The Astrodome - first multi-purpose domed stadium and debut of AstroTurf

The Harris County Domed Stadium (Astrodome) opened in 1965 as the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium designed to host both baseball and football. When natural grass failed under the enclosed conditions, the venue installed the first widely used major-league artificial playing surface, AstroTurf, in 1966. The Astrodome's design and the adoption of synthetic turf influenced subsequent stadium engineering and playing-surface technologies worldwide.