Why the Houston rodeo chose new construction over the Astrodome

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo recently announced a massive expansion—the largest investment in its history—but the decision revives a long-standing question: Why not the Astrodome?

On Wednesday, the HLSR announced plans to build a 1 million-square-foot livestock and agricultural complex along Highway 288 that will operate year-round. Just around the corner—literally—sits another 1-million-square-foot venue with a long, complicated future: the Astrodome.

Sources told Chron the idea of using the Dome was not ignored. Discussions took place over several years between Rodeo officials and the Astrodome Conservancy, but the two sides ultimately did not align on how the building could play a role in the rodeo’s future. 

RELATED: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to build 1M-square-foot complex

The Astrodome Conservancy said it spent years studying Rodeo operations before finalizing its redevelopment concept.

“The development concept for the dome was in response to that learning,” Beth Wiedower Jackson, executive director with the Astrodome Conservancy, told Chron on Thursday.

Jackson said that the group spent nearly a decade getting to know the rodeo and other tenants at NRG Park through its partnership with Harris County. 

In November 2024, the Astrodome Conservancy released Vision Astrodome—a $1-billion mixed-use concept for the facility that would transform the historic structure into a flexible venue with seating for roughly 5,000 to 11,000 people, while preserving county ownership under a public-private partnership model. 

“Knowing that the rodeo was calling for a new updated state-of-the-art equestrian arena and facilities to support that around animal care and handling…year-round education opportunities (and) meeting spaces, we designed the Astrodome redevelopment around their needs,” Jackson said. 

Jackson said her team presented versions of the redevelopment concept to rodeo officials multiple times as it evolved, but was repeatedly told the facility “didn’t meet their programming needs.”

She described that response as “curious,” saying the conservancy believed its vision directly addressed the needs the rodeo had outlined and that the group received little explanation for why the redesigned Astrodome was not a fit. 

“Not only do you have the shell of the building, which is a remarkable structural condition that you can reuse, you of course have the brand identity of the Astrodome,” Jackson said. “You’ve got the location (and) there are also tremendous financial incentives because the building is designated as a historic landmark, so we could have shaved up to 45 percent of the capital cost of construction, design…and inhabiting the building.”

The Astrodome opened in 1965 as the world’s first domed stadium and was dubbed the “8th Wonder of the World,” according to its website. The doors of the facility officially closed in 2009 and it has largely remained vacant ever since. In December 2025, a Harris County architectural analysis found that renovating the Astrodome could cost more than $750 million, according to Houston Public Media. 

In 2024, rodeo officials rejected Vision Astrodome, saying the proposal conflicted with the organization’s strategic vision and operational needs and relied on funding and maintenance plans they viewed as unworkable, according to the Houston Chronicle. In 2026, they say that reality hasn’t changed. 

“As the longest-standing tenant at Reliant Park, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is focused on its next chapter and building for the future,” the HLSR President and CEO Chris Boleman told Chron in a statement on Thursday. “While we respect the Astrodome’s historic role, all of the previous proposals are not financially viable and do not meet the operational needs of our annual event.”

HLSR officials framed the decision around efficiency, control and year-round use.

“Our investment along Highway 288 is a more efficient, self-funded solution that provides full control of the property and the ability to activate it year-round—expanding agricultural education and community programming beyond the Rodeo,” Boleman said. “In contrast, the Astrodome appears to require public funding, limits our ability for year-round activation, and does not address the opportunities for other livestock competitions.”

Though the groups disagree on the Astrodome’s viability, both appear to be moving forward amicably with separate plans. 

Boleman said the rodeo’s planned facility represents “a profound commitment to the future of (their) event, educational opportunities and agriculture,” as part of Wednesday’s announcement. 

At the same time, the Astrodome Conservancy says it’s “moving forward quickly” with interest from several potential anchor tenants and additional partnerships. Last month, the Astrodome hosted a Market Day, attended by roughly 60 private developers and investors. 

RELATED: Inside Market Day: Astrodome Conservancy dreams big with retail, tech and NASA in mind

“We have had tremendous interest across the board from large anchor tenants,” Jackson said, spanning from the data sector to space and film production industries. 

While Jackson described the outcome as a “real missed opportunity” for the rodeo, defining the Astrodome as “the one building in Houston which epitomizes our city and its identity,” she said it was “awesome” that the rodeo had released their plans for the land off Hwy 288. 

“Now we can answer the question of where the rodeo is going and what they’re going to do so we can move forward with…others that have expressed interest,” Jackson said. “As a taxpayer and a resident of Houston and Harris County, I’m very excited to see (the rodeo) putting their resources into their future.”

Boleman emphasized cooperation moving forward.

“We remain committed to working with all stakeholders as we plan responsibly for the future of the Rodeo and the community we serve,” he said.