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125-477: The Montrose Center opened in 1978 as Montrose Counseling Center (MCC) , after the widely successful Town Hall Meeting I at the Astrodome . It began by offering primarily behavioral counseling and therapy for LGBTQ people. The center faced many financial burdens in its formative years, particularly because of the high cost of providing health insurance for its employees living with HIV/AIDS . Then, in 1983,

250-464: A corsage , given to them by their dates, and girls give boys matching boutonnières to be worn on their lapels . By the 2000s, the clothes girls wear to prom have become more revealing due to the influence of celebrities and the mass media. A "promposal" (a portmanteau of "prom" and "proposal") is a popular pre-prom tradition where a student asks another to go to the prom with them using some (usually elaborate) method and extra fanfare. A promposal

375-550: A fursuit , graffitiing national park land, and using a hot-air balloon . Promposals, due to their flashy nature, often include a social media aspect like livestreaming, taking and posting videos, and other forms of memorializing on social media platforms. Champagne parties, also known as "send-offs," have become a prominent pre-prom tradition in the United States. These celebrations typically take place before high school proms and serve as elaborate gatherings that precede

500-556: A prom , and specifically deals with LGBT! youth homelessness . Hatch also works with LGBT! youth who have been victims of bullying , and works to prevent suicide or self-harm . Out for Education is a foundation that provides scholarships for LGBTQ youth to pursue higher education. Founded in 1999, it is operated and funded solely by volunteers and donations. Hatch and Out for Education have given over one million dollars in scholarships to LGBTQ youth in Houston, giving many LGBTQ youths

625-454: A prom , is a dance party for high school students. It may be offered in semi-formal black tie or informal suit for boys, and evening gowns for girls. This event is typically held at or near the end of the school year. There may be individual junior (11th grade) and senior (12th grade) proms or they may be combined. At a prom, a "Prom King" and a "Prom Queen" may be revealed. These are honorary titles awarded to students elected in

750-477: A rainout on June 15, 1976. The Astros ' scheduled game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was called when massive flooding in the Houston area prevented all but a few fans from reaching the stadium. Both teams had arrived early for practice, but the umpires were several hours late. At 5 pm that day, with only a handful of fans on hand and already several hours behind, the umpires and teams agreed to call

875-424: A "graduation ball" (often abbreviated as "grad ball" or simply "ball"). The associated student body generally organizes the event. Usually, a prom king and queen are chosen. The basis for the king and queen judgment is the beauty and the fashion of the nominee, not the popularity. In Singapore, proms are held at the near end of a senior year for secondary schools or tertiary institutions. Proms are normally held after

1000-542: A $ 105 million renovation plan on February 13, 2018. This plan keeps the parking garage from the Revitalization Project. Construction was set to start in October 2018 and would be completed sometime in 2020. The construction start date was later moved to early 2019 and was expected to finish in 2020. However, as of September 2019, the plan was put on hold with no word when construction might take place. It

1125-494: A campaign manager for Johnson in the 1940s, just as the second inning got underway. He and Lady Bird watched the opening night game from behind the glass in Judge Hofheinz's private box high in the right field just to the right of the giant scoreboard. LBJ ate hors d'œuvres and chicken and ice cream while watching the game. "Roy, I want to congratulate you; it shows so much imagination", he was heard to say. Later, he called

1250-452: A couple of dances due to the influence of American culture and movies in India. In Pakistan, there is a prom or farewell function that takes place at the end of the college academic year. Students dress in formal attire. The event ends with a photography session with the graduation. In Afghanistan, there is a lunch party organized by the graduating students and called "graduation party." This

1375-507: A covered stadium. It was thought a covered stadium was a must for a major league team to be viable in Houston due to the area's subtropical climate and hot summers. Game-time temperatures are usually above 97 °F (36 °C) in July and August, with high humidity and a likelihood of rain. Hofheinz claimed inspiration for what became the Astrodome from a tour of Rome, where he learned that

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1500-544: A cultural phenomenon, stoking passions and rivalries, and refashioning the sense of what a school party should be. More than 85 percent of schools in Britain hold school Proms, which range from no-frills dinners in school halls to tailor-made extravaganzas in five-star hotels with such extras as ice- cream vans and photo booths. Schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland predominantly hold their prom, or school formal , at

1625-552: A date. The school director and the 12th-grade teachers are also sometimes invited. There is usually an afterparty at a dance club. Some people even organize a second afterparty. After the prom night, students usually go on an excursion together for 3 to 5 days. The popular destinations are the Black Sea coast and Turkey. The event is often associated with excess in drinking, drugs, sex, and lavish nouveau-riche style of dressing and parading (there are families that would spend as much as

1750-516: A fancy description for an ordinary junior or senior class dance, but prom soon took on larger-than-life meaning for high school students. Proms worked their way down incrementally from college gatherings to high school extravaganzas. In the early 20th century, prom was a simple tea dance where high school seniors wore their Sunday best. In the 1920s and 1930s, prom expanded into an annual class banquet where students wore party clothes and danced afterward. As Americans gained more money and leisure time in

