Astrodome / Harris County Domed Stadium

[Gary Dunaier]

I don't think a "Petroleum Room" would do all that well in today's market.

[Astros]

I don't think a "Petroleum Room" would do all that well in today's market.

Not unless you're in downtown Houston or in the "energy corridor" off I-10 West outside of downtown. $$$$$

Funny thing about the Skybox level back in the 60s...they did not sell hot dogs! Alan Shepard, the Astronaut, used to split a skybox with his business partner and he brought his own hot dog machine after learning he'd have to send his suite attendant down a level to find any. The manager of concessions tried to tell Shepard he couldn't bring in his machine, but Roy Hofheinz stepped in and said it was okay with him. Not sure when it changed, but they definitely had hot dogs on the menu for catering in later years. Some people would stop by Shepard's box and ask for a "Shepard Special".

[Chevy114]

Are there anymore shots from the skyboxes? This sounds great!

[Tino24]

Any pictures of the apartment in the Astrodome?!?

[epaddon]

The Astros paid for a five story apartment in the right field area of the Astrodome. It was built in attempt to attract one of the 1968 political conventions. A smaller component of the apartment housing living space and an office for Judge Roy Hofheinz had been in place since 1965, the year it opened.

This area became a private living space for Hofheinz, owner of the Astros. In addition to the living space it featured a mini movie theater, kids play rooms, barber shop, billiards room, one lane "Astro Bowl" alley, miniature putt-putt, all-faiths chapel, a saloon, conference rooms, party/client entertaining areas, a New Orleans-style sidewalk cafe and a full Presidential Suite built for Lyndon Johnson (a personal friend of Hofheinz). The suite even featured a working red Presidential phone.

Here are a couple images of Hofheinz's apartment:



(Notice the window looking out onto the field making it possible to peer in on the game while playing pool!)



And a couple pictures of the Presidential Suite

[epaddon]

A better view of the billiard room and its view of the field in color.

[jnakamura]

A better view of the billiard room and its view of the field in color.

From the outside....

[Paul W]

astrodome under construction and colts field footage from newsreel...

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=71297

[Chevy114]

astrodome under construction and colts field footage from newsreel...

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=71297

That was cool.

[whoisonit]

The Astros paid for a five story apartment in the right field area of the Astrodome. It was built in attempt to attract one of the 1968 political conventions. A smaller component of the apartment housing living space and an office for Judge Roy Hofheinz had been in place since 1965, the year it opened.

This area became a private living space for Hofheinz, owner of the Astros. In addition to the living space it featured a mini movie theater, kids play rooms, barber shop, billiards room, one lane "Astro Bowl" alley, miniature putt-putt, all-faiths chapel, a saloon, conference rooms, party/client entertaining areas, a New Orleans-style sidewalk cafe and a full Presidential Suite built for Lyndon Johnson (a personal friend of Hofheinz). The suite even featured a working red Presidential phone. Hofheinz and his wife lived there for a number of years and watched baseball games and all sorts of other events. His second wife, Mary Frances one talked about how she like the way the sun rose over the dome and the seats reflected the morning light coming through the dome.

This area was dismantled in 1988 for a 10,000 seat expansion that also removed the massive 474' scoreboard across the outfield. Four years after the renovation the '92 Republican Convention was finally held there.

On April 9, 1965 the President watched the Astros and Yankees open the Astrodome from this private suite.

Here are a couple images of Hofheinz's apartment:



(Notice the window looking out onto the field making it possible to peer in on the game while playing pool!)



And a couple pictures of the Presidential Suite

This is great stuff. How often did the owner stay this apartment ? I'm picturing myself owning a team . . . yes, I would live at the stadium lol.

I've been studying LBJ for years now, (I'm fascinated by him and the Shakespearian arch of his life), but this is the first I've seen and heard of the Astrodome Presidential suite. Is the '65 game the only time he used the suite ?

[SultanOfWhat]

From bandit12's Modern Marvels link:

[Astros]

This is great stuff. How often did the owner stay this apartment ? I'm picturing myself owning a team . . . yes, I would live at the stadium lol.

