DMN Blog: Smackdown: Cowboys Stadium vs. Astrodome

[cowboyjoe]

Smackdown: Cowboys Stadium vs. Astrodome
11:23 AM Fri, Sep 18, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
David Moore/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Remember when the Astrodome opened and everyone marveled about how it was the eighth wonder of the world?

OK, a lot of you don't. You're too young.

But Wade Phillips remembers. He was in Houston when the Astrodome opened in 1965. Now, he's part of the opening of Cowboys Stadium. Does he see any similiarities?

"Certainly,'' Phillips said. "It (Astrodome) is what everyone was talking about at the time, and I think everyone is talking about this stadium. It's far beyond any other stadium. I think everyone can see that.''

The Astrodome inspired awe when it was built. What does Phillips think now when he puts it next to Cowboys Stadium?

"I'm getting older,'' he said. "I thought the hula hoop was neat. Not so much any more.

"It was a baseball and football stadium. That was the time then. This is the premier football stadium ever built.''

 

[DallasGirl50]

I went to the first game at the Dome..it was very cool and I was a rugrat but remember being wowed by it all.

Now it's a dump. Literally. They need to tear it down. They have shiny Reliant and there's the Dome...wasting away.

 

[Doomsday101]

I went to the first game at the Dome..it was very cool and I was a rugrat but remember being wowed by it all.

Now it's a dump. Literally. They need to tear it down. They have shiny Reliant and there's the Dome...wasting away.

Working for the County I know there is no plans to tear down the Dome. There are some different ideals in place to make use of the Dome

 

[Phoenix]

Working for the County I know there is no plans to tear down the Dome. There are some different ideals in place to make use of the Dome

Like to keep using it for the annual stock show for animals?

I remember going to Colt .45 games (Astros before they were the Astros) there as a young boy a couple years after it opened... one of my biggest thrills was getting to march on the Astroturf for a college football game (I was in the band).

 

[Doomsday101]

Like to keep using it for the annual stock show for animals?

I remember going to Colt .45 games (Astros before they were the Astros) there as a young boy a couple years after it opened... one of my biggest thrills was getting to march on the Astroturf for a college football game (I was in the band).

Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to encourage Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation and all other interested parties to move forward with plans to redevelop the county-owned stadium once dubbed “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”

County officials are hoping to find a viable economic use for the vacant stadium, which costs county taxpayers approximately $2.5 million a year to maintain. County officials have stressed repeatedly that there are no discussions or proposals to raze the Dome, which captured worldwide attention when it opened in 1965.

“Commissioners Court is in complete agreement,” said County Judge Ed Emmett. “We want the Astrodome redeveloped into a profitable venture once again – one that respects the history of the stadium while recognizing the needs of the Harris County taxpayers who own it.”

Today’s action by the court encourages Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation (ARC) or any other vendor to proceed with any economically viable venture that could make use of the stadium.

Harris County’s Management Services Department presented court members with a 110-page report last week outlining ARC’s proposal to reconfigure the Reliant Astrodome into a hotel. ARC had exclusive rights to propose redeveloping the Dome from July 2006 until Jan. 29, when its letter of intent expired. At that time, the county became free to consider proposals from ARC and all other groups interested in redeveloping the site.

Although the county’s Management Service Department reported that the draft of a lease agreement with ARC is near completion, County Judge Ed Emmett has said repeatedly that he wants reassurance that the group has the necessary financing to proceed with the project.

“The Astrodome is an extremely valuable asset to this region, economically and emotionally,” said Emmett. “It’s crucial that we protect the stadium and the financial interests of the taxpayers who own it.”

 

[Phoenix]

Today’s action by the court encourages Astrodome Redevelopment Corporation (ARC) or any other vendor to proceed with any economically viable venture that could make use of the stadium.

Can you say "WrestleMania"....?

 

[DallasGirl50]

Working for the County I know there is no plans to tear down the Dome. There are some different ideals in place to make use of the Dome

Somebody told me that it had been condemned?? That they wouldn't allow anything in there now because of the rat infestation..

I didn't know. Just what I heard.

It just looks kind of sad there next to Reliant. Whatever they decide to do is better than just letting it rot!

 

[DT101]

I've heard of various plans to renovate the Astrodome, but I've also heard that the Texans/Rodeo or something there has been pushing not to allow it because it'd take up parking or some stupid reason like that. I may be wrong though, but thats what I remember

 

[Doomsday101]

Somebody told me that it had been condemned?? That they wouldn't allow anything in there now because of the rat infestation..

I didn't know. Just what I heard.

It just looks kind of sad there next to Reliant. Whatever they decide to do is better than just letting it rot!

We still run a climate control system in the Dome to prevent mold and mildew from destroying the inside and have maintenance crews doing work inside on a regular basis.

 

[DallasGirl50]

We still run a climate control system in the Dome to prevent mold and mildew from destroying the inside and have maintenance crews doing work inside on a regular basis.

Ok. I thought the Katrina evacuation setup had destroyed the inside.

 

[Doomsday101]

Ok. I thought the Katrina evacuation setup had destroyed the inside.

Harris County housed Katrina evacuees on the floor of the Dome. Much of the nice amenities that were in the Hofheinz box of course were removed soon after the closing and the boards with all the lights were removed. The structure of the stadium though is still in excellent shape. Whatever renovations they choose to do they will be able to.

 

[Doomsday101]

Here some old memories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg1ApY8niNk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzKpQyOR03Q

 

[poke]

i loved going to the Dome when i was a kid.
for that part of the world it made baseball games wonderful.
i hope they do manage to turn it into something and keep it open.

and yes it was a HUGE deal when it opened.

 

[Aikbach]

There's a proposal to turn the Astrodome into a movie studio actually.

 

[Aikbach]

Don't forget this classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvWn_yGaA-Y&feature=related

 

[Doomsday101]

Don't forget this classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvWn_yGaA-Y&feature=related

Sounds simular to this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlMnfHqPefY&feature=related

 

[Aikbach]

Sounds simular to this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlMnfHqPefY&feature=related

Its funnier coming from the Oilers since they're defunct and never ever made a Super Bowl.

 

[SA_Gunslinger]

forget the astrodome. cowboys stadium makes newly built reliant look pansy.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

forget the astrodome. cowboys stadium makes newly built reliant look pansy.

No need to disrespect the Astrodome.

It truly was the 8th Wonder of the World when it was built.

It was unique and set the standard.

 

[DallasGirl50]

I have seen some boards with Texan fans dogging the new stadium.

So..I don't have any problem saying NO Cowboys Stadium is better than Reliant could ever dream of being.

Actually they are all having fits because the Texans got beaten like a drum by the Jets.

By Buddy Ryan's fat son no less. I kind of hate anybody related to Buddy Ryan having any success.