Harris County Sports & Convention Corp.’s board of directors on Wednesday approved the expansion of the “scope of its Astrodome study with Houston-based architecture firm Kirksey Architecture,” according to Chandler France of the HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL. HCSCC initially approved the study in Nov. 2024 to “estimate the costs of restoring the facility to basic functionality as well as three scenarios for demolishing it and building parking on the site.” The increased scope will “add a cost estimate for demolishing the structure without building the additional parking.” HCSCC did not provide a cost estimate for increasing the scope of the study, though the initial study was “not to exceed $350,000.” HCSCC also has not revealed an updated timeline, as the study currently is “behind schedule.” The cost estimate of demolishing the structure was “initially expected to be completed at the end of March, while the cost estimate to restore the Astrodome to ‘basic operational functionality’ was set to be completed in mid-July.” The Astrodome study comes as Harris County, the Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo “negotiate new leases and master plan for the future of NRG Park.” The Texans and RodeoHouston’s leases “both expire in 2032.” The Astrodome study does “not include cost estimates for completing a full historic preservation or upgrades to meet modern venue standards” (HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/20).