1875-443: A function similar to a debutante ball . Early proms were times of firsts: the first adult social event for teenagers; the first time taking the family car out after dark; the first real dress-up affair; and so forth. Proms also served as a heavily documented occasion, similar to a milestone event such as first communion or a wedding, in which the participants were taking an important step into a new stage in their lives. In earlier days,

2000-471: A joint event. The income is often used to finance a collective voyage of the students after the exams. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia and Serbia, maturalna večer , maturska večer or matursko veče , as graduation night, is the event held at the end of the senior year. In Croatia, it is sometimes held in January or February. In Denmark, the prom is called galla and takes place before

2125-634: A junior/senior prom as a banquet instead of a dance. Typically, students still dress in formal attire and attend as couples. In recent years, American teens have started asking celebrities or famous models to their proms. After the prom, parents or a community may host a prom after-party , afterglow or post-prom at a restaurant, entertainment venue, or a student's home. Other traditions often include trips to nearby attractions, such as amusement parks , regional or local parks, or vacation houses. Some of these post-prom events are chaperoned and some are unsupervised. Many post-proms (after-prom events) are at

2250-512: A major turning point for the dome, as some feared if the plan wasn't approved the building would be demolished. On January 27, 2017, the Texas Historical Commission voted unanimously to designate the dome a State Antiquities Landmark. Under the designation, the Astrodome may no longer be removed, altered, damaged, salvaged, or excavated without a permit from the commission. The Harris County Commissioners voted to approve

2375-480: A meal may be served. By the early 21st century, prom has become a multi-billion-dollar business in the United States, with each family spending hundreds to even thousands of dollars for the occasion. Some high schools allow only the graduating class ( seniors ) to have a prom. Some schools also allow grade 11 ( juniors ) to have a prom, and in some cases, there is a combined junior/senior prom. Some American high schools that do not allow school-sponsored dances will host

2500-521: A publicity stunt than a serious match, it made national headlines and stands as a milestone in the progress of women's sports. Scenes were filmed in the Astrodome for the 2017 film Battle of the Sexes which starred Emma Stone and Steve Carell , who played King and Riggs, respectively. The Astrodome held several motorsports events throughout its lifetime. The AMA Grand National Championship held events starting in 1968 and running for 18 years, utilizing

2625-412: A salon. Prom couples then gather at a park, garden, or their own and their dates' houses for single and group photographs. Prom attendees may rent limousines or party buses to transport groups of friends from their homes to the prom venue. Some schools host their proms at hotel ballrooms, banquet halls, or other venues where weddings typically take place. The dance itself may have a band or DJ. At prom,

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2750-452: A school-wide vote prior to the prom. Other students may be honored with inclusion in a prom court . The selection method for a prom court is similar to that of homecoming queen/princess, king/prince, and court. Inclusion in a prom court may be a reflection of popularity of those students elected and their level of participation in school activities, such as clubs or sports. The prom queen and prom king may be given crowns to wear. Members of

2875-511: A sell-out crowd during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Selena y Los Dinos performed two consecutive times before at the Astrodome, breaking previous attendance records each time. This was Selena's last televised concert before she was fatally shot on March 31, 1995, by her fan club president . The Astrodome was joined by a new neighbor in 2002 , the retractable-roofed Reliant Stadium (now known as NRG Stadium ), which

3000-462: A silly show involving school or a parody. In the evening, students head to a rented club to party. This involves dancing, singing, and plenty of beer to get a taste of fraternity life. Sometimes even teachers join the party to show that they too have a wild side. In the Netherlands, households where a child who has passed their high school exams often hang the student's backpack on a flagpole which

3125-423: A theme as dresscode, while others go for the traditional outfit: blue jeans, a black cotton jacket, a black hat (with a red or blue ribbon), and a whistle around the neck. Some even paint their faces and some seniors also carry a spray can (shaving cream or other fluids) to "attack" the non-seniors with. A noisy march through town is also part of the gig. Later during the day, students perform an act at school, usually

3250-770: A year's salary on their son or daughter' s night). The media regularly criticize it, deploring the decadence of morals. In the Czech Republic, the last year in Gymnasium is celebrated with maturitní ples ("graduation ball"). This ball takes place before exams are taken, usually in January or February, the traditional season for balls during the Fasching (e.g., List of balls in Vienna ). Normally, balls are formal but modern elements are included, too. The students invite their parents, other relatives, and friends to come to

3375-467: Is SPRY, or "Seniors Preparing for Rainbow Years," that hosts many activities targeted towards seniors. The Montrose Center even focuses on training people who interact with LGBTQ seniors outside of the SPRY program to recognize warning signs of senior depression and suicide. One event for senior citizens is "Diner Days" every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, where seniors can socialize and have lunch. In 2019,

3500-453: Is attached to the front of the house. In Bulgaria, the ball is called abiturientski bal and is held at the end of 12th grade, when you are aged 18/19. Preparations for the ball begin at the end of the 11th grade, because students are supposed to organize the whole event. It is celebrated in May, mainly on the 23rd, 24th, or 25th, after finishing exams. Students can bring a date to the event which

