Plans for a $105-million renovation of Houston’s Astrodome have effectively stalled, leaving questions about when the future of the venue will ultimately be addressed. (more…)
Tag Archives | astrodome
Returning for 2018: The Endangered Ballparks Page
A ballpark is more than just a place where baseball is played; it’s a place where memories are created, where families and friends bond, and where communities gather. But some baseball shrines are threatened with demolition, so we’re bringing back our Endangered Ballparks page. (more…)
Harris County Approves Astrodome Renovation
Harris County officials have approved a $105 million renovation to the Astrodome, bringing some certainty to the venerable structure’s future. (more…)
The birth of modern baseball design: 1965
If you want a stark look at how ballparks have evolved, let’s go back 50 years and review the MLB facilities in play for the 1965 season — the dawn of modern ballpark design, when the Astrodome and Shea Stadium were on the cutting edge. (more…)
Promotions Watch: Major League History Nights
Major League Baseball teams are using their 2015 promotional slates to market unique days or weekends that celebrate their history. Some of the most notable examples—including weekly promotions, as well as celebrations and giveaways to commemorate notable anniversaries—are discussed in this week’s Promotions Watch. (more…)
Newest Astrodome preservation plan: World’s largest indoor park
We have another concept for the preservation of the Astrodome: Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is proposing the Eighth Wonder of the World be converted to the world’s largest indoor park. The plan was long on platitudes and short on specifics, but it did jump-start another round of discussions about the future of the Astrodome, […]
More Astrodome seats may be sold by Harris County
More Houston Astrodome seats may be sold to fans, as Harris County continues to clear the Astrodome decks while another renovation plan is worked out. The first sale of Astrodome memorabilia — seats, field equipment, groundskeeper astronaut helmets — yielded a profit of approximately $650,000 for the county, and with roughly 4,000 seats still in […]
Astrodome demolition proposed by Texans, rodeo
The Houston Astrodome would be torn down to make way for green space and a unique park under a proposal from the NFL’s Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The iconic Astrodome, the first covered ballpark in Major League Baseball, has been mostly unoccupied since the Houston Astros moved to Minute Maid […]
Final days of Metrodome, Candlestick Park at hand
Two former Major League Baseball venues have dates with the wrecking ball early next year, as the Metrodome and Candlestick Park are set to come down after the 2013 NFL season. The San Francisco Giants played at Candlestick Park between 1960 and 2000. It was originally built for baseball, with a nice open design. It […]
Astrodome renovation plan shot down by voters
A $217-million bond issue for Houston Astrodome renovations was rejected by Harris County voters, leading to the possible demolition of the historic facility. The proposal would have converted the former home of the Houston Astros to a convention and event center. The vote Tuesday wasn’t particularly close — 53 percent against, 47 percent for — […]
Fate of Astrodome to be decided by voters
The fate of the Houston Astrodome — once hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World — will be decided by voters this fall in a $217-million bond referendum. The measure, passed by the Harris County Board of Commissioners today, would convert the 1965 landmark into a convention center and exhibition space. The Astrodome has […]
Skeeters preserving Houston baseball history
The Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) are creating a home for the Houston baseball memorabilia collected by the Finger family and once displayed in the Finger Furniture store. That furniture store was built on the site of Buff Stadium, longtime home to the Houston Buffs, a cornerstone of the minor-league Texas League. What that […]
The Week That Was: May 27
Success in Pensacola, Dodger Stadium problems, fence dimensions and affiliated ball in Ottawa: The most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Blue Wahoos: Success means ballpark upgrades Freedom Baseball League begins play New Astros uniforms: Bring back the orange! Charges dropped in Dodger Stadium beating Marlins: No […]