Astrodome in Houston , Texas , was the first multipurpose domed sports stadium in the world. The stadium opened in 1965 as the Harris County Domed Stadium, but its name soon changed to the Houston Astrodome. It was also nicknamed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” For many years, the stadium served as the home field of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball team and the Houston Oilers of the National Football League . From 2000 through 2014, corporate sponsorship changed the stadium’s name to the Reliant Astrodome.
The Astrodome stands 18 stories high. The dome is 710 feet (220 meters) in diameter, and the roof is 208 feet (63 meters) above the playing field. The field was originally made of natural grass. However, it was later replaced by artificial grass that came to be called AstroTurf. In 1969, the stadium was fitted with the first animated scoreboard—a giant screen of sequenced light bulbs.
The stadium’s dome was developed to protect spectators and players from the summer heat in Houston, which often nears 100 °F (38 °C). The popularity of the Astrodome led to the introduction of domed stadiums in several other American cities, including the Pontiac (Michigan) Silverdome, near Detroit ; the Superdome in New Orleans (Louisiana); the Metrodome in Minneapolis (Minnesota); the Kingdome in Seattle (Washington); and the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis (Indiana).
In 1965, the Houston Colt 45’s baseball club changed the team name to the Astros as they moved into the newly constructed Astrodome. The Astros played there through the 1999 season. The Oilers played there from 1968 through 1996. The stadium also hosted college football games, soccer matches, livestock and rodeo shows, and numerous other events. A professional wrestling show in 2001 set an Astrodome attendance record of 67,925.
By the early 2000’s, the Astrodome had lost its major tenants to newer facilities in Houston. The stadium was cited for several building code violations, and it was declared unsuitable for occupancy in 2009. In the following years, several renovation projects were proposed, but none was accepted. In 2017, the stadium was protected as a State Antiquities Landmark.