3625-401: Is distinct from the normal prom ask, which typically includes the question, "Will you go to prom with me?" without additional spectacle. Promposals may include concepts and materials from posters, confetti, and balloons to the more viral, elaborate plans that give promposals their extravagant reputation. Examples include spelling "Prom?" with pepperoni on pizza, organizing a flash mob , wearing

3750-456: Is followed by the "after-party" which is celebrated at another venue (usually a club) with no parents and no teachers. Costs for renting out the venue are covered by selling tickets to outsiders and the party is usually planned by the graduating classes themselves. In Hong Kong, prom culture is inherited from the western countries and is generally called a ball, such as Christmas Ball. This usually takes place during Christmas and summer break. This

3875-481: Is more popular in the secondary education stage rather than in universities. Schools, excluding international schools, holding proms are usually single-sex schools where normally the student unions in the schools will cooperate with each other in organizing the event. In recent years, more and more individual unions got united and formed different student unions associations so as to organize large-scale events including large joint-school proms. Except for those proms within

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4000-460: Is mostly seen in the university level graduation after the 16th class with a bachelor's degree, this day all the university seniors, faculty members, and professors are invited as honors. There is no mingling of males and females due to strict adherence to the Islamic codes. In Bangladesh, an event called 'Rag Day' is held at the end of 10th grade and 12th grade. There the school authority decorates

4125-401: Is open to low-income individuals and couples who are 62 years or older that meet income requirements. The Montrose Center offers services that are more directed towards community building and general recreation, rather than health or anti-violence. One such service is through the now closed Equal Grounds café, which was a small coffee shop at the entrance of the building. The renovation to add

4250-415: Is said, "could be as much as some people's weddings". The magazine saying this elaborates: "Many parents will be torn between wanting to spoil their youngsters and wanting to resist the extravagance of handing over thousands of rands for a dress or suit that will probably only be worn once." In Zambia, private schools have a "leavers' dance/dinner" that is planned out by the grade 11 class and takes place on

4375-614: Is usually held for students in Year 12. Many schools hold a formal graduation ball for finishing students at the end of the year in place of or as well as a formal. In Ireland , a debutante ball or debs may also be held. In Poland and Lithuania, high schools organize a " studniówka " (lt. "Šimtadienis"). The term "prom" has become more common in the United Kingdom and Canada because of the influence of American films and television shows, such as Grease . In South Africa, this event

4500-453: Is usually held in a restaurant or a club. Usually, before the main event there is a big gathering in front of the high school's building, where graduates count to 12 (as in 12 grades) and take photos with each other before going to the restaurant called izprashtane ("farewell send off"). At the main event in the restaurant/hotel, there is music, usually pop and retro. Students are free to dance with whomever they want, even if they have come with

4625-425: Is widely known as a matric dance / matric farewell as students in their 12th year of school are called matric students. In South Asia, its equivalent is a farewell party. Variation exists between different dialects with regard to whether prom is used with the definite article or not—e.g., whether one says "go to the prom" or "go to prom". In the early days of high school proms, the nighttime dance served

4750-516: The 2012 Summer Olympic Games were held in London , Great Britain by the IOC . Plans to convert the Astrodome into a luxury hotel were rejected. A proposal to convert the Astrodome into a movie production studio was also considered but rejected. Regardless of the type of renovation, all renovation plans must deal with the problem of occupancy code violations that have basically shuttered the Astrodome for

4875-646: The East Room of the White House . Traditionally, boys dress in black or white formal wear, often tuxedos regardless of the time of the event, sometimes paired with ties or bow ties with vests or cummerbunds , in some cases in colors matching their date's dress. Traditionally, girls wear dresses or evening gowns and adorn themselves with ladies' jewelry such as earrings and a necklace. Traditionally, girls wear perfume and make-up such as eyeshadow, lipstick, mascara, and blush. Girls also traditionally wear

5000-473: The "Astrolite", was designed by Fair Play Scoreboards of Des Moines, Iowa . Having designed the scoreboard for Dodger Stadium several years prior, team owner Roy Hofheinz was not impressed with the initial proposal for a much more generic type of scoreboard. Project designer Jack Foster teamed up with a creative professional based in Kansas City to create the first animated scoreboard. Its reported cost

5125-402: The 1950s, proms became more extravagant and elaborate, bearing similarity to today's proms. The high school gym may have been an acceptable setting for sophomore dances, but junior prom and senior balls gradually moved to hotel ballrooms and country clubs. Competition blossomed, as teens strove to have the best dress, the best mode of transportation, and the best-looking date. Competition for

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5250-432: The 1970s rainbow uniform pattern were installed to bring seating capacity to almost 60,000 for football. On September 6, 1988 , a final celebration commemorating the scoreboard occurred prior to expansion renovations commencing. The playing surface was originally Tifway 419 Bermuda grass , bred for indoor use. The dome ceiling contained thousands of semi-transparent Lucite panes. Players soon complained that glare from

