Harris County officials say Houston’s historic Astrodome cannot move forward with renovation plans without substantial private investment, following a recent architectural study estimating the cost at around $750 million.
At Thursday’s Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, the study’s findings were discussed in executive session, and no action was taken. The agenda item included a request from the nonprofit Astrodome Conservancy for the county to signal interest to potential private developers. County Judge Lina Hidalgo emphasized that the county lacks the funds to pursue the project alone and would need significant outside investment.
Beth Wiedower Jackson, executive director of the Astrodome Conservancy, said the organization is in talks with multiple large-scale private developers, though it remains unclear which might commit. “We can and will continue to bring private dollars to the table for capital, for operations, and for ongoing maintenance,” Jackson said, noting the potential to reduce county costs through historic rehabilitation tax credits.
The Astrodome, owned by Harris County, has been vacant since hosting its last publicly held event in 2002. Previous proposals, including a $217 million referendum in 2013, failed to secure voter approval. However, a recent University of Houston survey indicated growing public support for using public funds in a renovation.
Interim county administrator Jesse Dickerman said the county is open to discussions with developers but stressed budgetary constraints, citing a multi-million-dollar deficit in the 2026 fiscal year, partly due to recent law enforcement pay raises. “We can’t afford it as a county,” Hidalgo said. “If private investment comes through, then it’s something we could do.”
The county’s Sports & Convention Corporation commissioned Kirksey Architecture in 2024 to evaluate renovation costs. The study estimated a basic renovation at $750 million, while demolition would cost roughly $54 million. The renovation estimate covers essential systems such as HVAC and plumbing but does not include upgrades to meet modern venue standards or historic preservation requirements.
Jackson said the Conservancy seeks a formal signal from the Commissioners Court that it is open to engaging with private developers. The county attorney’s office will present potential options for collaboration at a future court meeting.
In short, while the Astrodome remains a symbol of Houston’s history, its future depends on attracting private investment to make renovation financially viable.