Down the home stretch

Astrodome debate continues: 19 ideas for redo; nominated to National Register of Historic Places

Lots of plans are circulating to renovate the Astrodome. Willie Loston, executive director of the Harris County Sports & Convention Corp., said the entity received 19 proposals before the Monday midnight deadline, the Houston Chronicle reports.

He did not list the proposals or indicate if any had financial backing. All options, including a public-use plan developed by HCSCC staff, will be presented to the agency's board of directors on June 19. They will forward viable plans to the Harris County Commissioners Court on June 25.

Among plans that received attention are stripping the 9-acre structure down to its steel frame and turning the base into a park and creating a "tourist mecca' with retail and restaurant space, along with a 12,000-seat pavilion to replace Reliant Arena.

"We’ve heard the Astrodome is “falling apart,” that it’s 'rotting' — but steel and concrete don’t rot and it’s a masterwork of construction."

CultureMap contributor Cynthia Neely, a longtime proponent of saving the Astrodome, urged the Harris County Commissioners Court Tuesday to hire structural engineer Lorrie Foreman to evaluate the Dome’s condition and estimate the cost to make the most minimal repairs. Foreman oversaw the transformation of the Compaq Center into Lakewood Church.

"An expert lives in Houston yet she’s never been consulted about the Astrodome. Why not?" Neely said. "We’ve heard the Astrodome is “falling apart,” that it’s 'rotting' — but steel and concrete don’t rot and it’s a masterwork of construction. We deserve to know the truth about its condition if you expect us to continue to pay for it."

(Neely was formerly a partner in a proposal to transform the Astrodome into a movie studio, but left that project nearly four years ago and has no vested interest in it.)

Neely had joined forces with Ted Powell, whose grass roots organization, Friends of Sylvan Beach, was instrumental is preventing the historic pavilion from being demolished. They have nominated the Astrodome for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The Texas Historical Commission will present the nomination to its State Board of Review on Oct. 19.

"Achieving federal and state historical status opens the doors to sources of funding for the building’s disciplined restoration and respectful repurposing for future generations of Houstonians and visitors to this great city to enjoy," she said.

unspecified

for the win

Cheer on these Texans competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Emily Chan, 2026 Winter Olympics figure skater

teamusa.com/

undefined

The XXV Winter Olympic Games, also known as the Milano Cortina 2026, are right around the corner, running February 6-22 in northern Italy. Out of the 2,900 athletes who will participate in this year's Games, 232 will represent the U.S., with four hailing from the Lone Star State.

Houston residents might recognize one local athlete in particular: Figure skater Emily Chan, who is a Pasadena native.

To catch these Texas-born athletes in the 2026 Winter Olympics, viewers can tune in to NBC and its affiliate networks, websites, and apps (like Peacock).

Without further ado, these are the Winter Olympians competing for Team USA with roots in Texas. (Note that there are other athletes with Texas ties, like Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars, who are competing in the Olympics but aren't considered Texans.)

Hannah Bilka, 24
Sport: Ice hockey
Texas tie: Bilka grew up in Coppell and is the youngest of four children. At age six, she followed in the footsteps of her older brother, Anthony, and started playing hockey. Due to a "lack of girls’ hockey teams in Texas," she grew up playing hockey with boys.
Fun facts: She won the 2024 National Championship in women’s ice hockey with the Ohio State Buckeyes, the same university where she earned a master's degree in sport management. Her two older sisters, Christina and Stephanie, were figure skaters.
When to watch: The women's ice hockey preliminary round begins on Thursday, February 5. The women's bronze and gold medal matches will take place on Thursday, February 19.

Hannah Bilka, 2026 Winter Olympics hockey player Hannah Bilka is one of two North Texans competing in this year's Games.Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Emily Chan, 28
Sport: Pairs figure skating
Texas tie: Chan hails from Houston suburb Pasadena, but she also calls Dallas home. She graduated from Texas Online Preparatory School as the valedictorian.
Fun facts: She loves to cook, bake, make jewelry, and dreams of opening her own café in the future. Her longtime skating partner, Spencer Akira Howe, is from Los Angeles. They both relocated to train at the Skating Club of Boston in 2019, where Chan now coaches young figure skaters. Chan is also pursuing a family and marriage counseling degree from Grand Canyon University.
When to watch: The figure skating "team event" kicks off on Friday, February 6. The pairs figure skating competition begins on Wednesday, February 16.

Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe In addition to being a top-notch figure skater, Emily Chan is also trained in Chinese modern dance and ballet.teamusa.com/

Amber Glenn, 26
Sport: Singles figure skating
Texas tie: She was born in Plano, and started skating at just five years-old.
Fun facts: Glenn is a mental health advocate and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She came out as pansexual in 2019. She loves to play Magic: The Gathering, and her dog, Uki, is named after stalking shadow card Ukkima. She also enjoys anime and Star Wars. On Friday, May 29, Glenn will visit the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb Allen during the 2026 Stars on Ice Tour.
When to watch: The figure skating "team event" kicks off on Friday, February 6. The women's singles free skate competition begins Thursday, February 19.

Amber Glenn, 2026 Winter Olympics figure skater from Plano Plano's famous figure skater Amber Glenn is on the roster. teamusa.com/

Boone Niederhofer, 32
Sport: Bobsledding
Texas tie: Niederhofer grew up in San Antonio, and later became a wide receiver at Texas A&M University. His father, Dan, played football for Abilene Christian University. Niederhofer and his family previously lived in Midland .
Fun facts: Niederhofer has a degree in petroleum engineering and worked in Texas' oil and gas industry while competing in bobsledding competitions.
When to watch: The bobsled competition begins on Sunday, February 15. The men's two-man heat will take place on Tuesday, February 17, and the men's four-man heat is scheduled for Sunday, February 22.

Boone Niederhofer, 2026 Winter Olympics bobsledder Boone Niederhofer is a former Texas A&M University football player.Photo courtesy of Getty Images

winter olympics olympics texas houston pasadena