HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Despite spending more than $1 million on a study, the Astrodome’s fate remains unknown.
After hosting games, concerts, and other events, the Astrodome has sat unused for more than 20 years. A new study released last month gave renewed hope to some that could change.
The Harris County administrator’s office said more than $1 million was spent to determine the cost of renovating or demolishing the Astrodome. What the study found was that it would be about $50 million to demolish and $750 million to renovate.
One group looking to renovate is the Astrodome Conservancy. In 2024, it released renderings of what a renovated Astrodome could look like, featuring hotel, restaurant, and retail space.
The plan could cost around $840 million. The group said private investors would pay for some of it.
On Thursday, organization board members went to the commissioners’ court to talk about the study. They told officials that before private investors commit, they want to know where they stand.
“The private development community in our conversations has told us they need a signal from the county that they would be open to a conversation with private developers,” Astrodome Conservancy executive director Beth Wiedower Jackson said.
When the study came out, ABC13 reached out to each commissioner and the county judge’s office for their thoughts. Eyewitness News didn’t get a reaction from any of them.
Thursday was the first meeting since the study came out. During the public speaker portion of the Astrodome, the only one who gave remarks was Judge Lina Hidalgo.
She told the conservancy members that if the signal to private developers was that public dollars were available, there may not be much left.
“We’re kind of half and half on this,” Hidalgo said. “I would love to see it revived, but we can’t afford it.”
Doing nothing costs taxpayers money, too. The Harris County administrator’s office told ABC13 that it costs $400,000 a year to maintain the vacant Astrodome.
“Unfortunately, there is not a no-cost version,” Hidalgo explained.
County leaders say they plan to look at financial options and meet with the conservancy to see what private developers could do.
County officials have talked about doing something with the Astrodome for years. Hidalgo said it was one of the first things she explored when she started seven years ago.
She told ABC13 that she hopes to get an answer as to the Astrodome’s fate by the end of the year, before she leaves office.
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Niko Travis is a dedicated health writer with a passion for providing clear, reliable, and research-backed information about medications and mental health. As the author behind TrazodoneSUC, Niko simplifies complex medical topics to help readers understand the benefits, uses, and potential risks of Trazodone. With a commitment to accuracy and well-being, Niko ensures that every article empowers readers to make informed decisions about their health.
