Astrodome Auction

Own a piece of Astrodome history: Sneak peek of what's for sale at the big auction

"We really just want the people of Houston to be able to get a piece of history."

According to Reliant Center director of event services Leah Mastaglio, that's the reason for Saturday's auction of seats, Astroturf and other items that have been removed from the Astrodome as part of interior and exterior "site improvements." The project, which includes the removal of the seats and demolition of certain exterior features, needs to be done whether or not Harris County voters approve the $217-million bond issue to renovate the historic sports stadium and create the New Dome Experience.

About 800 pairs of seats are available; regular seats are $200 and four suite seats are $400. Astroturf is available in in 12-by-12 inch squares, 2-by-3 foot rectangles and 4-by-15 foot strips that could be used for a batting cage or putting green. Staff uniform vests and jackets are available for prices ranging from $15 to $50.

Among the media members getting a preview, CultureMap spotted Ryan Soroka, Alex Vassilakidis and Aaron Corso shopping for items to decorate 8th Wonder Brewery.

Everything else, including lockers, signs, player portraits, turnstiles, office furniture and AV equipment, will be auctioned off in 70 lots. A large Houston Astros signed autographed by Jose Cruz and Bob Aspromonte and an Oilers sign autographed by Texas legend Earl Campbell and Dan Pastorini look to be among the more desirable items, assuming anyone has sufficient room for them.

Mastaglio admits she has "no idea" how many people are going to show up on Saturday, but Reliant is gearing up for a big crowd. The stadium will open both the McNee and Holly Hall gates at 6 a.m. Registration begins an hour later and doors open at 8 a.m. Bidding begins at 9:30 a.m. Proceeds will be used to defray some of the costs associated with the work.

Asked about whether there will be another event to purchase other items, Mastaglio replies, "We'll evaluate after (Saturday). Maybe not an auction, but some sort of sale."

Among the media members getting a sneak preview, CultureMap spotted Ryan Soroka, Alex Vassilakidis and Aaron Corso shopping for items to decorate 8th Wonder Brewery. As supporters of the vote to save the Dome, they'd been given the chance to buy a few items ahead of the public sale.

Planning to attend? Get there early. Scattered among the signs is one that reads "Seats Sold Out." Clearly, that's going to happen, and, with only 800 pairs available, it could happen quickly.

The seats will sell out.

Alamodome auction and sale preview November 2013 seats sold out

Photo by Eric Sandler

The seats will sell out.

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”