I've been studying LBJ for years now, (I'm fascinated by him and the Shakespearian arch of his life), but this is the first I've seen and heard of the Astrodome Presidential suite. Is the '65 game the only time he used the suite ?

The private suite was originally built on level 7 (upper deck level). It had a large living area as well as kitchen and bedroom space. In 1968 the apartment was expanded to take up five levels (5-9) with windows overlooking the playing field. Roy Hofheinz lived here, although he had a main residence in River Oaks which is a very upscale area just to the west of downtown. Hofheinz suffered a stroke in 1970 and had to remain at his house more often than not. Much of his personal items had been moved out by the mid-70s.

LBJ visited the suite for the opening exhibition game between the Astros and Yankees on April 9, 1965. He later returned in November of that year for the Billy Graham Crusade. Houston hosted a memorial at the Astrodome for the Astronauts of the Apollo 1 accident and LBJ was present for that as well. LBJ was a personal friend of Roy Hofheinz, but he never spent the night in the suite. Hofheinz had expanded the suite in hopes to lure a major political convention in 1968. Many other celebrities visited the suite such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Neil Armstrong, Muhammed Ali and others.

[RfkFedEx]

The lighting on The Who's stage at the Superbowl reminds me of the Astrodome's ceiling.

[Sean O]

The lighting on The Who's stage at the Superbowl reminds me of the Astrodome's ceiling.

And, of course, the Astrodome ceiling is far younger than the Who.

[Aviator_Frank]

And, of course, the Astrodome ceiling is far younger than the Who.

For a moment there during the halftime show I thought I was watching Cocoon.

[Lpeters199]

The Judge:

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Leaving the dome. Was everybody all dressed up for a baseball game?

[BigJ52]

You look at a lot of the old photos and the crowd was very dressed up. Back in the 40's and maybe even 50's wearing suits to a game was almost the norm.

[Chevy114]

You look at a lot of the old photos and the crowd was very dressed up. Back in the 40's and maybe even 50's wearing suits to a game was almost the norm.

The dome was built in the late 60s though.

[Dougman59]

The lighting on The Who's stage at the Superbowl reminds me of the Astrodome's ceiling.

Maybe my question has been addressed in this forum before...Has there been a definitive reason why the Astrodome hasn't hosted a Superbowl?

[DrBear]

The Astrodome was far too small for a Super Bowl - maybe 55,000 with extra seats. By the time it got the Oilers expansion in center field, it was probably too late. The NFL won't go anyplace less than 72,000 - even the Superdome is on the smallish side. That's why Houston's first Super Bowl went to Rice Stadium - which was a fiasco, because the practice areas were run down, complete with birds in the shower - and it didn't come back until Reliant was built.

[davewashere]

Leaving the dome. Was everybody all dressed up for a baseball game?

Could this picture have been taken outside the previously-mentioned Billy Graham Crusade in 1965? There seem to be more older couples and fewer young people than you'd find at a baseball game.

[SJLT252]

The Astrodome was far too small for a Super Bowl - maybe 55,000 with extra seats. By the time it got the Oilers expansion in center field, it was probably too late. The NFL won't go anyplace less than 72,000 - even the Superdome is on the smallish side. That's why Houston's first Super Bowl went to Rice Stadium - which was a fiasco, because the practice areas were run down, complete with birds in the shower - and it didn't come back until Reliant was built.

Didn't the Metrodome have 63,000 for the Super Bowl if I remeber correctly and they could have put in temporary bleachers to raise the capacity, which I head were used for Super Bowl 22.

[RfkFedEx]

Didn't the Metrodome have 63,000 for the Super Bowl if I remeber correctly and they could have put in temporary bleachers to raise the capacity, which I head were used for Super Bowl 22.

It was SB26. Not sure where they would have put portable bleachers in the Metrodome.

[SJLT252]

I was reading that for SB26 the Metrodome is considering replacing its seats with bleacher seating just for that game, just like was done at Jack Murphy Stadium for Super Bowl 22.