In today's online Time Magazine:
"Voters in Houston rejected a referendum on Tuesday to turn the Astrodome into a massive convention center, making it likely that the iconic stadium will be demolished.
The vote, which would have allocated more than $200 million to turn the world's first domed stadium into a convention and event center, failed with 53 percent voting against, according to an AP tally after nearly every vote was counted. The final decision on the Astrodome's future rests with Houston's Commissioners Court — the group of local officials who manage Harris County, where Houston is located — but without tax dollars to repurpose the dome, it will most likely be demolished."
Think about it. In 1965, this iconic structure opened and was considered the architectural marvel of the time. It was called "the eighth wonder of the modern world," and was until 1999, the home of the Houston Astros, for whom it was named, and the Houston Oilers, now the Tennessee Titans.
Throughout its storied history, it held the obvious sporting events, rock concerts, the famed Billy Jean King-Bobby Riggs tennis match, the Muhammed Ali-Cleveland Williams heavyweight title match, the 1992 Republican Convention, the BlueBonnet Bowl, and countless other activities and functions. Even the Rev Billy Graham preached there.
But, no event was shown to be more necessary than in 2005, when the dome housed thousands of American refugees in the aftermath of Katrina.
The vote, which would have allocated more than $200 million to turn the world's first domed stadium into a convention and event center, failed with 53 percent voting against, according to an AP tally after nearly every vote was counted. The final decision on the Astrodome's future rests with Houston's Commissioners Court — the group of local officials who manage Harris County, where Houston is located — but without tax dollars to repurpose the dome, it will most likely be demolished."
Think about it. In 1965, this iconic structure opened and was considered the architectural marvel of the time. It was called "the eighth wonder of the modern world," and was until 1999, the home of the Houston Astros, for whom it was named, and the Houston Oilers, now the Tennessee Titans.
Throughout its storied history, it held the obvious sporting events, rock concerts, the famed Billy Jean King-Bobby Riggs tennis match, the Muhammed Ali-Cleveland Williams heavyweight title match, the 1992 Republican Convention, the BlueBonnet Bowl, and countless other activities and functions. Even the Rev Billy Graham preached there.
But, no event was shown to be more necessary than in 2005, when the dome housed thousands of American refugees in the aftermath of Katrina.
On August 31, 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Harris County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the State of Louisiana came to an agreement to allow at least 25,000 evacuees from New Orleans, especially those that were sheltered in the Louisiana Superdome, to move to the Astrodome until they could return home. The evacuation began on September 1, 2005. All scheduled events for the final four months of 2005 at the Astrodome were cancelled. Overflow refugees were held in the surrounding Reliant Park complex. There was a full field hospital inside the Reliant Arena, which cared for the entire Katrina evacuee community.
And now, this important structure in the fabric of Texas and America's history for the last 50 years, will be no more. Unless private funds are raised soon to make the necessary repairs caused by age and neglect, the Astrodome will demolished early next year. Anything which comes in its place will be overshadowed by the great memories the dome gave so many of us.
Good-bye old friend and thanks for the memories. We hardly knew you.
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