5375-546: The 1970s, school discos had been another tradition of semi-formal events being held at various times of the year, in particular during the Christmas period, although not all secondary schools would allow such events. During the 2000s, school proms became common at UK schools, apparently due to the influence of US TV shows. The Daily Telegraph reported in 2012 that: elaborate 'passing out' celebrations for Year 11 students (aged 15–16) and Year 12 (aged 16–17) have become

5500-525: The Astrodome on a temporary 1 ⁄ 4 -mile dirt oval—which was called the Eighth Wonder International Motor Speedway. Gary Bettenhausen and Lee Kunzman won the feature races in 1969, while Tom Bigelow won the overall event championship. The event returned for 1970, hometown favorite A. J. Foyt won the feature race. Bettenhausen won the final edition in 1972. With the opening of NRG Stadium in late 2002,

5625-544: The Astrodome. The new concept centered around leaving the Dome's roof intact and converting the Astrodome's vast central space into a covered semi-climate-controlled city park that could have flexible uses for both public recreation and gatherings such as festivals and concerts. The remainder of the complex would have been redeveloped over time using a combination of public and private funds and include elements such as an educational exploration area to encourage students to learn about

5750-699: The Houston Area Women's center, as these people need separate space. The Montrose Center's anti-violence program began in 1991 as a reaction to the murder of Paul Broussard . The Montrose Center helps victims of all types of hate crimes, not just LGBTQ-related hate crimes. It provides counseling, case management, and court accompaniment to assist victims of hate crimes. In 2015, the Montrose Center reported helping 42 victims of hate crimes. The Montrose Center began with providing mental health services to LGBTQ individuals as its mission. Over time,

5875-734: The Last Time: Live from the Astrodome . On August 31, 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina , the Harris County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the State of Louisiana came to an agreement to allow at least 25,000 evacuees from New Orleans , especially those that were sheltered in the Louisiana Superdome , to move to the Astrodome until they could return home. The evacuation began on September 1, 2005. All scheduled events for

6000-617: The Montrose Activity Center, another LGBTQ-oriented community center, gave the center $ 15,000 to keep operating. The center still struggled financially until 1990, when the Ryan White CARE Act was passed, and the center received funding through the act, allowing it to expand its services. It was the first behavioral health center to receive funding under the Ryan White CARE Act. In the 1990s

6125-608: The Montrose Center began construction on an LGBTQ-affirming, affordable, senior living center in Third Ward . Named after activists Charles Law, PhD and Eugene M. Harrington, LLM, the Montrose Center completed construction on the Law Harrington Senior Living Center in January 2021. It is the nation's largest, LGBTQ-affirming, affordable, senior living center. The $ 26.5 million facility features 112 one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments and

6250-539: The Montrose Center teaches free meditation and other well-being related courses. Astrodome The NRG Astrodome , formerly and also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome , was the world's first multi-purpose , domed sports stadium , located in Houston , Texas , United States. It sat around 50,000 fans, with a record attendance of 68,266 set by George Strait in 2002. It

6375-569: The Montrose Center was part of a report issued by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs that addressed intimate partner violence for LGBT individuals . In the report, it stated that it had served 27 victims of intimate partner violence in the previous year, 52% of which were men, 44% women, and 4% transgender individuals. The Montrose Center believes it is better able to cater to men and transgender victims of domestic violence than other anti-domestic violence shelters, such as

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6500-569: The National League. The Astrodome's reputation as a pitcher's park continued even in the mid-1980s, when the fences were moved in closer than the Metrodome , which had been long reckoned as a hitter's park. †= Team's stadium under construction or refurbishment at time 1 = A team used the stadium when their permanent stadium was unable to be used as a result of damage. Prom A promenade dance or promenade , commonly called

6625-468: The Philippines, proms are popular in high schools. Prom usually takes place in the junior and senior years of high school (especially grades 9 to 12), normally around February or March. Proms are commonly known as JS prom , or, junior-senior prom. Conversely, if a high school has separate dances for juniors and seniors, the term "prom" is reserved for the juniors, and the dance for the seniors is called

6750-536: The Saturday after the Friday of their graduation ceremony. The dance is planned for the grade 12 class as well as the upper sixth form class and is normally done the 1st Friday after both of the classes are done writing their A-Level and IGCSE examinations. The dinner begins at 7 pm and the grade 11 class pose as the servers as well as the entertainment throughout the duration of the dinner. The dinner ends at midnight and

6875-563: The Short Track and TT Steeplechase track configurations in their visits. The AMA Supercross Championship held its first ever indoor Supercross at the Astrodome in 1974, won by Jim Pomeroy . In the mid-1980s the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group held several Stadium Off-Road Racing Series events, showcasing such drivers as Ivan Stewart , Robby Gordon , and Walker Evans (racing driver) . Beginning in

7000-431: The academic field, there are also adult proms for charity yearly where celebrities and government officers always go to these functions. In India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, the equivalent to some extent is a farewell party or farewell gathering. The outgoing students are given a warm send-off by the junior students and staff. All the seniors are felicitated with souvenirs and superlatives are given awards. There are also

