HOUSTON – (By Cynthia Lescalleet for Realty News Report) – The Astrodome, cherished by many and lamented by others, stands as an iconic Houston landmark seeking a sustainable, shared future.
The Astrodome Conservancy is leading efforts to promote a dual mission: stewarding the historic structure while forging partnerships to preserve and responsibly redevelop the aging facility into something functional, financially sustainable, and accessible to the public.
As part of a renewed public engagement initiative, the Conservancy launched its first virtual Race for the Dome to invite community members to support revitalization efforts through physical activity. The long-shuttered asset, owned by Harris County, still looms beside NRG Stadium, a reminder of both past glory and potential future uses.
Held April 2–11, the event is designed for socially distanced participation: registrants can independently run, walk, bike, hike, scoot, skate or otherwise complete a 5K. Organizers note that distance is roughly equivalent to eight laps around the Astrodome. Registration materials emphasize flexibility: “Your race. Your route. Your schedule. Your pace.” The Conservancy also provided incentives: the first 200 registrants received special access to onsite laps on April 10, and the first 500 registrants received commemorative Dome sunglasses.
Founded in 2016, Astrodome Conservancy focuses on the landmark’s future as much as its history, said Beth Wiedower Jackson, executive director. The organization raises private funds and cultivates partnerships to advance a vision for a viable, sustainable, and more accessible reuse of the Dome.
The Astrodome was designated a Texas State Antiquities Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission in 2017 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Structurally sound, the building remains; what’s needed now is a thoughtful progression of ideas, due diligence, and financial resources to shape the next chapter.
To date, the Conservancy has raised $1.5 million to support awareness-building efforts and economic redevelopment through innovative public-private collaboration. Creative programming—like the virtual race—is part of a broader strategy to mobilize community support and funding for future projects.
Thinking Outside the Dome
Public-private partnerships have already driven successful civic and cultural redevelopment across Houston, such as the creation of Discovery Green. Applying a similar hybrid approach to a county-owned facility represents a relatively new path for Harris County entities, Jackson said.
Comparable examples elsewhere show how underused infrastructure can be transformed into vibrant urban spaces: San Antonio’s Hemisfair redevelopment and New York City’s Park Avenue Armory repurposing demonstrate how large-scale assets can be reimagined as cultural and community hubs.
Times Changed and Still Changing
Designed by architects Hermon Lloyd & W.B. Morgan and Wilson, alongside Houston firm Morris, Crain & Anderson, the Astrodome was born in the city’s Space Age era. Opened with a Houston Astros game on April 9, 1965, it was celebrated as the first enclosed, air-conditioned sports arena, encompassing nine acres beneath its roof. The interior rises the height of 18 stories, with three levels below grade, and was an architectural and civic statement of its time.
During its heyday, the Astrodome hosted Houston sports teams, championship and exhibition games, the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Offshore Technology Conference, and even the 1992 Republican National Convention. After Reliant Stadium opened in 2002, Dome use declined; it briefly served as emergency housing for Hurricane Katrina evacuees and was ultimately shuttered in 2009.
Jackson says now is an opportune time to work behind the scenes, raising private funds and preparing for potential development. Events like the 5K help maintain momentum, build public awareness, and generate support for the long-range vision.
March 28, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
Astrodome exterior photo 2021: Photo credit: CALpix
File: Racing to Save Astrodome: A Run at Redevelopment
For more about the Astrodome, see Chapter One of the book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town – An Extreme Close Up by Ralph Bivins.
File: (2) Astrodome Conservancy. Racing to Save Astrodome April 2–11, 2021. Hermon Lloyd. Morris, Crain & Anderson.