In 1964, the Houston Astrodome was hailed as the 8th Wonder of the World. However, with advancements in time and technology, this once iconic sports venue became obsolete and has been closed since 2008. The task of finding a new purpose for this massive arena has been given to the Astrodome Conservancy.
Recently, a new vision for redeveloping the vacant stadium has emerged. This plan includes incorporating restaurants, retail stores, office spaces and commercial areas into its design. Additionally, there will be a revamped event floor and a mixed-use district surrounding NRG Park.
The proposed redevelopment would create over 450 square feet of revenue-generating space within four modern buildings inside the stadium itself. The designs were created by Gensler – an architecture firm based in San Francisco.
However impressive these plans may be,the estimated cost is around $1 billion which would require funding through public-private partnerships; although no specific source of funding has yet been identified.
