And it's absolutely insane that it is still standing. That said, it is still cool to see old Tine photos like this.

The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day:

The Houston Astrodome opened 60 years ago today, on April 9, 1965. It was the world's first multi-purpose domed sports stadium. Prior to the opening of the Astrodome, Houston professional baseball was played primarily at Buffalo Stadium aka… pic.twitter.com/Z7bcAKExsW

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) April 9, 2025

this is still blows my mind

https://www.papercitymag.com/real-estate/roy-hofheinz-private-penthouse-celestial-suite-astrodome-hotel-peek-inside/

My grandfather worked on the dome, his stories are great

Dome's b-day should be celebrated with a Hot & Smokey and a heavy syrup Coke. Can pour a little Coke on the floor and stick your shoes to it for an authentic Dome experience.

Doesnt look a day over 65!!

I think its crazy the original owner lived in there.

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Dome's b-day should be celebrated with a Hot & Smokey and a heavy syrup Coke. Can pour a little Coke on the floor and stick your shoes to it for an authentic Dome experience.

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Get a large steel tub and pee in it with 4 other guys standing next to you as well!

~egon

Dr. Doctor said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Dome's b-day should be celebrated with a Hot & Smokey and a heavy syrup Coke. Can pour a little Coke on the floor and stick your shoes to it for an authentic Dome experience.

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Get a large steel tub and pee in it with 4 other guys standing next to you as well!

~egon

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Some bathrooms had the walls that were basically giant urinals with the water running down. Don't know why places don't have those. Way more efficient.

W/ extra ice to knock back the smell and back-splash.

Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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this is still blows my mind

https://www.papercitymag.com/real-estate/roy-hofheinz-private-penthouse-celestial-suite-astrodome-hotel-peek-inside/

My grandfather worked on the dome, his stories are great

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Can you share some?

There's a Harris county judge out there with a nod in the dome's direction and a celebratory pour of whiskey in his hand right now.

07ag said:

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Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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this is still blows my mind

https://www.papercitymag.com/real-estate/roy-hofheinz-private-penthouse-celestial-suite-astrodome-hotel-peek-inside/

My grandfather worked on the dome, his stories are great

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Can you share some?

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If he did he would stop about 80 percent through the story and then never finish it.

I'm in construction and used to work with a guy who said his dad was one of the superintendents that built the Astrodome. Not sure if true, but he was told a story that the roof started dropping as they began removing the temporary bracing holding it up. They puckered, put the bracing back up and sent the engineers to work to figure it out.

My dad went to that opening exhibition Astros-Yankees game. Though we went to lots of events in the dome over the years, he always talked about going for that first game.

Just think - in another ten years or so it will have sat rotting longer than it was used.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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07ag said:

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Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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this is still blows my mind

https://www.papercitymag.com/real-estate/roy-hofheinz-private-penthouse-celestial-suite-astrodome-hotel-peek-inside/

My grandfather worked on the dome, his stories are great

---

Can you share some?

---

If he did he would stop about 80 percent through the story and then never finish it.

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Damn, I loved the Dome and was in constant awe of it whenever I would go or even drive by on 610. It was iconic and such a Houston thing. Peak Dome era was peak Houston.

I know it's time for it to go, though.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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07ag said:

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Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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this is still blows my mind

https://www.papercitymag.com/real-estate/roy-hofheinz-private-penthouse-celestial-suite-astrodome-hotel-peek-inside/

My grandfather worked on the dome, his stories are great

---

Can you share some?

---

If he did he would stop about 80 percent through the story and then never finish it.

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how can I finish a story that isnt finished yet?

Several days after that Yankees game, I was part of the Cub Scout/Boy Scout Jamboree in the Astrodome and Astrohall. Troops had booths in the Astrohall making all kind of things. We all got to march in the Astrodome around the perimeter of the field. Lots of people there to see the inside and didn't care much about us! Now I have 11 grandkids and one of my sons took me there some years back when the public had one last time to walk the field. Good memories watching many events there for 35 years

AgArch 78 said:

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Several days after that Yankees game, I was part of the Cub Scout/Boy Scout Jamboree in the Astrodome and Astrohall. Troops had booths in the Astrohall making all kind of things. We all got to march in the Astrodome around the perimeter of the field. Lots of people there to see the inside and didn't care much about us! Now I have 11 grandkids and one of my sons took me there some years back when the public had one last time to walk the field. Good memories watching many events there for 35 years

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That's fantastic.

Obligatory:

Quote:

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The Dome stands empty, dark and silent, like a god cast down from its enthronement, only to now huddle in disgust, its eyes fixed over a town full of Cajun/Pho Fusion trucks and endless Boba Tea shops. The evidence of a once tough, oil town as lost to memory as Dome Foam, Hair sprayed Dolls, Destruction Derbies and a daredevil that once tried to ride a barrel from its roof to a small water tank and ****ing died.

Every evening the shadow of that looming rectangle of modern mediocrity creeps up the side of the 8th Wonder as the sun sets, plunging it into a darkness only rivaled by its own heart. It's hate grows with every townhome that's filled by former Californians with their electric vehicles and plastic surgery. Its silent suffering only interrupted by dark blue and red clad "fans" on their way to cheer on a team that ran down the crack of McNair's ass 20 years ago or former Bostonians in Luccheses and straight leg bedazzled Levis passing by to eat a tofu-dog on a stick and play cowboy for a day. A travesty so complete that only the thought of Bud Adams burning in Hell watching endless replays of the second half of '93 Bills/Oilers can bring the mood back around a bit.

