Remember the three options for the Astrodome that the Sports and Convention Corporation presented a couple of months ago? That recent KHOU poll included questions about those three options:
Harris County is considering three proposals for the Astro Dome. I am going to read you a description of each proposal. Please tell me if you favor or oppose each one.
Demolish the Astrodome and replace it with a park like setting at a cost of approximately $100 million. Frequency Percent Percent Favor 125 24.8 25.0 Oppose 340 67.3 68.0 Do not know 34 6.7 6.8 Refused 1 .2 .2 Total 500 99.0 100.0 Missing 5 1.0 Total 505 100.0
The outer shell of the Astrodome remains and the interior is converted into a multi-use venue at a cost of approximately $300 million. Frequency Percent Percent Favor 201 39.8 40.2 Oppose 252 49.9 50.4 Do not know 45 8.9 9.0 Refused 2 .4 .4 Total 500 99.0 100.0 Missing 5 1.0 Total 505 100.0
A redesign of the Astrodome that would include a planetarium, a movie soundstage and other attractions at a cost of approximately $500 million Frequency Percent Percent Favor 162 32.1 32.4 Oppose 289 57.2 57.8 Do not know 48 9.5 9.6 Refused 1 .2 .2 Total 500 99.0 100.0 Missing 5 1.0 Total 505 100.0
Yeah, not exactly in tune with the online survey that the Sports & Convention folks were touting. I know, I’m as shocked as you are. Option #2 is the least disliked, so maybe that’s the way to go. Or we can just keep doing what we’re doing until everyone who ever had an emotional attachment to the place is dead or too old to remember why they ever liked it. Maybe by then the bonds will be paid off.
There are so few tourist attractions in Harris County that something should be done with the Dome to get people to want to visit it.