Plans for the Astrodome have come and gone over the years. On Wednesday, the Astrodome Conservancy released what they want to do with it.
HOUSTON — It’s been sitting unused since 2009 and on Wednesday, we got a look at what the Astrodome Conservancy wants to do with the iconic venue next to NRG Stadium.
The Astrodome Conversancy released artist renderings to show what they’re calling “Vision Astrodome” – a project to turn the structure into a 450,000-square-foot, multi-use revenue-generating space, which includes buildings that would be inside the Dome.
It comes with a price tag of around $1 billion — $250 million for a public events arena and $740 million for commercial real estate.
Part of the plan includes a boulevard that runs through the Astrodome, connecting NRG Stadium and NRG Center.
You can see the renderings below and see the full news conference unveiling the plan in the video window above.
Artist renderings of Astrodome Conservancy proposal
But not everyone is on board with the plans. RodeoHouston, one of the major tenants of NRG Park, released a statement shortly after Wednesday’s news conference. Rodeo officials say they’re working with the Houston Texans and Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation on what to do with the space.
“The proposed plan by the Astrodome Conservancy does not align with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s strategic vision and operational requirements. The Rodeo, Texans, and Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation (HCSCC) have been working on plans for NRG Park’s future. We are actively participating in Park studies and comprehensive analyses regarding the future of NRG Park. These studies are crucial as we acknowledge that a significant amount of work and funding is needed for the three facilities that the Rodeo uses: NRG Stadium, NRG Center, and NRG Arena. As the only tenant that uses all three of these buildings at NRG Park, we recognize and must address these critical facility issues. We believe the total cost of deferred, current, and future maintenance and capital improvements for these facilities is well over a billion dollars. Addressing the current buildings is our priority and is vital to enhancing our guest experience and ensuring the event’s continued growth.”
The Astrodome Conservancy has asked for people to sign petitions and contact their local leaders to support the project. Harris County commissioners are the ones who will ultimately decide its fate.