7125-578: The agreeable Judge, "you can call it whatever you wanta call it." With the temperate grace of a statesman he smiled amicably, puffed his cigar and added, "But the World is gonna know it as the Astrodome." "An Astrofable" (April 1975), Texas Monthly The Astrodome was designed by architects Hermon Lloyd & W. B. Morgan, and Wilson, Morris, Crain and Anderson (Morris Architects). Structural engineering and structural design were performed by Walter P Moore Engineers and Consultants of Houston. Credit for

7250-442: The ball with them. The balls usually have a theme and the classes perform choreographed dance routines at the beginning or during the evening. The students also receive a ribbon. It's common that various artists are invited to perform at the ball, ranging from fireshow performers to famous celebrities. At midnight, the classes perform a "midnight surprise performance" – typically some sort of funny act. Sometimes several schools organize

7375-642: The bases. This "sliding pit" configuration was introduced by Cincinnati with the opening of Riverfront Stadium on June 30, 1970. It was then installed in the new stadiums in Philadelphia in 1971 , and Kansas City in 1973 . The artificial turf fields of Pittsburgh , St. Louis , and San Francisco , all installed in 1970, were traditionally configured like the Astrodome and later changed to sliding pits. San Francisco converted in 1971 , Pittsburgh in 1973 , and St. Louis in 1978 . Rogers Centre in Toronto

7500-604: The builders of the ancient Colosseum installed a giant velarium (fabric awning) to shield spectators from the sun. The Astrodome was conceived by Hofheinz as early as 1952, when he and his daughter Dene were rained out once too often at Buffalo Stadium , home of Houston's minor league baseball team, the Houston Buffs . Hofheinz abandoned his interest in The Galleria , and set his sights on bringing major league baseball to Houston.   The county commissioner

7625-493: The building, and until somebody brings such a plan to fruition, there's a chance," according to Willie Loston, executive director of the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation. "The proposal was rejected by the voters. We're back to where we were. Square one," according to Steve Radack, Harris County commissioner. Three exterior pedestrian ramp towers were demolished on December 8, 2013. Around that time,

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7750-465: The café cost the center $ 25,000. The café closed due to issues with staffing and maintenance. The café was initially planned to be named the Gayborhood Café, as Montrose is often referred to as a gayborhood . The Montrose Center also offers free LGBTQ-friendly yoga classes. The classes are taught by volunteers, and serve as an inclusive space for people to release stress. In addition to yoga,

7875-488: The center became one of the first places in Houston to offer temporary housing to gay men and transgender people. In 2013, the center changed their name from the Montrose Counseling Center to the Montrose Center, because they felt that they offered many more services than just counseling, and did not want people to feel as though they could only come to the center for mental health problems. Around

8000-500: The center has added substance abuse treatment to its services. It provides outpatient care for substance abuse and addiction, in addition to substance abuse support groups or " 12 Step Programs ". One of the Montrose Center's cornerstone programs is its youth program, Hatch Youth. Hatch began in 1987 as a separate organization, but became a Montrose Center program in 2003. Hatch Youth supports LGBTQIA+ youth through social drop-in hours with educational programming, cultural events like

8125-586: The city of Houston refused to fund it. After years of threats, Adams moved the team to Nashville, Tennessee after the 1996 season. Around that time the Astros also threatened to leave the city unless a new ballpark was built. The retractable-roofed Enron Field (now known as Minute Maid Park) opened for the 2000 season in downtown Houston. One of the largest crowds in the Astrodome's history, more than 66,746 fans, came on Sunday, February 26, 1995, to see Tejano superstar Selena and her band Los Dinos perform for

8250-484: The dense development that today closely surrounds it. Numerous renovation/refurbishment plans for the dome have been presented over the years. Houston's plan to host the 2012 Summer Olympics included renovating the Astrodome for use as an Olympic Stadium hosting the ceremonies, athletics and soccer finals. Houston became one of the USOC 's bid finalists, but the organization chose New York City as its candidate city, and

8375-438: The design work on the dome roof structural goes to Dr. G. R. Kiewitt and Mr. Louis O. Bass of Roof Structures, Inc. It was constructed by H. A. Lott, Inc. for Harris County . It stands 18 stories tall, covering 9.5 acres (3.8 ha). The dome is 710 feet (220 m) in diameter and the ceiling is 208 feet (63 m) above the playing surface, which itself sits 25 feet (7.6 m) below street level. The air conditioning system

8500-693: The early 1980s, both TNT Motorsports and the United States Hot Rod Association held events showcasing mud bogging, truck and tractor pulling, and monster trucks in the Astrodome. After a buy-out of TNT Motorsports, the USHRA continued holding events that would later transform into the current Monster Jam events. USAC held the Astro Grand Prix as part of the National Midget Championship in

8625-408: The enclosed air-conditioned environment might have on the delivery of breaking balls , Satchel Paige , in full Astros uniform, threw the first pitches at the Astrodome on February 7, 1965. He later concluded that it was a "pitcher's paradise", as the lack of wind allowed for sensitive pitches to maneuver more easily. Hofheinz had an opulent apartment in the Dome, which was removed when the facility

