Houston’s Astrodome likely won’t be knocked to the ground, or blown to bits.
It likely will remain standing, but not in the form that some of us wanted for it.
The Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. says it wants to turn the Astrodome – the one-time Eighth Wonder of the World – into a convention center. It will strip out the seats and turn the Dome into a gigantic meeting place.
The new venue will create a new “Dome experience.” I frankly have enjoyed some of my own old Dome experience, although admittedly not too much of it over the years.
I once took my sons to a 5A high school football playoff game there. My wife and one of my sons went with me once to a Houston Oilers NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Then my wife and I went to a Paul McCartney concert there, where we sang “Hey Jude” – along with many other songs – with Sir Paul and about 50,000 fans packed into the place.
I feared they would tear the place down. That likely won’t happen. The plans now call for $194 million to turn the Dome into a non-sports venue.
This news doesn’t excite me. It does give me some sense of relief that the grand structure will still stand, which is something of a victory for those of us who want to save the place.
Harris County commissioners will consider the proposal next week. I hope they approve it.