HOUSTON -- The Houston Astrodome, an iconic stadium thats fallen into disrepair since it was shuttered four years ago, could see new life as a giant convention centre and exhibition space under a plan recommended by a county board on Wednesday. The Harris County Sports & Convention Corp. opted to go with its own plan for the worlds first domed, air-conditioned stadium instead of one of 19 private-sector plans submitted for its reuse. The board said the groups promoting the private plans didnt meet the projects criteria by a deadline earlier this month. Among the private plans was one that would have turned the Astrodome into a tourist area with retail and restaurant space and another that would have stripped the structure to its steel frame and turned the area into a park. "We have a chance to honour the domes legacy and do it in a functional manner that continues to preserve the memories and history of the building while inspiring the future," said Kevin Hoffman, the sports corporations deputy executive director. The project, dubbed "The New Dome Experience," would cost an estimated $194 million and take about 2 1/2 years to complete. The plan now goes to Harris County commissioners, who will discuss it at a June 25 meeting. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett called the proposal the "perfect solution" for dealing with the Astrodome. "This really isnt about saving a historic building. This is about properly using a county asset. We have an asset that is unique in the world. It would be a shame not to then use that asset ...," Emmett said. Officials say tax breaks and other incentives might lower the projects cost, but that it will likely require voters to approve public funding for it. The proposal calls for creating 350,000 square feet of exhibition space by removing all the interior seats and raising the floor to street level. Other changes include creating 400,000 square feet of plaza and green space on the outside of the structure. Mark Miller, general manager of Reliant Park, the overall area that includes the dome and the Houston Texans football stadium next door, said the changes are designed to make the Astrodome "the front door" for major events at the park, which also hosts Houstons annual Livestock Show and Rodeo. The proposal envisions events associated with the rodeo or the Super Bowl in 2017 at Reliant Stadium being held inside the renovated Astrodome. "The dome becomes your gathering place. It creates a great event space," he said. The countys commissioners have been considering the fate of the Astrodome since it was deemed unfit for occupancy and closed for good in 2009. Last year, a consulting firm recommended a $270 million plan to turn it into a multipurpose facility. The building, one of Houstons signature structures, costs taxpayers about $3 million per year for basic maintenance. Officials say there is still consistent support to preserve the building for sentimental and historical reasons. Earlier Wednesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the Astrodome on its 2013 list of Americas 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Discussion of the Astrodomes future has also included talk of tearing it down and building a parking lot that would be used by the Texans and the rodeo. "It is a major piece of history. It is a major legacy. It defined us as a can do city, a city of yes," Houston developer Arpad Lamell told the county board, asking it to not recommend its demolition. Willie Loston, the sports corporations executive director, said the group did not consider tearing down the Astrodome, adding the 2,500 parking spaces demolition of the structure would create are not needed. Opened in 1965, the Astrodome was dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World." It was spacious enough to fit an 18-story building under its 208-foot high roof. The 400,000-square foot dome was once home to MLBs Houston Astros and the NFLs Houston Oilers and also hosted Muhammad Ali boxing matches and the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King in 1973. It also hosted the citys rodeo until 2003. Its most prominent use in recent years was as a shelter for Louisiana residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Sonny Jackson Braves Jersey . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Greg Maddux Jersey .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. https://www.cheapbraves.com/563o-jeff-burroughs-jersey-braves.html . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Max Fried Jersey ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Anthony Swarzak Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Al Horford ended the waiting game with a simple tweet: Celtic Pride, it said, followed by 18 shamrocks.The number might not have been a coincidence.A franchise with 17 NBA championships may have gotten closer to contending for an 18th on Saturday, when Horford decided to accept a four-year, $113 million offer to join the Boston Celtics. Horford made the announcement on Twitter, and the terms of the detail were confirmed to The Associated Press by a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no deals can be finalized until at least July 7 under league rules.Horford wasted no time in changing his Twitter bio, which now says he is Boston Celtics star Forward/Center Al Horford. And the reactions came in swiftly as well, after one of the biggest prizes in this years free-agent sweepstakes decided to leave Atlanta.Lets get it, Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas wrote.The Celtics won 48 games last season, finishing in a four-way tie for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. They have a strong young core already, a highly regarded coach in Brad Stevens, and had the money to land a huge free agent.Horfords announcement came on the same day that the Celtics met with Kevin Durant in New York, even bringing New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady along for that meeting to help sell the virtues of playing in New England.No such fanfare was needed for Horford -- just an average salary of about $28 million a year for the next four years.Horford also met with the Washington Wizards as well as the Hawks, the team that drafted him and the team hes now leaving. Horford spent his first nine NBA seasons in Atlanta, but the Hawks agreed to terms with Dwight Howard and Kent Bazemore on big-money deals, leaving them little room for their centerpiece.Atlanta could have made a trade or two to create enough room to keep him as well, but by Saturday Horfordd was already starting to look elsewhere.ddddddddddddThe four-time All-Star averaged 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds last season. He gives the Celtics a formidable presence on both ends of the floor as they try to vault into the top tier of the East.After Durant, Horford may have been the most impactful unrestricted free agent who was considered even somewhat available. LeBron James certainly would top that list, but he told media in Cleveland at the teams celebration parade that he planned to remain with the Cavaliers after leading them to the championship.Horford has established himself as the ideal big man for the new era, a versatile player who can shoot from range, move the ball and provide top-notch defense. He has played center with Atlanta but also has the capability to slide to power forward in bigger lineups, giving his coaches multiple options to help them match up with opponents.He struggled with injuries in 2011-12 and 2013-14, but bounced back to play 76 games two years ago and all 82 last season as the Hawks emerged as a top-tier team in the Eastern Conference. But as good as they have been in the regular season, they havent quite been able to carry it over to the playoffs and so Hawks coach and team president Mike Budenholzer looked to shake up the roster a bit to get the team over the hump.Budenholzer agreed to terms with Howard to give the Hawks more muscle and interior defense and gave Bazemore a whopping four-year, $70 million deal to remain in Atlanta. He also shipped Jeff Teague to Indiana to open the starting point guard job for Dennis Schroder. They stayed in the hunt with Horford to the very end, hoping to keep him to pair with Howard in what would have been an imposing frontcourt.---AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski contributed to this report. ' ' '