8750-672: The end of secondary education in year 11 (ages 15/16) and the end of sixth form (aged 18). In Scotland, it is usually only held at the end of S6 (ages 17/18) because all high schools in Scotland have pupils up to age 18 years, whereas elsewhere in the UK, many students have to go to college or sixth form to study for A-Levels. Proms are usually held in June, after the end of year exams, although in Northern Ireland, they are usually held in

8875-513: The end of the third quarter, shortly before the spring break, after which the matriculation examinations commence. It usually takes the form of a formal dinner and dance. In most schools, the 11th-grade class is responsible for arranging the event. Sometimes teachers and parents also attend. The Matric Dance has become one of the most popular occasions on the South African social calendar, but not without much controversy for its cost that, it

9000-456: The events held in early 2002 by AMA Supercross and Monster Jam would be their last in the Astrodome before moving next door for 2003, where they continue to hold events every year. Domecoming On April 9, 2018, the Astrodome was used as a museum for the event known as "Domecoming". The Astrodome was renowned for its four-story "Astrolite" scoreboard, composed of thousands of light bulbs that featured animation. After every Astros home run,

9125-468: The exams begin. The word galla refers to the dress code which is dresses for the women and suits for the men. The prom in Denmark is well known for keeping the traditional dance Les Lanciers , where the third graders of high school (the seniors) start the whole dance, then the 1st and 2nd graders join later on (the high school, called "gymnasium" in Denmark, is three years). In Estonia, the equivalent of

9250-645: The failed plans of past years, the Astrodome Revitalization Project was proposed in September 2016. This plan would turn the dome into a massive underground parking garage. Specifically, the first step would raise the dome floor and use the space underneath that as parking, leaving the floor above for other uses. On September 27, 2016, the Harris County Commissioners approved the first part of the plan. This marked

9375-416: The final examinations of all senior students before graduating. In Vietnam the equivalent to the prom is called liên hoan cuối năm . Some schools hold their liên hoan cuối năm at restaurants, but the majority of schools prefer simple "tea parties" with snacks and soft drinks inside their classrooms. Unlike in other countries, students don't dress up in dresses or tuxedos; they simply wear school uniforms to

9500-507: The final four months of 2005 at the Astrodome were cancelled. Overflow refugees were held in the surrounding Reliant Park complex. There was a full field hospital inside the Reliant Arena , which cared for the entire Katrina evacuee community. The entire Reliant Park complex was scheduled to be emptied of hurricane evacuees by September 17, 2005. Originally, the Astrodome was planned to be used to house evacuees until December. However,

9625-466: The first ball for the first indoor MLB game. Dick "Turk" Farrell of the Astros threw the first pitch. Mickey Mantle had both the first hit (a single) and the first home run in the Astrodome, but the Astros won 2–1 in twelve innings. President Johnson stopped at the Astrodome that evening en route to his home in Johnson City and paid his respects to baseball and Astros president Roy Hofheinz,

9750-427: The first major sports venue to install artificial turf in 1966 , which became known as AstroTurf . In another technological first, the Astrodome featured the "Astrolite", which was the first animated scoreboard. The stadium was renovated in 1988–1989, expanding seating and altering many original features. By the 1990s, the Astrodome was becoming obsolete. Unable to secure a new stadium, Oilers owner Bud Adams moved

9875-575: The formal prom event. The concept of champagne parties gained significant attention due to their flamboyant nature and the remarkable cultural custom they represent. Originating in the 2010s , champagne parties are characterized by their extravagance, creativity, and community involvement. Families host these events to celebrate and honor their teenagers as they prepare to depart for their proms. The festivities often include live music, themed decorations, red carpet entrances, and communal gatherings where friends, family, and neighbors come together to celebrate

10000-607: The game off. Tables were brought onto the field and the teams ate dinner together. Although the Astros still had a home series with Pittsburgh in August, this game was made up in Pittsburgh in July. In 1989, four cylindrical pedestrian ramp columns were constructed outside the Dome for accessibility . This enabled the Astrodome to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 . The 1992 Republican National Convention

10125-416: The graduation ceremony at night. They are usually held at hotels with a formal dress code, prom dates, rented cars, and, occasionally, prom kings and queens. The interaction between males and females is not limited. In Turkey, the equivalent is called Graduation Ball. The type of event and the rules applied are created by the student governments and school boards. It is a graduation tradition for seniors. In

10250-422: The grounds crews cleaned up the playing surface. The solution was to install a new type of artificial grass on the field, ChemGrass , which became known as AstroTurf , named after the stadium. Because the supply of AstroTurf was limited, only a small amount was available at the start of the 1966 season. There was not enough for the entire outfield, so the first phase covered only the traditional grass portion of

10375-637: The infield and foul territory, at a cost of $ 2 per square foot. It was installed in time to test out during exhibition games against the Dodgers in March. The outfield remained painted dirt until after the All-Star Game . The Astros completed a seven-game home stand on Wednesday, July 6, then went on a road trip on both sides of the All-Star break. The installation of the outfield portion of AstroTurf

