Commissioner: "very positive" for Houston's bid.
Just after the Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offer a cheaper $29 million demolition plan for the Astrodome, the NFL's commissioner says tearing it down could be "very positive" for the city's Super Bowl bid.
Edgar Colon at Harris County's Sports and Convention Corporation disputes the estimated cost, saying a demolition would cost more like $40 million or more.
He also said the Astrodome is not a deciding factor in whether Houston gets another Super Bowl.
“One thing the NFL does is they try to place the Super Bowl in a city that has built a new stadium,” Colon told reporters during a walk through of the Astrodome Wednesday. “So San Francisco obviously has a great opportunity.”
Conservationist James Glassman believes the NFL is trying to strong-arm the county.
“Why do they keep forcing us into some decision?” Glassman asks. “How many parking spaces are they going to get out of it anyway? That's not going to make that much difference for the rodeo or Texans.”
Glassman is fighting to save the former "Eighth Wonder of the World."
“I use the example of Discovery Green,” he says. “That was a parking lot and some other empty lots, and they've turned it into a signature park for the city.”
Colon insists a the improving economy has brought on new ideas for the dome.
“I've received inquiries from various groups with different sorts of ideas, and they may potentially have the money, or funding sources, to be able to develop the project,” he says.
County Judge Ed Emmett has repeatedly said whatever decision is made, voters will likely need to approve a bond issue to help pay for it.
*****start poll*****
Poll: A study recommends demolition for the Astrodome. Do you agree?
*****end poll*****
