Astrodome

Astrodome

Location	Houston, Texas
Opened	April 9, 1965
Closed	2008
Demolished	2013 (partial)
Other Names	Reliant Astrodome (2000-14) Houston Astrodome (1965-2000) Harris County Domed Stadium (1965)
Tenants	Houston Astros (1965-99) Houston Cougars (1965-97) Houston Oilers (1968-96) Houston Gamblers (1984-85) Houston Rockets (1971-75) Houston Texans (1974)

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.

See also

List of Major League Baseball stadiums

Venues Portal