10500-433: The measure on November 5, 2013. On November 5, 2013, voters in Houston turned down a $ 213 million referendum to renovate and convert the Astrodome into a state-of-the-art convention center and exhibition space known as "New Dome Experience". Until a final disposition is made, Harris County commissioners will not approve demolition of the dome. "The building's still there. There's no formal plan or authorization to demolish

10625-495: The near future. In June 2013, a comprehensive plan was unveiled that would have seen the aging structure undergo an almost $ 200 million renovation into a multi-purpose event/convention facility. The measure would have to have been approved first through a bond election in Harris County for the publicly funded project to go forward or else, officials warned, the iconic structure would be demolished. Voters ended up rejecting

10750-462: The old ballroom dances. In the past, the style was to dress in Victorian gowns and in an old-fashioned way, but these days the attire is similar to U.S. proms. Usually, girls wear a long princess gown or a ball gown and the boys wear a black suit. After the ball, the students sometimes attend a dinner in the evening, which is sometimes in a very formal restaurant. Students typically throw a party in

10875-660: The one show, Garland appeared on stage at 10 p.m. and sang for forty minutes, with her set of songs including: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"; "Just in Time"; "My Kind of Town, Houston Is"/"Houston"; "As Long As He Needs Me"; "Joey, Joey, Joey"; "Do it Again"; "What Now My Love?"; "By Myself"; "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby"; "San Francisco"; "Chicago"; and "Over the Rainbow." Mort Lindsey conducted. The Astrodome suffered

11000-550: The opportunity to pursue higher education. A study done that researched Hatch Youth found that those who attended Hatch programs felt they had increased social support and experienced a decrease in depressive symptoms, especially if they had been attending the program for more than six months. The Montrose Center has special programming for senior citizens, as older LGBTQ individuals often face various unique problems with accessing healthcare, assisted living, and general issues with retirement . The specific sub-organization for seniors

11125-472: The panes made it hard for them to track fly balls; to solve the problem, two sections of panes were painted white in April. Unfortunately, within a few months the grass died from lack of sunlight. For most of the 1965 season, the Astros played on green-painted dirt and dead grass. Even before then, the grass tended to hold, then release moisture. The resulting condensation often forced games to be delayed while

11250-722: The part-time home of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1971 until 1975. Additionally, the Astrodome was the primary venue of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from 1966 until 2002. When opened, it was named the Harris County Domed Stadium and was nicknamed the " Eighth Wonder of the World ". After the original natural grass playing surface died, the Astrodome became

11375-793: The proliferation of incurable disease". The Montrose Center urged people not to counter-protest the group, but to instead ignore them. Executive Director Ann J. Robison, PhD, also said she almost considered the group's visit "a badge of honor", and nearly felt proud that the group realized that the Montrose Center existed and was working for the LGBTQ community. The Montrose Center provides counseling services, group therapy , individual therapy, couples therapy , HIV/AIDS support, support groups , substance abuse services, hate crime support, support for those who experience domestic violence in same-sex relationships , and general wellness programming. It has services available in both English and Spanish. In 2011,

11500-579: The prom court also intensified, as the designation of prom queen became an important distinction of popularity. Prom became the pinnacle event of a high school student's social life. Today, prom continues to be a notable event in the social climate of high schools. Popular movies and novels attest to the importance of prom themes, prom dates, and prom queens. In some areas, the traditions of prom are not as rigid as they used to be, with many students attending as individuals or in groups instead of as couples. In 1975, U.S. First Daughter Susan Ford held her prom in

11625-516: The prom court may be given sashes to wear and photographed together. Similar events, which may be locally inspired by debutante balls , take place in many other parts of the world. In Canada , the terms "formal" and "Grad" are often used, while in Australia and New Zealand, the terms school formal and ball are most commonly used for occasions equivalent to the American prom, and the event

11750-601: The prom is often called Saja päeva ball . The event takes place 100 days prior to graduation and may be organized with several schools altogether. Students can dance but other events may be involved, too, besides ballroom dancing. The clothes are much the same kind as in the proms of other countries. In Finland, the equivalent of the prom is called vanhojen tanssit (senior ball). The event is held in February when third-year high school students (the abi ) end regular classes in order to prepare for their final abitur exams, and

11875-562: The prom may have also served as an announcement of engagement for the 'best couple' after the prom court had been crowned and recognized. While high school yearbooks did not start covering proms and including prom pictures until the 1930s and 1940s, historians, including Meghan Bretz, believe proms may have existed at colleges as early as the late 19th century. The journal of a male student at Amherst College in 1894 recounts an invitation and trip to an early prom at neighboring Smith College for women. The word prom at that time may have been

12000-483: The ramp bridges were disconnected from the main structure and the surrounding grass berms were lowered. The ticket booths were also removed along with the interior seats. The demolition was planned prior to the referendum. After the failed bond election of 2013, the county went back to the drawing board and in August 2014 the County Commissioners Court announced a new plan to save and rejuvenate

