The Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation (HSCC) is launching a study to determine the costs of restoring and demolishing the Astrodome. This should help determine the best path forward for the nearly 60-year-old stadium.
Charles Blain with Urban Reform spoke to KTRH about this new study. He said, "They're saying that the point of the study is to find out what the cost would be to make it functional again, and alternatively, what the cost would be to tear it down."
This comes less than two weeks after the Astrodome Conservancy revealed their one billion dollar proposal to completely repurpose the shell of the Astrodome, aiming to turn the stadium into an indoor retail and dining destination. However, that plan has already been rejected by major stakeholders like the Houston Rodeo.
Blain says the future of the Astrodome remains unclear, but regardless of whether the 8th Wonder is refurbished or demolished, Harris County taxpayers will be the ones to foot the bill. He said, "People will remember from the 2013 vote, voters rejected the $217 million in bonds to redo the Astrodome. It's been put to voters before, and they didn't want it."
Blain says the most likely outcome is exactly what we have seen in the past: a lot of talk, and no action.