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Upon its completion, the Astrodome was a marvel. Dubbed "the Astrodome" after much debate, it featured padded theater-style seating, luxurious private boxes, themed restaurants, and even a weather station. The stadium's extravagant $2 million scoreboard weighed over 300 tons, made to display a plethora of statistics and advertisements. It was a game-changer in creating an immersive and entertaining experience for spectators.
The Astrodome opened its doors on April 12, 1965, welcoming an enthusiastic crowd for an exhibition game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees. The historic event was attended by President Lyndon B. Johnson and marked the beginning of an era for baseball and other sports in Houston.