Inside the Astrodome
For The
50th Anniversary Party
April 9, 2015
30.000 Astrodome fans waited in line for two hours for the opportunity in many cases to stir old favorite memories. We didn’t come to say goodbye. We came to say hello to new life for the grand old girl of Houston’s beacon to the world.
Lingering in the heart of Houston’s greatest moments in sports, entertainment and politics, the ghosts of ancient heroes and unforgettable times were everywhere – and only the deaf-history insensitive to our generation’s responsibility for preserving this legacy for the Houstonians of tomorrow could have failed to see and feel its presence.
Even Orbitt of the Astros and the fuzziest of all selfie-photographers were clear on this point: The Astrodome must be saved and restored to a useful purpose of community service. – She is our child. – She belongs to the Ages. – She belongs to the world – as the iconic face of Houston.
April 10, 2015
Our city awoke today to the Houston Chroncle’s fine front page story of last night’s birthday bash for “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Hundreds also took photos of our little mini-me version of the big dome at out SABR table.
The neat thing about the mini-dome – which ordinarily lives in a safe deposit box, is that its top is removable so that some people may see again – or for the first time – how it looked inside when the Dome was configured for baseball.
Voila!
Play Ball!!
One More Time!!!
It’s even possible to get a good shot of the roof from inside the mini-Astrodome too. Of course, you have be either an endoscopic camera or a very, very tiny person to capture the view in this detail!
Come on, Houstonians! All kidding aside. It’s time for all of us to save the Astrodome for all the right reasons and responsibilities to history that are so much more important to our quality of life than the immediate financial plans of a few wealthy individuals and corporations who only value the rest of us as a transitory market for their own personal gain. We do need the help of those wealthy individuals and corporations who do care deeply about the measure of life in “our town” on a deeper level. – You know who you are! – Save the Dome! – She belongs to the ages!
Tags: Dome, Sweet Dome
The Pecan Park Eagle 
April 10, 2015 at 2:12 pm |
it looks like some of the astroturf is still present? A few years ago I had the opportunity to go inside and the goal posts were up and some of the astroturf was still present. Learned that they filmed some episodes of Friday Night Lights in the dome, thus the goal posts and turf.
April 10, 2015 at 2:42 pm |
Have to admit I didn’t get in line to see what we have now. I remember what it was well enough. However, was on hand and extremely happy with the support. Now if everyone can really learn what the plans may be I am sure there will be more than enough support in the county to keep the building alive and useful once again. While it can never be the main stadium again, it very well can be the centerpiece of the whole complex for sure. The Astrodome IS our Eiffel Tower or St. Louis Arch. But unlike those two icons the Astrodome can have a real function and not just a place to see and climb! There is already more history to the ‘Dome than most centerpieces can ever hope to have.
April 10, 2015 at 3:36 pm |
Greg is precisely correct.
As for Friday Night Lights, they filmed a number of scenes from the movie inside the Dome. We even got comments last night from a woman who was an extra in it. I am not aware that anything for the TV series was ever filmed there.
April 10, 2015 at 4:31 pm |
My father worked at Monsanto’s Trenton, Michigan plant and we all had a chance to see the one of first pieces of Astros Turf that they manufactured at a sister plant somewhere else. I was about 15 years old and it has always stuck in my head.
April 11, 2015 at 12:52 pm |
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