Astrodome Conservancy says Harris County engagement remains limited

Interest in redeveloping the Astrodome extends far beyond Texas. 

In May, the Astrodome Conservancy—a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and redeveloping Houston’s historic Astrodome—hosted “Market Day,” a three-hour pitch session for investors and civic leaders to secure private investment for the Astrodome’s renovation. To form a public-private partnership with Harris County, the Astrodome Conservancy released a Request for Information (RFI) on August 18 to developers, investors, and operators, inviting them to “bring forward creative, financially viable ideas for Houston’s iconic landmark.”

According to Beth Wiedower Jackson, Executive Director of the Astrodome Conservancy, the organization has received nearly 250 responses from across the country. 

“We’ve had such a strong response that we’re actually extending the window because there are a lot of questions,” Jackson said to Chron on Wednesday. “Several of the more legitimate developers that have come forth have submitted pages of questions, and we invited the county to sit in on those interviews with us.”

Given the high volume of responses, the Astrodome Conservancy has extended its response deadline from Sept. 8 to Sept. 25. 

While a groundswell of support from private investors has emerged from all over, Jackson said one of the conservancy’s biggest challenges has been the county’s lack of engagement.

“We invited the county to sit in on those interviews with us,” Jackson said. “I’ve invited County Administrator [Erica Lee] Carter, and I’ve invited County Attorney [Abbie] Kamin to be there with us for those interviews. I don’t want to say I haven’t had a response, but both of them responded and said, ‘Let us see.’ I still haven’t received confirmation that they will.

“If there are developers who are ready to put their money into Harris County and into the Astrodome and the county won’t return phone calls, that’s a story that people need to know about.”

According to Wiedower-Jackson, the county commissioners specifically tabbed Carter and Kamin to work with the Astrodome Conservancy and to bring prospective private interest to them.

“Our office cannot discuss anything that could breach attorney-client privilege,” said County Attorney Abbie Kamin to Chron on Friday. “But we stand ready to support any and all efforts of the Commissioners Court on this important matter.” 

Carter’s office failed to respond to a request for comment as of Friday afternoon.

Of the 250 RFIs received, probably one in three will move on to the next phase, with some developers with major projects on their resume. 

“One of them is on the East Coast, a major developer of entertainment districts, multi-vendor, multi-tenant entertainment venues. Another is focused on data development. A third is a lifestyle center developer with deep Houston roots,” said Jackson, who declined to name specific developers.  

A range of potential tenants could become the anchor inside a revamped Astrodome, including providing a sporting venue for a professional hockey franchise in Houston. 

“There’s still lots of talk about hockey and other things coming to NRG Park and to Houston,” Jackson said about the potential of bringing an NHL team to the Astrodome. “We’ve had those conversations.” 

Next steps for the Astrodome Conservancy include interviewing developers that could advance to the next phase and awaiting the results of the upcoming county elections in November, so new leadership can be brought up to speed on the venue’s status. New officials in key seats will have a say in advocating for the use—or denial—of public funds to support the project.

“Come January, I think the conservancy is ready to go full force and push for a commitment by the county to a public-private partnership,” Jackson said. 

While a public-private partnership to revitalize the Astrodome is possible, an alternative is straight demolition, which would cost $55 million, according to a commissioned study by Kirksey Architecture.