Posted on 03/22/2013 1:25:34 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
HOUSTON -- Behold what has become of the eighth wonder of the world. The Astrodome sits dark, dusty, dilapidated and haunted by Houstons history.
Giant signs touting bearing outdated logos for corporate sponsors like Continental Airlines hang over orange seats with ripped cushions. Skyboxes are furnished with outdated furniture and old Zenith television sets. Astroturf sits carelessly tossed on the stadium floor, folded over like discarded carpet left behind in an abandoned home.
What do I see? said Edgar Colon, chairman of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp., as he looked around the empty stadium. I see a lot of history.
Once a centerpiece of civic pride, the Astrodome now sits at the center of a squabble between civic leaders. On one side sits a couple of very influential tenants, the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which lease Reliant Stadium and Reliant Center. On the other side sits leaders of Harris County, which owns the complex that includes the long-vacant Astrodome.
For the Texans and the HLSR, the dome is the eyesore next door, a grungy and rundown neighbor next to one of the finest football stadiums in the nation.
For Harris County leaders, its an expensive and politically vexing conundrum thats costing millions of taxpayer dollars and will inevitably cost tens of millions more.
(Excerpt) Read more at khou.com ...
No worries ... if they didn't leave on their own if a Republic is formed, then we'd kick 'em out.
Hell, you know they've probably thought of it already.
Sell it Chiny and they can put a facory in there, along with dorms and a village . .
>> “Even though we taxpayers owed more on it in bonds than it cost to build originally” <<
.
A small part of why the financial gurus are correct in saying that we are more than 200 trillion in debt, not ‘just’ 17 trillion.
I am a life long Astros fan, and many childhood to adult memories were played out in that lonely looking place now. This was the first indoor stadium and absolute state of the art back in the day, and it saddens me to see the old stadium as it is. It was amazing in the time, not to have to worry about a rainout. Also seeing the greats there in the '60's - 90's will not be forgotten
I still have great memories of the first lighted scoreboard and the snorting bull and light show.
And I will tell you one damn thing.... It was a heck of a lot easier to get to the ballpark, park, and get in, than that pinball stadium we have downtown now. Lastly, I hope Bud Selig burns in hell for sending us to the AL.
Yeah, but I bet there are at least twice as many conservatives live in Pasadena, Deer Park, Pearland, Friendswood, Sugarland, Katy, Woodlands, etc. than were you do.
Call this bunch:
http://www.controlled-demolition.com/
The muzzies usually burn it down for the insurance money first.
Someone call Mickey Gilley.
Now THAT would be a Texas sized bar!
FEMA prison? 8)
B-I-N-G-O
I can remember a comment in the baseball book “ball four,” by Jim Bouton. It was a quote by one of the Astro ball players when someone asked him what he thought about playing in the brand new “8th wonder of the world.” The player said, “it’s not much, but we call it home.”
My mom worked for a little local paper in one of the suburbs when I was in high skrool.
Dad and I got press passes to some of the tractor pulls in the late ‘70s and saw Bigfoot 1 before they figured out what to do with Monster Trucks.
Bob Chandler had barely gotten the truck back from the body shop in time to make it to the Astrodome after it was torn up making the movie “Take This Job and Shove It.” He was still mad as a hornet about how much they tore his truck up.
Soon a whole industry was formed from what happened in the movie and what got him so mad.
Was it really as cold as they said it was watching Giants night games in Candlestick?
“I imagine they could sell those seats and other junk off as memorabilia. When the old outdoor stadium for the Vikings was torn up they sold the stuff. Folks bought sections of seats to put in their game rooms and basement TV rooms, etc.”
That was *exactly* what I was thinking!
Contractors are looking for another lucrative gov’t contract. Let the fans have at the pieces and you’ll probably get back at least a hunk of the money.
It may be the last place you can go and have that kind of a baseball experience. Ebbetts Field is a parking lot. Forbes Field? Who knows? Tiger Stadium? Gone. Fenway Park deserves to live if for no other reason than it is the last place like it anywhere.
I was there too
And what about the Astroworld Six-Flags park across the street? That's been gone for a long time now. :-(
-PJ
What is it about Democrats that when they smile they look like they’re in pain?
Isn't that the "House John Kerry Built" ?
Fenway is the house that "Manny Ortez" built.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.