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Is the Astrodome historic in some way? Why does it keep getting discussed? Is it just because it was the first of its kind, despite it being an eyesore and not particularly special amenity wise (and I'm not saying this in hindsight)?
Ok let me see if I can explain. This is a thread about Houston and whether or not it is overlooked. Somebody brought up the lack of history in and around Houston as a reason it should be overlooked. Then somebody else mentioned The San Jacinto Monument (Which is there because there was a significant event that happened at that location) The Johnson Space Center (Which has a national historical designation now) and The Astrodome.
And yes not only for being the first of its kind but for setting a trend in stadium construction in the western world. Not to mention the engineering marvel that it was and still is.
BTW Does a building or structure have to be pretty to be significant in a historical sense? I don't think so...
Last edited by Jack Lance; 09-02-2015 at 12:06 PM..
Location: Baghdad by the Bay (San Francisco, California)
3,530 posts, read 5,111,829 times
Reputation: 3145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Lance
Ok let me see if I can explain. This is a thread about Houston and whether or not it is overlooked. Somebody brought up the lack of history in and around Houston as a reason it should be overlooked. Then somebody else mentioned The San Jacinto Monument (Which is there because there was a significant event that happened at that location) The Johnson Space Center (Which has a national historical designation now) and The Astrodome.
And yes not only for being the first of its kind but for setting a trend in stadium construction in the western world. Not to mention the engineering marvel that it was and still is.
BTW Does a building or structure have to be pretty to be significant in a historical sense? I don't think so...
Yes, it was impressive in the 60s to have a roof over your baseball park. But, it also diminished the game experience. Likewise, the cookie-cutter, multi-use stadium configuration that you correctly identify as being of the Astrodome's influence is seen today as a great negative in sports and a major reason it was not preserved as a stadium, despite being expanded and updated. It's simply not a very pleasant place to watch a sporting event, which is a major failure of a stadium, wouldn't you agree?
Your point is taken, though. Wrigley and Fenway aren't all that pretty. But they are steeped in the heritage of their sports and the experiences they provide. They are fixtures in their neighborhoods and their atmosphere spills out around their sites. They represent the good contributions to sports and to cities that stadiums can make, rather than the negatives.
The Astrodome is a nondescript concrete and steel eyesore sitting in the middle of a square mile of asphalt, beside a busy freeway across from open fields, car dealers and a couple of shady rundown apartment complexes. It ain't The Roman Forum.
Did that dude just compare the Astrodome to the Colosseum in Rome?
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Originally Posted by peterlemonjello
Did you seriously just say that?
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Originally Posted by Spade
Wow. I don't know how I missed that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fastphilly
They are too radical even for the Chamber Of Commerce. Nobody would compare the Astrodome to the Colosseum in Rome lol!
The only difference between the Roman Colosseum, and the Astrodome is simply the time of building, nothing more. Both were indeed engineering feats and innovations for their respective times, and should be honored for that. All these comments of shock and surprise at comparing the Astrodome to Rome, and yet no compelling arguments as to why such a comparison would be unwarranted.
The only difference between the Roman Colosseum, and the Astrodome is simply the time of building, nothing more. Both were indeed engineering feats and innovations for their respective times, and should be honored for that. All these comments of shock and surprise at comparing the Astrodome to Rome, and yet no compelling arguments as to why such a comparison would be unwarranted.
Here are two comparisons: history and build quality.
The only difference between the Roman Colosseum, and the Astrodome is simply the time of building, nothing more. Both were indeed engineering feats and innovations for their respective times, and should be honored for that. All these comments of shock and surprise at comparing the Astrodome to Rome, and yet no compelling arguments as to why such a comparison would be unwarranted.
It could use a good scrubbing. Every time I go to NRG Park it looks like it's rotting. At least the Roman Colosseum looks the way it does because of the extreme age of it. The Astrodome really isn't that old and looks like it's decaying from a disease. The location of The Astrodome also makes it less desirable. What tourist would travel out there to see it?
Location: East Central Pennsylvania/ Chicago for 6yrs.
2,535 posts, read 3,259,519 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by westhou
It could use a good scrubbing. Every time I go to NRG Park it looks like it's rotting. At least the Roman Colosseum looks the way it does because of the extreme age of it. The Astrodome really isn't that old and looks like it's decaying from a disease. The location of The Astrodome also makes it less desirable. What tourist would travel out there to see it?
Yes.... until, the City takes a stand. WHAT TO DO WITH THE ASTRODOME? RESTORE IT AND/OR? At least give it a CITY LANDMARK STATUS. Its Fate and recognition.... is in limbo....
If Preservationist see it as a LANDMARK? Then they should be mounting a Landmark status for the ASTRODOME. Before it is declared UNSAFE or Deteriorated too far.
Does the city have any TRULY ACTIVE PRESERVATIONIST?
I know thank God CHICAGO has some. They SAVED some HISTORIC EARLY SKYSCRAPERS, from demolition. After losing some, and Downtown's Movie PALACES. Too after losing some.
Hard to believe? They almost lost the CHICAGO THEATER. Now they make up the cities Off Broadway Theater District. Where some plays start before Broadway, and those that made Broadway can play.
But Soldier Field... though they SPARED THE exterior Greek Columns. Building a New Stadium inside the old. They had their LANDMARK STATUS REVOKED. The change was too drastic to keep that status.
Guess it is up to you HOUSTON.... Of, Course some repurpose to the ASTRODOME to save it....might suffice too? How about a MARKET PLACE Patterned LIKE ....
PHILADELPHIA'S "Reading Terminal Marketplace" It always busy. Or a forum for RODEOS in the city.... Ridem Cowboy... and Bull riding and Roping .... ?
Yes.... until, the City takes a stand. WHAT TO DO WITH THE ASTRODOME? RESTORE IT AND/OR? At least give it a CITY LANDMARK STATUS. Its Fate and recognition.... is in limbo....
If Preservationist see it as a LANDMARK? Then they should be mounting a Landmark status for the ASTRODOME. Before it is declared UNSAFE or Deteriorated too far.
Does the city have any TRULY ACTIVE PRESERVATIONIST?
I know thank God CHICAGO has some. They SAVED some HISTORIC EARLY SKYSCRAPERS, from demolition. After losing some, and Downtown's Movie PALACES. Too after losing some.
Hard to believe? They almost lost the CHICAGO THEATER. Now they make up the cities Off Broadway Theater District. Where some plays start before Broadway, and those that made Broadway can play.
But Soldier Field... though they SPARED THE exterior Greek Columns. Building a New Stadium inside the old. They had their LANDMARK STATUS REVOKED. The change was too drastic to keep that status.
Guess it is up to you HOUSTON.... Of, Course some repurpose to the ASTRODOME to save it....might suffice too? How about a MARKET PLACE Patterned LIKE ....
PHILADELPHIA'S "Reading Terminal Marketplace" It always busy. Or a forum for RODEOS in the city.... Ridem Cowboy... and Bull riding and Roping .... ?
The overuse of caps is ironic.
The point of capitalizing a word is to add emphasis, stress if you will. However, when every other word is capitalized you lose emphasis.
Furthermore, it makes posts difficult to read.
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