Saving the Houston Astrodome Could Cost $750 Million

Local residents have shown strong support for using public funds to preserve and restore the historic stadium as an entertainment venue.

1 minute read

January 5, 2026, 7:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Crowded carnival or fair with rides in parking lot of Houston Astrodome, historic domed stadium.

B Antonio / Shutterstock

A recent analysis projects the cost of renovating Houston’s historic Astrodome stadium at over $750 million, prompting questions over the future of the building.

As Sarah Grunau reports for Houston Public Media, “The cost-intensive projection by Kirksey Architecture presents another hurdle to revitalize the famed structure that’s been vacant for longer than a decade and sits dormant in Houston’s NRG Park.” Financing the renovation of the world’s first domed stadium, which would only bring the Astrodome back “to basic operation functionality,” would require significant private investment. 

Demolishing the structure would cost approximately $54 million. However, “In a survey this year from the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, Harris County voters overwhelmingly supported using public funds to renovate the Astrodome for use as an entertainment venue.”

Thursday, January 22, 2026 in Houston Public Media

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