HAPPY DOME DAY!
Astrodome fans, you're invited to this historical unveiling for Eighth Wonder of the World
Steven Devadanam
May 29, 2018, 10:18 am
Fans are invited to a major historical unveiling today at 3 p.m. Courtesy of City of Houston
This story originally appeared on CultureMap/Houston. Steven Devadanam is the editor of that site.
The Houston Rockets season may be over, but sports fans can still celebrate this month. Supporters of all things H-Town sports and the Astrodome are encouraged to don their sports apparel (or anything “Astrodome related,” according to the invitation) and attend the unveiling and dedication for a new Texas State Historical Marker for the Eighth Wonder of the World.
The event will take place at 3 pm Tuesday, May 29 on the west side of the Astrodome at NRG Park. Parking can be accessed through Gate 9 at Westridge and Kirby. The lot will open at 2 pm. Guests can expect brief remarks from multiple speakers including Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, who has been a tireless advocate of repurposing the building, and Dene Hofheinz (daughter of Roy Hofheinz), who is most associated with the creation of the Astrodome. There will also will be followed by the marker unveiling.
It’s been a banner year for Astrodome supporters. In February, the Harris County Commissioners court approved a $105 million project that would reconfigure the Astrodome into an event center. The plan involves raising the ground level up two floors, which would create a parking garage with 1,400 more parking spots.
And in March, diehard Dome fans were treated to a Domecoming, where locals were allowed to tour the facility one last time before construction began, creating an opportunity for priceless selfies.
This month’s dedication is the result of efforts of Harris County Historical Commission member and Heritage Society program director Mike Vance, and Mike Acosta, a team historian for the Houston Astros. The two longtime researchers of Houston sports history have worked for years on efforts to preserve and reimagine the iconic Astrodome.
The marker designation makes the building a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, judged by the state to be both historically and architecturally significant. This is in addition to the Astrodome's status as a State Antiquities Landmark and the title of being on the National Register of Historic Places. The marker is sponsored by the World Champion Houston Astros, and is also supported by the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation and NRG Park.
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C.J. Stroud threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns, capped by a 1-yard pass to Dare Ogunbowale with 18 seconds left, to give the Houston Texans a 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Houston forced a three-and-out to get the ball back with less than three minutes to go.
Stroud then led a nine-play, 69-yard drive to give the Texans (3-1) their first points of the second half and survive a scare by the winless Jaguars (0-4).
The Texans bounced back from a 34-7 rout at Minnesota to get the victory despite fumbling a punt return early and committing 12 penalties to give them 35 combined in their past three games.
Nico Collins helped Houston to the win with 12 receptions for 151 yards and a TD for his third 100-yard game this season.
Trevor Lawrence threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns as his streak of consecutive starts without a win stretched to nine games.
The Jaguars fell to 0-4 for the first time since opening the 2021 season with five straight losses.
After getting blown out by the Bills on Monday, they had plenty of chances in this one. They led through much of the second half after a touchdown reception by Christian Kirk with about six minutes left in the third.
They had a chance to pad the lead after that when a 58-yard run by Tank Bigsby got them to the Houston 4. Two runs by Bigsby moved them to the 2 before an incomplete pass by Lawrence.
Jacksonville went for it, but Lawrence was stopped for no gain on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Ogunbowale grabbed a short pass and evaded three defenders for a 31-yard gain on third-and-18 on Houston’s next drive.
But the Texans couldn’t do anything after that. They had a run for no gain, a holding penalty on left tackle Laremy Tunsil and an incomplete pass before Stroud was sacked to force a punt.
Derek Stingley knocked down Lawrence’s pass to force a punt with about six minutes left.
The Texans couldn’t get anything going on their next drive that ended with a holding penalty on Tunsil followed by two incomplete passes.
Kirk put the Jaguars up 20-17 with an 8-yard TD grab with about six minutes left in the third quarter. Brian Thomas powered that drive with a 32-yard reception and a 13-yard run.
The Texans forced a punt on Jacksonville’s opening drive, but Steven Sims fumbled it, and it was recovered by Daniel Thomas at the 2. Lawrence connected with Brian Thomas Jr. on the next play to give the Jaguars an early lead.
Houston tied it when Stefon Diggs scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 6-yard run with about 7½ minutes left in the opening quarter.
The Jaguars were up 10-7 after a field goal before a 3-yard touchdown reception by Collins put Houston on top 14-10.
Jacksonville added a 52-yard field goal with about four minutes left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 14-13.
The Texans led 17-13 at halftime after a 30-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn with 3 seconds left in the second quarter.
Be sure to watch the video above as the crew from Texans on Tap reacts live to the win!
Injuries
Jaguars: DE Josh Hines-Allen left the game in the fourth quarter to be evaluated for a concussion.
Texans: RBs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) sat out with injuries. … Tank Dell missed the game with hand and rib injuries.
Up next
Jaguars: Host the Colts next Sunday.
Texans: Host the Bills next Sunday.