Astrodome’s redevelopment plan would transform Houston’s iconic landmark into $1 billion entertainment hub

Last week, the Astrodome Conservancy rolled out an ambitious redevelopment concept for Houston’s iconic Astrodome.

Here’s what you need to know about the plan:

Their plan for The Astrodome

The conservancy, along with Gensler Architects, wants to turn The Astrodome into an entertainment and cultural hub with a $1 billion price tag. The redevelopment would include:

• Four state-of-the-art buildings housing  event arenas, restaurants, retail, office spaces, and hospitality venues.
• A boulevard connecting spaces within NRG Park.
• Historic preservation alongside new, sustainable design features.

Will Houstonians support changes to The Astrodome?

The plan would require public-private partnerships to fund the redevelopment. The approach, the conservancy said would attempt to minimize the use of public funds while creating a multi-use space for Houstonians.

The Conservancy is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate the economic and operational viability of their vision. This study will also explore potential funding sources, including private and nontraditional investments, they said in a press release.

The conservancy said residents are in full support of remaking The Astrodome, pointing to a recent survey that showed the following:

• 86% of respondents in favor of redevelopment.
• 81% supporting the use of public dollars to back the project.

“With the right investment and community support, we can turn this vision into reality,” said Beth Wiedower Jackson, Executive Director of the Astrodome Conservancy, 

But not everyone is in love with their plans. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo released a statement on social media expressing concern about the plans:

“The proposed plan by the Astrodome Conservancy does not align with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s strategic vision and operational requirements. The Rodeo, Texans, and Harris County Sports & Convention Corporations have been working on plans for NRG Park’s future,” the statement said. “As the only tenant that uses all three of these buildings at NRG Park, we recognize and must address these critical facility issues.”