Eighth Wonder of the World no longer

Reliant took several members of the media on a guided tour of the Astrodome Tuesday, and let's just say it hasn't held up well:

Sad.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/04/astrodome_tour_abandoned.php

 

It is sad, but then again, from a practical standpoint, it's hard to imagine why anybody would put the money in it to keep it up. The utilities alone must be astronomical.

 

and Andre the Giant is still dead...

 

The problem is that tearing it down would also be incredibly expensive. And, if you hope to redevelop it in some manner, you've got to maintain it.

The huge former post office in Chicago is in the same situation.

 

This was my immediate reaction as well. I couldn't understand why someone was starting a thread about him today.

 

Always thought it was cool to drive underneath the post office on our way into The Loop.

Aren't they trying to turn it into a shopping mall or something?

 

Yeah. Various proposals. Most have no funding lined up.

Some guy bought the place at auction, but I don't think he even had the money for the actual purchase, let alone the development.

 

It's sad. Went to a concert there in about 2001 or so and even then it looked like a house that no one had lived in for a while. I imagine eventually it will have to be exploded, like so many other former stadiums. Yet another piece of childhood down the tubes.

 

Once had the opportunity to leave through the players' exit at the Astrodome with the late Gary Carter, a mutual friend, and umpire Doug Harvey. Did an interview with The Kid in the car on our way back to the Westin Galleria.

Later that night, got hammered with Trader Jack McKeon in the hotel bar. He claimed he had spent most of the evening trying to trade with Kansas City for Bo Jackson.

Good times.

 

LET THEM PLAY!

 

Note to self: If I'm ever in Houston, there's a cool place to try to sneak into.

 

The Astrodome was where they held the Commissioner's Party for Super Bowl XXXVIII. That was only eight years ago. I'm sort of surprised it's deteriorated so much in that time.