillars and remove the bottom section, replacing it with a park and open air concert venue sounds like an awesome project, That plan didn't make the cut, it's exhibition hall or nothing.
Nobody is going to reliant park in the summer (or any other time) unless there's an event. Nobody would just visit this park to spend the day there... It's not that kind of complex. Also, I could see keeping the astrodome erect and forking over more $$$ as a reason to further ridicule Houston.
I love the idea of keeping the dome on some sort of pillars and creating an open-air park space underneath. Put in a monument area that explains the Dome's significance with statues of Earl Campbell, Bum, Nolan Ryan, etc. The park space could be used for covered high school football games, soccer matches and a fan space before Texans games.
When it's torn down, what will future generations say about Houstonians today? They'll say, "Houston was the first at something? That's cool! Too bad they got rid of it." Why can't Houston be the first at making clever use of it again? It's too bad the committee essentially disregarded some of the best ideas for long-term use of the Dome. Regardless of what Houstonians today think, everyone realizes that 1) Houston is missing an opportunity to do something neat, clever, and attract tourists and 2) Houston certainly won't get praised in the global media for tearing down the facility. But who cares what anyone else thinks, right? Why even consider doing something to put Houston on the map once again -- which is what the Astrodome accomplished all those years ago.
No one outside of Houston cares about the Astrodome. It's not the Colosseum. What were the best proposals for the dome? Why didn't any investors come running?
Tear it down. I have a lot of fond Astros/Oilers/rodeo memories from my childhood (hell, saw Michael Jackson's victory tour in the early 80's there...my first concert as a kid), but it is an eye sore and decrepit. Adios
There's a big difference between going downtown in the middle of the city (with restaraunts, bars, ballparks, hotels all surrounding the park), vs. going to the Astrodome site... which sits in the middle of a chain-link fenced in parking lot, with zero businesses surrounding it. The greenspace of the Astrodome would be used only on tailgating days, or days with other events at Reliant (rodeo, final four, super bowl). It would not be the type of park that people would go to on a random weekend. Why would somebody go to the Astrodome park vs going to Herman, Memorial, discovery green, etc?
Exactly... the thing has been sitting there unused for over a decade. If there was really a good idea on what to do with it, it likely would have surfaced by now. They're still figuring out what to do with the Silverdome in Pontiac as well... but at least that building hasn't deteriorated beyond use.
There were some great proposals -- unfortunately the ones that were even considered were the ones related to generating revenue. That's admirable, but the best use of the Dome footprint as space for use and recreation, in my opinion, would be some sort of park. But that's not something that attracts investors.
Officials launch Dome renovation campaign By Kiah Collier September 13, 2013 7:24 AM Reliant Park and Harris County officials on Thursday announced the launch of a campaign to garner voter support for a plan to redevelop the Astrodome, with Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Precinct 1 Commissioner El Franco Lee each pledging $5,000 to the effort. A referendum to fund the project will appear on the ballot this November. If approved, the county would issue up to $217 million in bonds to turn the now-vacant stadium into "The New Dome Experience," an energy-efficient event center flanked by an "inviting" outdoor green space. Dene Hofheinz, daughter of the late Roy Hofheinz, who is credited with building the world's first domed super stadium - dubbed "the eighth wonder of the world" when it opened in 1965 - also pledged a donation during a news conference at Reliant Center. The campaign political action committee is being co-chaired by former Harris County judges Jon Lindsay and Robert Eckels and former Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Irma Diaz Gonzalez. Lindsay, who has been a vocal advocate for preserving the iconic structure, said the committee hopes to raise $250,000 from private individuals. "We know, mostly, where we can get the money, and we'll just see how it comes in," Lindsay said. "The campaign is really focusing on that this is a special event center that will bring in major functions." Preservation groups Officials from Harris County, which owns the Dome and Reliant Park, and the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation, the agency that oversees the complex and conceived the renovation plan, will drive the campaign, along with a coalition of local and national historic preservation groups keen on saving the structure. The stadium has sat vacant since 2009 when city inspectors declared it unfit for occupancy. Edgar Colón, chairman of the sports corporation board, said that because most voters are familiar with the Dome, passing the referendum in November will involve selling them on the project, which will take an estimated 30 months to complete. "Everybody knows the Astrodome," Colón said. "We need to educate the community as to what the project entails and make sure that they understand that we are trying to turn this into a productive asset that is going to bring events to the region and is going to create jobs and have a nice economic impact." Officials have said the structure could host a variety of events, from swim meets to political conventions to "the world's largest Super Bowl party" in 2017 when Reliant Stadium will host the National Football League's preeminent annual event. OTC commits to plan The Offshore Technology Conference, which drew 105,000 people this year, up from 89,000 in 2012, already has committed to using the facility. Emmett, who described the event center plan as the "perfect solution" when it was unveiled in June, said a poll is underway to gauge public sentiment on a project the county has said would require an increase to the property tax rate, if approved. "We need to find out what people think, in terms of who wants to just tear it down, who wants to save it regardless, where are the people that are malleable, shall we say," Emmett said, adding that he intends to incorporate a Dome sales pitch into the 10 to 12 speeches he typically gives in a week. For the skeptics, Lindsay said he would emphasize that the tax hike - four-tenths of a cent - would result in only an $8 increase to the annual tax bill for a $200,000 home with a 20 percent homestead exemption. "Those that don't want to spend any money, well, I'm talking about a meal at McDonald's," Lindsay said. "If people are really concerned about the cost, then I'll just emphasize that this is not that big a deal." If the measure fails, officials have said they likely would demolish the structure. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/new...s-launch-Dome-renovation-campaign-4810625.php
Sounds like promissing if they already have a major convention commited and an another event lined up.
