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Gail Delaughter\/Houston Public Media <\/p>\n
Renovating Houston\u2019s historic Astrodome could come at a cost of more than $750 million \u2014 far more than the cost to demolish it \u2014 according to a recent Harris County architecture analysis. <\/p>\n
The cost-intensive projection by Kirksey Architecture presents another hurdle to revitalize the famed structure that\u2019s been vacant for longer than a decade and sits dormant in Houston\u2019s NRG Park. It also shows that renovating the 60-year-old Astrodome would not be financially feasible without significant private investment, Jesse Dickerman, interim county administrator, said in a statement. <\/p>\n
Sign up for the Hello, Houston!<\/a> daily newsletter to get local reports like this delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n Other cost analyses, including one that was unveiled by the Astrodome Conservancy<\/a> last year, have reached renovation cost estimates of about $1 billion.<\/p>\n The Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation, a governmental nonprofit that manages the Astrodome and surrounding NRG Park on behalf of the county, approved the study with Kirksey Architecture in 2024 to look further into a cost analysis of updating the world\u2019s first domed sports stadium. <\/p>\n In contrast to the conservancy\u2019s redesign plan \u2014 which includes raising the floor 30 feet and creating a flexible arena space surrounded by offices, hotel spaces and restaurants \u2014 the latest cost projection would only restore the Astrodome to basic operation functionality. Though the analysis addresses necessary HVAC and plumbing issues, it doesn\u2019t include upgrades that would be needed to meet modern venue standards and historic preservation, according to the Harris County Office of County Administration.<\/p>\n The Astrodome is considered a state antiquities landmark and any work to alter the structure would need to be approved by the Texas Historical Commission. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Astrodome remains a defining part of Harris County\u2019s history and identity, and these efforts aim to ensure its legacy is considered thoughtfully in shaping the county\u2019s path forward,\u201d the Harris County Office of County Administration said in a news release about the latest cost estimate. <\/p>\n The architecture firm\u2019s analysis and cost estimates were based on the design of the Astrodome\u2019s major renovation in 1989 that replaced the original scoreboard and added 10,000 more seats. It also established a recommended seating capacity of 60,000 to allow for sporting events and potential use by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.<\/p>\n Cost of tearing it down <\/p>\n Another option, to demolish the structure, is estimated to cost about $54 million, according to the analysis. <\/p>\n Such a demolition would happen in three phases \u2014 internal demolition of the main structure elements, implosion of the dome roof and the destruction of perimeters and below-grade structures \u2014 according to a news release from Kirksey. <\/p>\n The last scheduled event to be held in the Astrodome was in 2002. While the space was used to temporarily house Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005, the building lost its certificate of occupancy in 2009 and has since been used for storage.<\/p>\n County and sports officials have long weighed options for the building once known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World<\/a>,” but none have stuck as staggering cost estimates have proven to be a big obstacle.<\/p>\n