Domecoming: Fans Get One Last Tour Of Astrodome Before Makeover

HOUSTON, TX — If you were hoping to score a ticket to Monday night’s “Domecoming” extravaganza at the Houston Astrodome, you’re too late.

The party, which is hosted by Harris County and the Astrodome Conservancy, lasts from 4-8 p.m.

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Lucky Houstonians who were able to snatch up tickets to celebrate the 53rd anniversary the grand opening of the world’s first domed stadium will gest one last look inside the most iconic structure in the Bayou City before its transformation begins later this year.

READ: Harris County To Host 'Domecoming' Party For Famed Astrodome

The Astrodome served as the home to baseball’s Houston Astros and Houston’s first NFL franchise, the Houston Oilers.

The 8th Wonder of the World was also home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and the host venue for the Battle of the Sexes between tennis pros Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, basketball championships, concerts, and heavyweight boxing championships when Muhammad Ali was still the champ.

RELATED: Houston Astrodome To Get $105 Million Makeover

However, with the Oilers move to Nashville in 1996, and Astros leaving for Minute Maid Park a fe years later, the Dome was little more than a rusting relic by 2009.

In 2013, Harris County voters rejected a $217 million bond to save the dome, but Harris County has rejected the results of the November 2013 election and began exploring other options.

After the election, two major tenants of NRG Park — the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo —commissioned a 2013 study to estimate the cost of demolishing the building, which it concluded was about $29 million. The Texans and HLSR later proposed transforming the space into something similar to Discovery Green, even offering to help fund the project.

Since then, the county has considered a number of ideas for the Dome including turning it into green space, transforming the old stadium into a sports museum, a park, or water park, or creating another convention center.

Harris County plans to use $105 million from the general fund to transform the Astrodome into a viable event facility with underground parking.

Construction is scheduled to begin in October.

Image: Shutterstock

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