August 24, 2010
Astrodome: To raze or not to raze?
A Houston Chronicle opinion piece published today suggests either fixing up Houston's Astrodome, at considerable expense, or tearing the darned place down.
The piece, written by Richard Justice, suggests that a teardown might be more likely, stating, "If Yankee Stadium and Tiger Stadium can go, then the Astrodome can go, too." Nevertheless, he recommends trying to save it, suggesting a full-scale renovation and a conversion into vast retail and hotel space so that it becomes a place "where people stop and stare and remember the spirit of a great American city."
But stopping and staring and thinking about a city's spirit is not likely to get the cash register ringing to the degree that might be needed to save the place, so Justice opens the floor to democratic alternatives, stating, "If my vision is the wrong one, that's fine. Let's hear yours. Let's work together and come up with a consensus and see if there's a way to save it." Generally, when stuff of this nature hits the papers, it is a precursor to demolition, but time will tell.
June 15, 2010
Astrodome reno would cost how much?
The Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation, owners of the Astrodome, issued a report yesterday on what to do with the erstwhile Eighth Wonder of the World, which has stood vacant since the Houston Astros left in 2000. The options include renovating it into a convention and science center, "repurposing" it into a science and technology center and a place for storage (with $324 million worth of solar panels on the roof in the shape of a world map), or razing it and turning it into a park or open plaza. (Truly horrifying cheesy renderings here.)
The stunner is the price tags: $1.35 billion for the full renovation option, and $1.13 billion for the world's largest storage shed. Even knocking down the dome would carry a high cost: $873 million if you believe the Associated Press, $128 million per the Houston Chronicle, or a mere $88 million if you use the Dallas Morning News numbers — which is still nearly triple what it cost the build the thing in the first place.
It's hard to say which numbers are correct, as if the HCSCC doesn't seem to have put any financial details into its master plan book, though there are plenty more grandiose renderings. (Including, for some reason, of a monster truck and Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Presumably because when you think science and technology, you think robot cars and horrible human-mouse hybrids.)
In any case, given the huge price tags, most of which would come out of public funds, you might think it'd be cheaper and simpler just to let the dome rot in place — right now it only costs Harris County about $2 million a year in insurance and maintenance, plus debt service, but of course the debt would need to be paid off either way. However, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett insists that the dome must go, and fast, apparently because $1 billion is a small price to pay to rid Houston of an iconic-building-turned-eyesore.
"It's beginning to look like an old ship that just kind of washed up out there," Emmett told the Chronicle, noting that when fans attend the NCAA Final Four at neighboring Reliant Stadium next year, their eyes will be accosted by the sight of the empty Astrodome. "I don't think people will tolerate it much longer."
That's what they said about the human-mouse hybrids.
December 23, 2009
White Elephant Watch: Stadiums for sale or lease, cheap
The Wall Street Journal, killing time over the holiday season like the rest of the news world, has a look at some stadiums that are sitting empty after their tenants up and left for newer digs. (The official excuse is "last-minute gift ideas" for "well-heeled holiday shoppers.") Among the highlights:
- The Astrodome: "After plans fell through to convert the facility into a hotel and convention center, there are groups lobbying to turn it into everything from a movie studio to a planetarium."
- The Beijing "Bird's Nest" Olympic stadium: "With annual operating costs of roughly $10 million, the facility was placed under government management in August to curb financial losses."
- San Antonio's Alamodome and Memphis' Pyramid Arena, both of which were abandoned by their anchor tenants before their 13th birthdays.
Or, if a used stadium is too tacky a gift, you could also build your loved one their own for $20 million. It'd be "temporary," but if there's any kind of lesson here, it's that all stadiums are.