Astrodome / Harris County Domed Stadium

[RfkFedEx]

Was the building originally designed for a future seating expansion in the upper deck of the outfield if ever warranted?

i.e. was the expansion of 1989 an easily task for engineers like OYS in the 20-30s, or was it was it a complicated project like Candlestick 1971?

[Astros]

Was the building originally designed for a future seating expansion in the upper deck of the outfield if ever warranted?

i.e. was the expansion of 1989 an easily task for engineers like OYS in the 20-30s, or was it was it a complicated project like Candlestick 1971?

I do not believe it was a direct intention for the purpose of a seating expansion, but the Astrodome's basic design was the same all the way around in order to support the domed roof. It was relatively easy to see how they could expand seating levels across the outfield on floors 5-9. They did have to add some reinforcing columns in that area because the Mezzanine Level (Orange color) was at a different height and width than the outfield Pavilion seats (Terra Cotta color). There was a large task of removing asbestos from the area where the scoreboard was. The scoreboard was taken down over a few weeks in September-October, 1988 and by Opening Day, 1989 the entire structure of the seating had been built (minus chair installation). There were a lot of finishing projects and it was complete by August, 1989.

[RfkFedEx]

I remember watching MNF in 1988 from the 'House of Pain' as they dubbed it for Oilers games. The ABC cameras panned to that seating area under construction and Al Micheals mentioned the expansion project, but it would be a full decade before I could really learn what the inside of the building looked like via the web and Astros games on ESPN.

[augustabound]

I remember watching the Bad News Bears movie where they played in the Astrodome.

[stumpmerrill]

I remember watching the Bad News Bears movie where they played in the Astrodome.

[augustabound]

Nothing like a Tanner Boyle tantrum.

[RfkFedEx]

Tobacco ads in a kids movie, imagine that.

[BeatEmBucs]

Tobacco ads in a kids movie, imagine that.

Back then people didn't give a darn about backgrounds. I remember the first time I played Pole Position in 1983, I ran into a marlboro billboard, completely destroying my car. Amazing how all ads can be taken out of the stadium, smoking is completely banned in most stadiums, yet people still buy tobacco. Go figure.

[The Old Ballpark]

Amazing how all ads can be taken out of the stadium, smoking is completely banned in most stadiums, yet people still buy tobacco. Go figure.

Uhmm, probably has something to do with the fact that nicotine has been found to be more addictive than cocaine.

[JohnCropp]

Let them play.

[RfkFedEx]

How about a manager who smokes and drinks during little league games. And the movie was rated PG. Lol

[Chevy114]

The Real Astodome in the Philippines:

469d0073baf0020b8c6bf5d6552d_grande.jpg

[Blue387]

Caminiti's stellar debut
7/16/87: Ken Caminiti triples for his first Major League hit and follows up with his first Major League homer in his debut

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20172369

The last Astrodome game
10/3/99: The Astros win the division in the last regular-season game played at the historic Houston Astrodome

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20169811

[Blue387]

Some guy sneaks into the Astrodome:
http://swamplot.com/what-i-saw-when-...me/2012-03-23/

[Chevy114]

Wow what a shame such a great place and the first of its kind to be left in that kind of condition! My uncle from Houston says its a catch 22 because no one wants to get rid of it because its the first dome for outdoor sports in America and it's the "8th wonder of the world", but at the same time no one wants to pay for the up keep. Can any locals confirm that?

[Anubis2051]

I guess any chance of the Astros playing a game there this year for their anniversary is out...shame, I was kind of hoping it would happen. Although I would have expected an exhibition before the season, I wouldn't have put it past a team with as bad a projection as the Astros, and with them needing to draw as many people as they can, I wouldn't have been shocked to see them play, say, a late september game against a non-contender at the dome.

[Chevy114]

I guess any chance of the Astros playing a game there this year for their anniversary is out...shame, I was kind of hoping it would happen. Although I would have expected an exhibition before the season, I wouldn't have put it past a team with as bad a projection as the Astros, and with them needing to draw as many people as they can, I wouldn't have been shocked to see them play, say, a late september game against a non-contender at the dome.

It looked salavagable for one game they could prop it up for old times sake.

[Astros]

Actually, the Astrodome has not been filled with trash until the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo finished its run at Reliant Park just recently. The field was actually very clean until just recently. It appeared they were actually washing the Astroturf inside.

[bhratbrat]

Wow what a shame such a great place and the first of its kind to be left in that kind of condition! My uncle from Houston says its a catch 22 because no one wants to get rid of it because its the first dome for outdoor sports in America and it's the "8th wonder of the world", but at the same time no one wants to pay for the up keep. Can any locals confirm that?

That is the dire situation of the Astrodome right now sadly.

[Paul W]

It looked salavagable for one game they could prop it up for old times sake.

who would pay to salvage it?

i saw it a few weeks ago and even from a distance it was run down and dwarfed by the other dome.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I like the idea of turning the Dome into a plane'arium.

[Chevy114]

who would pay to salvage it?

i saw it a few weeks ago and even from a distance it was run down and dwarfed by the other dome.

Pressure wash it and accept that it goes underground and the Relient dome doesn't. Clean up the trash off the turf and it looks good to go from a structure stand point to me.

[bhratbrat]

I would love to see a three game series in the Astrodome. That would be epic to see baseball in there again.

[Paul W]

Pressure wash it and accept that it goes underground and the Relient dome doesn't. Clean up the trash off the turf and it looks good to go from a structure stand point to me.

again - who would pay to salvage it? 'stros? harris co.? city? not likely...

[Chevy114]

again - who would pay to salvage it? 'stros? harris co.? city? not likely...

Its one game I will pay for the pressuring washing myself and we can find some high school needed community service hours to pick up the trash off the turf. Everything will just be a transfer from the Astro's jobs at Minute maid to the astrodome. Again one game not a season or a lifetime, just one game.