The Astrodome

The Houston Astrodome is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I have many fond memories of going to Astro's game when I was younger. Walking into the colossal structure and marveling at the architecture was an amazing experience, especially at 10 years old. This stadium was renowned for being the world's first domed professional baseball park, as well as being the "Eighth Wonder of the World." When you combine these with how great a baseball team the Astros were back in the day, it adds up to an unforgettable experience.

Those days are long gone, however. In 2000, the Astros moved from the Astrodome to Minute Maid Park. This left the Astrodome without a team, and even worse, without a purpose. For the last 14 years, city officials have been trying to decide what to do with the decaying dome.

The operators of the Houston rodeo have been lobbying to have the Astrodome demolished and replaced with a green space and a museum.  In a city that has a habit of tearing things down, people have been looking at the Astrodome and thinking, "This is something worth keeping."

Regardless of what the ultimate decision will be, the legacy of the Astrodome will never be forgotten. This building perfectly illustrates the challenges posed by obsolete professional sports facilities to local governments. In an age where sports teams are constantly trying to grow and improve, it is only a matter of time before YOUR hometown faces a similar problem.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/astrodome-defies-the-wrecking-ball-1410285924