The cost of reviving Houston’s Astrodome has been estimated at more than $752 million, according to a new study commissioned by the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation (HCSCC). The analysis, reported by the Houston Business Journal, compares this figure with an estimated $55 million needed to demolish the structure. The study evaluated what it would take to return the Astrodome to basic operational status, not including full historic preservation or significant modern upgrades.
Demolition costs would cover tearing down the building and removing debris, but would leave the below-ground structure in place until a future use is determined. Interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman commented on the findings: “These cost estimates illustrate that it will not be financially feasible for Harris County to renovate the Astrodome without significant private investment.”
The release of these numbers comes as HCSCC continues lease negotiations at NRG Park with both the Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Both organizations’ leases expire in 2032, and discussions about the Astrodome’s fate are central to those talks. However, county officials have stated there is no set timeline for a decision.
Kirksey Architecture prepared the study, which was expanded last November and delayed past its original early-2025 delivery date. The expansion drew criticism from the Astrodome Conservancy, a nonprofit advocating for repurposing the Dome. The group argued that focusing on demolition scenarios misuses public funds and called for a stronger approach to reuse because of the Dome’s protected landmark status in Texas.
The conservancy has proposed its own plan: an $840 million project that would turn the Astrodome into a mixed-use complex featuring an arena, retail spaces, and additional buildings within its shell. This vision relies on a combination of $270 million in public funding for the arena and approximately $570 million from private sources for commercial elements. The organization believes historic tax credits could offset up to 45 percent of total costs.
A University of Houston survey conducted last summer found that 62 percent of Harris County voters support using public money as part of a public-private partnership to redevelop the Astrodome into an entertainment and mixed-use destination.
Despite this apparent public support, key stakeholders have not endorsed the conservancy’s proposal. Neither HCSCC nor representatives from either major tenant—the Texans or Rodeo Houston—have backed it so far. Rodeo Houston CEO Chris Boleman told media outlets that NRG Park faces broader needs amounting to “a $1 billion problem” beyond just addressing issues related to the Dome itself; he also noted that his organization does not currently use the facility.
