Astrodome

Former home of the Houston Astros

Houston, TX

Still to visit

Teams

Houston Astros
MLB · baseball
1965–1999
Houston Oilers
NFL · football
1968–1996

Also known as Houston Astrodome · Eighth Wonder of the World

Stadium facts

Capacity: 50,000; The lead says the dome seated around 50,000. The record attendance is a separate figure.Source for capacity
Record attendance: 68,266; George Strait concert in 2002.Source for record attendance
Opened: April 9, 1965; Ceremonial groundbreaking January 3, 1962. Construction began in 1963. When it opened it was also called the Harris County Domed Stadium.Source for opened
Surface: AstroTurf; Grass in 1965, then painted dirt, then AstroTurf from 1966. The page says this was the first major sports venue to install artificial turf.Source for surface
Cost: $35 million; Construction cost on the stadium page.Source for cost

Names and sponsors

Harris County Domed Stadium
Name used when the building opened, before it was known as the Astrodome.
Source
Astrodome
1965–present
The lead also gives the official form Reliant Astrodome.
Source
Eighth Wonder of the World
Nickname
Source

Timeline

1965
1965
1966
1968
2002
2008

February 7, 1965

Paige throws the first pitches

On February 7, 1965, Satchel Paige, in an Astros uniform, threw the first pitches in the dome to test how the enclosed air would affect breaking balls. The building was not yet open. The page presents that day as a trial before the first game.

Source