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Astrodome facts for kids

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The Astrodome
The Astrodome, Eighth Wonder of the World
Picture of Reliant Astrodome.JPG
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
Broke ground 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)

The Astrodome, also known as the "Reliant Astrodome," is a famous domed sports stadium. It was the very first of its kind ever built! You can find it in Houston, Texas. It's part of a bigger area called Reliant Park. This amazing building opened its doors in 1965. Back then, people called it the Harris County Domed Stadium. It was also nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" because it was so impressive.

In 2000, a company called Reliant Energy bought the right to name the building. This is why it was sometimes called the "Reliant Astrodome."

A Special Shelter

In August and September 2005, the Astrodome became a safe place for many people. It was used as a shelter for those who had to leave their homes because of Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of people found safety and help inside the dome during this difficult time.

Famous Moments and Events

The Astrodome hosted many exciting events over the years. It was a place where history was made in sports and entertainment.

  • The very first home run hit in the Astrodome was by a famous player named Mickey Mantle. This happened on April 9, 1965, during a game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees.
  • A movie called Brewster McCloud, made in 1970, was filmed inside the Astrodome. It showed off the unique design of the building.
  • In 1986, the Astrodome saw one of the longest baseball games in history. It was a 16-inning game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets. The Mets won the game 5-3.
  • The "Game of the Century" in college basketball happened here in 1968. It was a huge game between the University of Houston Cougars and the UCLA Bruins. This game was the first regular season college game ever shown on TV across the whole country during prime time. It helped make college basketball very popular on television.
  • The Astrodome also hosted a huge wrestling event called WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001. This event is remembered as a very important moment in wrestling history.


Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Astrodome para niños

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