8TH WONDER
Astrodome reboot will be determined by one of these two courses of action
May 20, 2021, 2:51 pm
Here's where the Astrodome stands now. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
How an unlikely lobbyist could shape the future of the Astrodome
Here we go again. The Houston Astrodome Conservancy held a press conference Thursday to announce a two-month effort to survey Harris County residents for suggestions on how to re-purpose and essentially save the Astrodome as a vital, functioning facility.
Two-month effort? Last-ditch CPR may be a more accurate description.
Residents are being asked to click on future-dome.com and leave their ideas on what to do with the Dome.
Haven't we been through this several times? In 2013, a $227 million proposal to convert the Astrodome into a convention and event center was rejected by Harris County voters. At the time, and for a period after, many thought the bond referendum was a vote on whether to spend taxpayer money to support the project or tear down the Dome. However, tearing down the Dome was not an option in the referendum and wasn't on the ballot.
Later Harris County Commissioners Court, led by then-County Judge Ed Emmett, approved spending $105 million on a bare bones plan to turn the Dome into an underground parking garage and ground-level public park.
Before that plan could be implemented, current County Judge Lina Hidalgo was elected and put the kibosh on the Astrodome re-do. She said her focus was more on flood control and social issues, and placed the Dome on, as Mattress Mack would say, the back-back-back burner.
That's where it's stood for the past several years. The Astrodome sits, forgotten and forlorn, unloved and uncared for, home to cats and rodents, a molding eyesore next-door to Houston's gleaming, modern NRG Stadium.
And that's where the Astrodome Conservancy comes in. The group wants to celebrate Houston's futuristic imagination by preserving the greatest architectural achievement of our past. They didn't call the Astrodome the "Eighth Wonder of the World" for nothing.
However, residents have offered thousands of suggestions for the Astrodome in recent years. They've ranged from the reasonable, like build a combo hotel and convention center, to creative, like a massive indoor amusement park, to the outlandish, like indoor ski jumping and, my favorite, flooding the Astrodome floor and recreating historic naval battles.
While it appears an uphill climb, the Astrodome Conservancy has some factors in its favor. In 2017 the Astrodome was designated a State Antiquities Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission. That means the Dome can't be demolished without the commission's approval, which will never happen. So a wrecking ball never will get near the Dome. We can take demolition off the table.
Private funding vs. public money
That seems to leave a choice between finding private funding and pleading for public money to repair and repurpose the Astrodome.
Factors working against the Conservancy resurrecting the Dome as a thriving, functioning facility are many. The group would have to develop a plan that will convince private corporations to fork over as much as $500,000 to convert the Dome into a … what? That's the big question the Conservancy hopes to have answered by the public.
The Conservancy has met with Judge Hidaldo, who didn't budge on her lack of interest in renovating the Dome, and certainly doesn't want to spend one penny of taxpayer money on any such project. However, according to Conservancy officials, Hidalgo gave the Conservancy her blessing to poll the public and try to seek private funding to support whatever project may be feasible.
"Feasible" is the Conservancy's biggest mountain to climb. While the public submitted hundreds of suggestions to former County Judge Emmett in the past, not one excited private investors enough to open their wallets.
That's where the Astrodome stands now: legally impossible to tear down, and financially impossible to fix up.
My position has always been: fix it or demolish it. The Astrodome is broken. The current situation is sad and unacceptable. Houston is criticized for not celebrating its past by preserving its legacy buildings. Well, letting them rot is worse.
Of course, there is one simple solution that would have public support, financial backing and bring in billions to our state coffers: turning the Astrodome into a magnificent hotel-casino resort. But that won't happen because Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and the Texas Legislature refuse to let residents vote on legalizing gambling. Instead, they care more about telling people how to run their lives and what they can and can't do with their bodies. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
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How Houston Rockets hold the cards for a franchise-changing summer
May 8, 2025, 5:45 pm
In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
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