About Houston Astrodome
The Houston Astrodome, dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World," was the first fully enclosed domed sports stadium and one of the most revolutionary structures in American history. When it opened in 1965, the concept of playing baseball indoors seemed almost absurd, but the Astrodome proved it could work.
The dome's most lasting innovation was AstroTurf — when the natural grass died due to the opaque roof panels, the team installed a synthetic surface that would change sports playing fields for the next three decades. The Astrodome also pioneered luxury suites and the animated scoreboard.
The Astros left the dome after the 1999 season for what is now Minute Maid Park. The Astrodome still stands adjacent to NRG Stadium, making it the oldest surviving domed stadium, though its future remains uncertain.
Fun facts
- The Astrodome was called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by the Houston Chamber of Commerce.
- Mickey Mantle hit the first home run in the Astrodome during an exhibition game.
- The dome's original clear roof panels caused outfielders to lose fly balls in the glare.
- AstroTurf was literally invented because natural grass couldn't survive indoors.
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