Spotlight Shines on Historic Astrodome, Market briefs

In Houston, College basketball’s biggest event, the Final Four playoffs, placed Houston in the national spotlight this weekend. The national championship game is Monday night.

The CBS cameras will broadcast footage of Houston to the whole world. If you were watching Saturday you probably noticed the exterior shots showing the Astrodome, sitting vacant next to NRG Stadium.

Yes, vacant. The world’s first roofed and air-conditioned stadium, which opened in 1965 and hasn’t hosted a real event since 2009.

Yes, vacant. Houston’s most famous edifice. It’s hosted Presidents, astronauts, athletes and Bob Dylan, America’s finest songwriter, poet and performer.

“Yes, the Dome needs to be saved. Yes, it’s usable.”, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. 2015.

Experts have studied the Dome and planned a new future for this historical landmark. But leaders have failed to move the plans ahead. Houston’s philanthropists stand on the sidelines. Where is the leader who can articulate a new vision for the Astrodome and motivate the citizenry to participate? What needs to be done?