Group solicits new ideas for Astrodome after years of failed proposals

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- An organization dedicated to saving the Astrodome appears to be headed back to the drawing board after years of failed proposals to redevelop the iconic stadium.

The Astrodome Conservancy is asking companies to submit ideas for "adaptive reuse and redevelopment" of the Astrodome.

A 2024 proposal released by the conservancy called for office space, hotel rooms and shops. The conservancy didn't return an email asking if that proposal was still viable.

Other ideas to bring the Astrodome back to life have also been contained to the paper they're printed on.

"It's a never-ending cycle, it feels like," Astrodome historian Mike Acosta said. "It's very frustrating."

In 2018, a plan to convert the dome into a multi-use event center gained the approval of county commissioners. But then a new county judge took office.

"When Lina Hidalgo came into county office, she immediately shelved it," said Acosta.

The judge has said any redevelopment of the Astrodome would have to rely largely on private funding.

The 2024 proposal released by the Astrodome Conservancy called for taxpayers to contribute $250 million.

Despite the setbacks, Acosta believes Houston is closer than ever to seeing a redeveloped Astrodome.

"Mainly because there's movement with the Rodeo. There's movement with the Texans," he said.

Acosta said both organizations have been resistant to using public money to redevelop the Astrodome in the past.

But with the Rodeo building a new agricultural complex on Houston's south side and the Texans moving their offices and training facility to Cypress, he said that leaves the Astrodome's future wide open.

Eyewitness News reached out to all four Harris County commissioners for comment on the Astrodome's future, but didn't hear back.