The Dome is still there, majestic as ever, biding its time. Some of us who sat in those orange and red seats still remember. We carry the memory of it with us in our hearts, the smell of it in our Pasadena-blackened lungs, forever.

Honestly, I'm glad it's locked up. Its safer. If any of our newly-minted Houston-transplants stepped foot on that hallowed ground, they'd ****ing shrivel up and die from unworthiness. They haven't sacrificed enough yet like we have. Besides, I imagine Dave Ward sneaks in to drink and talk to old friends. And that mother ****er will kill you.

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That always brings a tear to my eye. Epic rant.

TXAG 05 said:

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Dr. Doctor said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Dome's b-day should be celebrated with a Hot & Smokey and a heavy syrup Coke. Can pour a little Coke on the floor and stick your shoes to it for an authentic Dome experience.

---

Get a large steel tub and pee in it with 4 other guys standing next to you as well!

~egon

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Some bathrooms had the walls that were basically giant urinals with the water running down. Don't know why places don't have those. Way more efficient.

---

the astrodome pissers were pretty much get in and get out but worked great

scd88 said:

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Damn, I loved the Dome and was in constant awe of it whenever I would go or even drive by on 610. It was iconic and such a Houston thing. Peak Dome era was peak Houston.

I know it's time for it to go, though.

---

Driving to that side of town as a kid and getting the first glimpse of the dome in the car was the absolute peak of childhood tine life.

RC_57 said:

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There's a Harris county judge out there with a nod in the dome's direction and a celebratory pour of whiskey on hand right now.

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I'm sure he rubbed a few out to Dome pictures too.

fulshearAg96 said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Dr. Doctor said:

---

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

---

Dome's b-day should be celebrated with a Hot & Smokey and a heavy syrup Coke. Can pour a little Coke on the floor and stick your shoes to it for an authentic Dome experience.

---

Get a large steel tub and pee in it with 4 other guys standing next to you as well!

~egon

---

Some bathrooms had the walls that were basically giant urinals with the water running down. Don't know why places don't have those. Way more efficient.

---

the astrodome pissers were pretty much get in and get out but worked great

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Well that is the purpose....get in and get out, You want more than that in a mens restroom, you have to go to Montrose

I regret not getting a pair of Dome seats. I need some memorabilia from there. Any ideas of where I can get something?

My dad was a small-town boy who hated traffic and crowds. So he never took me to an Astros game; he didn't want to "fight the mobs," as he always said.

But I grew up loving the Astros and Oilers (and Aeros, but that's another story) and as a young adult, my buddies and I would go to Astros games all the time.

When my dad was retired, I bought tickets to one of those weekday afternoon games the 'Stros would have every now and then.

And I took my dad. Only baseball game we ever saw together.

I thought it was rice stadium that had the long wall urinals that went to below floor troughs to drain.

And the dome had the long metal urinals troughs.

Back in the '80's I worked with an older gentleman that told me his story of buying a new '67 Buick and taking his dad to an Astros game in the new Dome. He was not used to the big parking lots. They came out of the game and unlocked a new Buick and drove away only to realize after looking in glove compartment that it was not their car. Colors all matched. They turned around and back to a mostly empty lot and saw their car . Locked up the first car and drove home. In those days there were not that many different ignition keys.

Same here. Loved seeing it from the ship channel bridge on the drive over from Silsbee. Walking the ramps up to where my dad's Oilers season tickets were (in the yellow seats) just built the excitement.

AgArch 78 said:

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Back in the '80's I worked with an older gentleman that told me his story of buying a new '67 Buick and taking his dad to an Astros game in the new Dome. He was not used to the big parking lots. They came out of the game and unlocked a new Buick and drove away only to realize after looking in glove compartment that it was not their car. Colors all matched. They turned around and back to a mostly empty lot and saw their car . Locked up the first car and drove home. In those days there were not that many different ignition keys.

---

first time our family went to the Dome (Astros game of either 65 or 66). We went in the entrance and of course walked around to find our seats. After the game we left the dome most probably by another entrance. My parents being newbies to the Dome did not take note of what section we had parked in. And being turned around from what gate we entered and what gate we exited, we had to wait for the entire lot to basically leave before we could find our car. Fun times, and a learning experience never to be repeated!

kubiak03 said:

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I thought it was rice stadium that had the long wall urinals that went to below floor troughs to drain.

And the dome had the long metal urinals troughs.

---

This

Sea Speed said:

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scd88 said:

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Damn, I loved the Dome and was in constant awe of it whenever I would go or even drive by on 610. It was iconic and such a Houston thing. Peak Dome era was peak Houston.

I know it's time for it to go, though.

---

Driving to that side of town as a kid and getting the first glimpse of the dome in the car was the absolute peak of childhood tine life.

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Seeing the Astro Needle and the Texas Cyclone right across the freeway made it that much more memorable.

maroon barchetta said:

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kubiak03 said:

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I thought it was rice stadium that had the long wall urinals that went to below floor troughs to drain.

And the dome had the long metal urinals troughs.

---

This

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The dome definitely had some long wall waterfall urinals as well as the standard metal troughs

I worked with the guy that designed the air conditioning in the Astrodome. My, how many home runs that guy killed.

I. A Naman Dome HVAC

He told me when the guys were designing the Superdome that they contacted him to come explain the Astrodome HVAC design to them. They told him they would pay him for his time. But he explained that the design was based on a lifetime of design experience and he wasn't going to just give all his secrets away for a few $/hr. He told them they could pay him a big number (forget how much he asked) or do it without his help. They did it without his help. And nobody accuses the HVAC in the Superdome of robbing home runs.