Astrodome

The Astrodome, which was called "Reliant Astrodome", is a domed sports stadium. The Astrodome was the first of its type built. It is in Houston, Texas. It is a part of the Reliant Park complex. The building opened in 1965. At that time, it was named the Harris County Domed Stadium. It was also called the "Eighth Wonder of the World".^[1]

The Astrodome

The Astrodome, Eighth Wonder of the World
Former names	The Astrodome Harris County Domed Stadium
Location	8400 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas 77054 U.S.
Owner	Harris County
Operator	Astrodome USA
Capacity	62,439 Football 54,816 Baseball
Surface	Grass (1965) Astroturf (1966–present)
Construction
Started	January 3, 1962
Opened	April 12, 1965
Closed	December 21, 1996 (NFL) October 9, 1999 (MLB) 2003 (rodeo) 2004 (official)
Demolished	N/A
Construction cost	$35 million USD
Architect	Hermon Lloyd & W.B. Morgan and Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson
Tenants
Houston Oilers (NFL) 1968–1997 Houston Astros (MLB) (1965-1999) Houston Gamblers (USFL) (1984-1985) Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (1966-2003)

Reliant Energy bought the right to name the building in 2000.

Hurricane Katrina

In August and September 2005, the Astrodome was a shelter for Hurricane Katrina Survivors.

Teams and notable events

• The first home run in the Astrodome was by Mickey Mantle. The pitcher was Turk Farrell. This was on April 9, 1965 in a game between the Astros and the New York Yankees.^[2] The first official home run was hit by Richie Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies in a game on April 12th of that year a 2-0 Astros loss.^[3]
• Robert Altman's 1970 show Brewster McCloud was set at the Astrodome.
• The 1986 National League Championship Series ended at that time as the longest post-season game in history. The hometown Astros lost a 16-inning Game 6 to the New York Mets, 5–3.
• The Game of the Century between the University of Houston Cougars and the UCLA Bruins took place at the Astrodome in 1968. It was the first NCAA regular season game broadcast nationwide in prime time. This made college basketball, as a sports value on television. This and paved the way for the modern "March Madness" television coverage.
• The dome hosted the WWF's WrestleMania event called WrestleMania X-Seven, which is considered by most, the end of the Attitude Era.

Sources

1. Ballparks
2. "Mickey Mantle's NYC". Retrieved 2008-05-18.
3. Houston Astros history - 1965 season

Other websites

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