Eighth Wonder of the World no longer

[Steak Snabler]

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:

Before we entered, we all signed waivers, since we would be touring a building that is not up to code. Not that it could fall upon us at any moment ("Death by Astrodome" has a fun ring to it) but certain legal precautions must be taken. There is no A/C to speak of, and only minimal lighting. We brought a flashlight and a sweat towel. This is Houston in April after all.

The Astros clubhouse has been trashed by vandals, with broken glass littering the coaches offices. There are cubby holes on one wall where fan mail would go. I smiled at #11. The baseball team had a large training and sports medicine area. There was a green turf running incline, and of course, batting cages, all set off in a cave. Just a few feet away was the door to where the dugout would be now.

Sad.

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

 

[swamp trash]

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.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

and Andre the Giant is still dead...

 

[YankeeFan]

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.

 

[bigpern23]

and Andre the Giant is still dead...

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

 

[I Should Coco]

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.

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?

 

[YankeeFan]

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.

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.

 

[Mark2010]

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.

 

[Pencil Dick]

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.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

LET THEM PLAY!

 

[Baron Scicluna]

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

 

[Michael_ Gee]

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.

 

[Moderator1]

They had a big bash at there at the Olympic media summit in 2000, too. On my 44th birthday, so I just pretended it was for that.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Maybe someone from Houston knows the answer to this but I believe the Dome was last used for anything other than storage when it served as a shelter for Katrina refugees in 2005.

 

[TowelWaver]

Maybe someone from Houston knows the answer to this but I believe the Dome was last used for anything other than storage when it served as a shelter for Katrina refugees in 2005.

I'm from Houston and that's the last I've seen it used for anything meaningful. There have been all kinds of proposals for what to do with it (e.g., hotel, museum) but none have come to anything and it's just been decaying in the meantime.

 

[da man]

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.

I see what you did there.

 

[da man]

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.

Name dropper.

 

[Double J]

LET THEM PLAY!

Well done. Even before I saw this link, I was thinking that, just for fun, Chris Barnes should let a couple of rent-a-cops chase him around the infield for old times sake. ;D