Part of the so-called “New Dome Experience” devised by the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. proposes that the space-age icon be slimmed down — and, if this new promo video is any indication, that means more than just removing ramps and staircases from the stadium’s unwashed exterior, but also chopping its name in half. You’ll see in this new commercial, produced by the recently formed committee to persuade voters in advance of this November’s this-or-nothing bond election, that the Astrodome is referred to throughout solely as “the Dome,” whether it’s hosting technology conferences, Ferris wheel demonstrations, or generic swimming championships.
- Vote Yes on Prop 2 [YouTube]
- Astrodome coverage [Swamplot]
Video: TheNewDomePAC
I’m pretty sure that its official name is “Harris County Domed Stadium”, so there’s no “Astro” to chop out. Besides, given the past few seasons’ Astros, wouldn’t you chop them out too?
They’re probably looking for a sponsor, so by the time it’s built it will be the ChevronDome or the OfficeMaxDome or something.
No, HCSC, you do not get to pretend your proposed convention center conversion would reestablish the Astrodome as a world landmark on par with the Eiffel Tower.
And ESPECIALLY not when you’ve unilaterally chosen a wild-hare plan that Harris county doesn’t need, while ignoring Ryan Slattery’s excellent and popular proposal which would have done exactly what your ad makes a pretense at.
Vote yes or no on 2, HCSC wins with either a new convention center or parking spaces. Bunch of jackwagons.
@Sihaya
I was hoping for the BorkDome.
As long as we save the Astrodome they can call it the ‘Mattress Mack Domed Super Warehouse Happy Funland’ for all I care.
Im not voting yes for anything that does not include ground floor retail !!!!
They can call it anything they want as long as the structure remains, the word ‘Astrodome’ will always be used to reference this beautiful historic building.
VOTE YES!
I’m voting no. I refuse to support this crap.
Bulldoze this dump already, the circus is over.
Private Idaho – oh totally. It will always be the Astrodome, just a few miles south of the Transco Tower.
It’ll always be the Astrodome to people who knew it first when it was called that, just like Transco Tower or Texas Commerce -rebranding only works on the young.
@nonewdome
Save the Astrodome. Bulldoze the ignorant.
As much as I would like to see the Astrodome re-purposed to something interesting and viable, this deal looks like the usual deal being brokered by politicians. We vote yes to save it and it increases our taxes and makes money for the politicians and their cronies. If it’s such a good deal, why does there need to be a tax hike to pay for it? Aren’t we still paying for the Astrodome? Was that the same kind of visionary deal that this is?
Bring back the Domeskeller!
I still call it Enron Field and walk around the rubble at Travis and Main asking for the men’s section of Foley’s.
Might it be that a savvy PR firm recommended abstaining from the use of anything Astros related at a time when the Astros are the epitome of failure?
So we can’t get on the same page on rail or badly needed infrastructure improvements, especially our roads, but we have time and money to waste on this?
Doesn’t this area already have a convention center, the George R. Brown, and one with convenient hotels nearby? Oh wait, the city owns that, the county wants one of their own.
Is there a reason it is not used as a football and baseball stadium for college and high school? I know Rice and UH have used the reliant center just this last week.
Cy-Fair ISD spent $72 million on their Berry Center sports complex.
Katy ISD’s new stadium is going to cost what? $68 million?
Is there a reason we’re not just using the Astrodome for what it was meant for? Sports?
We’re taxed enough already. These high schools don’t need tens-of-millions dollars stadiums for their own pride when we’ve got abandoned ones made for NFL nearby. We don’t need another convention center just because the county leaders are envious of the city’s George R. Brown.
It’s called the Reliant Astrodome. Any change to that name will require a renegotiation of the naming rights deal with Reliant Energy.
Just put it to a vote!!! Enough! Already…(I’ll vote yes, and it will always been The Astrodome to Native Houstonians). Call it whatever you want just don’t tear it down.
And as much as a love the Dome I winced when it was compared to The Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House.
That’s right HCSC, slim it down, doll it up, and cater exclusively to adult product conventions; welcome to the Dome D’Erotique.
Defund ObamaDome now!
AWESOME!
http://www.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/Polls-suggest-voters-have-minds-made-up-on-Dome-4841020.php
As much as I would like to see the Astrodome re-purposed to something interesting and viable, this deal looks like the usual deal being brokered by politicians.
I don’t understand why politicians think the government should be involved in things that don’t profit. Why cant it be used as a football and baseball stadium for college and high school?
Cy-Fair ISD spent $72 million on their Berry Center sports complex.
Katy ISD’s new stadium is going to cost what? $68 million?
Voters need to wake up and make their representatives stop raising taxes and start figuring out real solutions.
Companies make these decisions happen every day. I refuse to believe that the government cant make everything work within its current means of funding.
From JD, “I don’t understand why politicians think the government should be involved in things that don’t profit”
I believe one role of the government is finacially support unprofitable organizations (ie. “things that don’t profit). The government should fund projects that no other private corporation would. The government has provided funds for the postal service, public education, airports, mass transit, highways, convention centers, etc. Hopefully, all of which supports “the common good”.
Does spending up to $217 million to repurpose the Astrodome support the “common good”? The price tag still seems high. But, if the complex would attract more conventions, special events without encroaching on Houston’s existing venues (George R. Brown, Reliant Arena), then why not? Given it’s unique location inbetween Reliant Stadium and the Metro rail this could be a “game changing” venue.