Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"The first domed stadium, a multipurpose venue for baseball, football, livestock shows, rodeos, trade shows, and more, gives us a window on the evolution of sports as entertainment and big business in the 20th Century."—G. Louis Heath,
ARETE"
The Eighth Wonder of the World is a solid work of sports, business, and political history."—Si Dunn,
Lone Star Literary Life"A book worth reading. . . . It not only tells the story of the construction of the Harris County Domed Stadium . . . it does so with enough suspense to keep readers engaged from beginning to end."—Frank G. Houdek,
NINE“The Astrodome was an architectural marvel when it opened more than a half century ago. This book documents the many wondrous people and events that starred inside this magical building. I know. I was there to see much of it happen!”—Jim Nantz, lead play-by-play announcer, CBS Sports
“Trumpbour and Womack have produced a magnificent examination of one of our greatest undertakings, the Houston Astrodome. This book is a great tribute to the human energy and triumph that reached across the United States and the world.”—Mike Acosta, Houston Astros in-house historian
“If you want to learn why the Astrodome is an important part of Houston’s history, read this book. No self-respecting ‘Domer’ should live without it.”—Craig Hlavaty, reporter for the
Houston ChronicleTable of ContentsForeword: The Dome Was So Nice They Opened It Twice
Mickey Herskowitz
Prologue: A Noble Idea for the Oil Patch
I. Cow Town
1. Roy Hofheinz: Houston’s Grand Huckster
2. Of Cows and Construction: Houston’s Livestock Show and Rodeo
3. Going Pro: George Kirksey, Craig Cullinan, and the Major League Dream
II. Dome Town
4. Zimmerman and the Grand Plan: Engineering a Marvel
5. The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: AstroTurf and the Sports Purist Backlash
III. Space City
6. Fractious Dome Futures
7. The Dome and Its Legacy
Epilogue: Wonders Never Cease
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
