One of the benefits of growing up near Houston is I got to attend events at the Astrodome.  From Astros games to Steve Miller at the Houston Rodeo, this building has hosted more memories than I can count.  Nicknamed the “8th Wonder of the World,” the dome was the first domed stadium in the world when it opened in 1965.  It also was the worlds first venue to feature artificial turf, known as Astroturf.

The dome is 712 ft in diameter and 208 ft above the playing surface.  It was originally supposed to be more hemispherical, but engineering problems forced it to be built more flat.  Because an enclosed venue of this size had never been built, the air conditioning system had to be specially designed to keep the 48,000 seat stadium a comfortable 74 in Houston’s 100 degree heat.

The dome is no longer in use.  The last event to be held under her dome was the Houston Rodeo.  She sits next to NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, as a reminder of where we started.  The city has debated for years on what to do with it.  Some have mentioned demolishing it to save on maintenance costs, while others want to remodel for modern use.  The latest idea is to turn the dome into an indoor entertainment venue with 9-hole golf course, shopping, and hotels.