The Astrodome is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas. It was financed and assisted in development by Roy Hofheinz, mayor of Houston and known for pioneering modern stadiums. Construction on the stadium began in 1962 and it officially opened in 1965. It served as home to the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball from its opening until 1999, and the Houston Oilers of the National Football League from 1968 until 1996, as well as the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association on a part-time basis from 1971 until 1975. When opened, it was named the Harris County Domed Stadium and was nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World."
After the original natural grass playing surface died, the Astrodome became the first major sports venue to install artificial turf, which became known as AstroTurf. In another technological first, the Astrodome featured the "Astrolite," which was the first animated scoreboard. The Astrodome was renovated in 1988, expanding seating and altering many original features.
By the 1990s, the Astrodome was becoming obsolete. Unable to secure a new stadium, Oilers owner Bud Adams moved his team to Tennessee after the 1996 season, where they eventually became the Tennessee Titans. The Astros played at the dome through the 1999 season, before relocating to Enron Field in 2000. Although it no longer had any primary tenants, the venue regularly hosted events during the early 2000s, and in 2005, it was used as a shelter for residents of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Astrodome was declared non-compliant with fire code by the Houston Fire Department in 2008 and parts of it were demolished in 2013 after several years of disuse. In 2014 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
List of credited publications
| League |
Date/Season |
Team(s) |
Type
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1965
|
Houston Astros
|
Exhibition Program
|
| Houston Astros
|
Program
|
| College football
|
September 24, 1965
|
Houston Cougars vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1966
|
Houston Astros
|
Program (1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10)
|
| College football
|
November 5, 1966
|
Houston Cougars vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1967
|
Houston Astros
|
Program (1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14)
|
| College football
|
September 15, 1967
|
Houston Cougars vs. Florida State
|
Program
|
| College football
|
September 29, 1967
|
Houston Cougars vs. Wake Forest
|
Program
|
| College football
|
October 7, 1967
|
Houston Cougars vs. NC State
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1968
|
Houston Astros
|
Program (1 • 2 • 3)
|
| College football
|
September 14, 1968
|
Houston Cougars vs. Tulane Green Wave
|
Program
|
| College football
|
October 12, 1968
|
Houston Cougars vs. Oklahoma State
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1969
|
Houston Astros
|
Program (1 • 2)
|
| College football
|
November 1, 1969
|
Houston Cougars vs. Miami
|
Program
|
| College football
|
November 22, 1969
|
Houston Cougars vs. Wyoming Cowboys
|
Program
|
| College football
|
December 31, 1969
|
Houston Cougars vs. Auburn
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1970
|
Houston Astros
|
Program (1 • 2 • 3 • 4)
|
| College football
|
September 19, 1970
|
Houston Cougars vs. Syracuse
|
Program
|
| College football
|
October 24, 1970
|
Houston Cougars vs. Alabama
|
Program
|
| College football
|
October 31, 1970
|
Houston Cougars vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
|
Program
|
| College football
|
December 31, 1971
|
Houston Cougars vs. Colorado
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1972
|
Houston Astros
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1973
|
Houston Astros
|
Program
|
| College football
|
December 29, 1973
|
Houston Cougars vs. Tulane Green Wave
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1974
|
Houston Astros
|
Program
|
| College football
|
October 25, 1974
|
Houston Cougars vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
|
Program
|
| College football
|
December 23, 1974
|
Houston Cougars vs. NC State
|
Program
|
| College football
|
September 13, 1975
|
Houston Cougars vs. Rice Owls
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1976
|
Houston Astros
|
Program 1 • 2)
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1979
|
Houston Astros
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1980
|
Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies
|
NLCS Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1981
|
Houston Astros
|
Program
|
| College football
|
September 10, 1983
|
Houston Cougars vs. Miami
|
Program
|
| College football
|
October 5, 1985
|
Houston Cougars vs. Baylor Bears
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1986
|
Houston Astros
|
Program
|
| Houston Astros vs. New York Mets
|
NLCS Program
|
| College football
|
November 7, 1987
|
Houston Cougars vs. Texas
|
Program
|
| College football
|
October 8, 1988
|
Houston Cougars vs. Texas A&M
|
Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
April 2, 1993
|
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers
|
Exhibition Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1998
|
Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres
|
NLDS Program
|
| Major League Baseball
|
1999
|
Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves
|
NLDS Program
|
See also
List of Major League Baseball stadiums
Venues Portal