12125-467: The real party begins with all the students dancing and enjoying their time. The after-prom can continue to 4 am and 5 am. In some places, there is no mingling of males and females due to adherence to the Islamic codes. In South Africa, the equivalent of the American prom is the Matric Dance, taking place during the matriculation (i.e., final) year of high school (12th grade). It takes place towards

12250-402: The remaining Katrina evacuees were relocated to Arkansas due to Hurricane Rita . In 2008, the facility was cited for numerous code violations. Since then, only maintenance workers and security guards have been allowed to enter the stadium while it is brought up to code. The city council rejected demolition plans on environmental grounds, over concerns that demolition of the Dome might damage

12375-515: The same time, the windows of the Montrose Center were painted in rainbow colors to represent that it served the LGBTQ community. The center also unveiled new logos for some of its signature programs. In 2016, the Montrose Center was a target for protest by the Westboro Baptist Church . The group stated that they were protesting the Montrose Center because "[it] is an oozing, purulent sore of sodomite contagion: pushing proud sin and

12500-458: The school and make musical arrangements. The students take celebratory preparations like making a uniform T-shirt (generally white) to commemorate the day. The juniors of the school also spend money, help organize the party and give farewell to the seniors. At the end of the party, graduating students play with powdered colors and signs on each other's t-shirt to mark all the friendships they made in their school life. In Lebanon, proms are held after

12625-476: The school organising the event. In Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, and Tanzania most private schools with expatriates have proms or "end of year socials". In Egypt, private schools have proms similar to ones held in the United States but with slight differences. The prom is held for a maximum of 3 hours, where teachers attend and enjoy some time with their students. Then there is the "after-prom", where no teachers or parents are allowed, during that time,

12750-519: The school, and involve bringing entertainment such as interactive games, artists, and other entertainers to the school, as a means to deter inappropriate behaviors. In the United Kingdom prior to the 2000s, many secondary schools would hold events such as a summer ball to celebrate the end of term or a leavers ball to celebrate the end of schooling but, usually, these did not have the cultural or social significance of US-style proms. In

12875-601: The sciences and engineering and possibly meeting, exhibition, and restaurant areas that would not only serve the general public, but could also add value to the Houston Texans' Game Day Experiences and be used by the Rodeo. A key element of this proposal centered around the ability for the county to proceed with the initial phases of the project using existing funds without having to seek voter approval for an expensive bond referendum. However, this plan failed as well. After

13000-429: The scoreboard played a minute-long animated celebration of pistols, bulls, and fireworks. The scoreboard remained intact until 1988, when Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans ) owner Bud Adams suggested its removal to accommodate increased capacity for football, baseball and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Harris County spent $ 67 million of public funds on renovations. Approximately 15,000 new seats resembling

13125-438: The second year students become the oldest in the school. For the remainder of the school year, the second-year students are called vanhat ("the old", or " the seniors"). For the ball, the second-year students learn 10–15 formal dances, mostly old ballroom dances such as the mazurka or a polonaise . Lately, some schools have begun to allow students to perform their own choreographies with their chosen music, after or in between

13250-437: The spring and summer months for students in Year 10 and Year 12. Some schools may also organise a formal-style event for Year 11 students, aptly named a "social". These events are widely considered to be a "rite of passage" for students. In some schools, Year 10 formals are not sanctioned or officially supported, as few students finish formal education at Year 10. However Year 12 formals are typically officially sanctioned, with

13375-706: The stadium "massive" and "beautiful." Although the president's visit overshadowed all others, dignitaries swarmed through the "Eighth Wonder of the World" during the three days of the exhibition series and for opening night against the Phillies on April 12. Chris Short of the Phillies shut out the Astros on four hits, with 12 strikeouts. The first artist to play the Astrodome was Judy Garland on December 17, 1965; The Supremes were her opening act, and tickets were priced $ 1.00 to $ 7.50. The dome seated 48,000, and another 12,000 seats were added for this show. Paid $ 43,000 for

13500-406: The surrounding parking lots were needed for the first Houston Texans home game. Arrangements were made to help Katrina evacuees find apartments both in Houston and elsewhere in the United States. By September 16, 2005, the last of the hurricane evacuees living in the Astrodome had been moved out either to the neighboring Reliant Arena or to permanent housing north of Houston. As of September 20, 2005,

13625-550: The tea parties. In Albania, "mbrëmja e maturës", as graduation night, is the event held at the end of the senior year. Every school organizes it independently and the event usually takes place in June or July. In Belgium, as well as in some parts of the Netherlands, senior students celebrate their last 100 days of high school with a special day called Chrysostomos or 100-dagen feest ("100-days party"). Tradition states that on this winter day, seniors are allowed to pull pranks on their teachers and fellow students. Some schools handle

13750-558: The team that replaced the Oilers). Although the Astrodome no longer had any primary tenants, it regularly hosted events during the early 2000s. It was used as a shelter for residents of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Astrodome was declared non-compliant with fire code by the Houston Fire Department in 2008 and parts of it were demolished in 2013 after several years of disuse. In 2014, it

13875-528: The team to Tennessee after 1996 , and became the Tennessee Titans in  1999 . The Astros played at the dome through 1999 , then relocated to Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park ) in  2000 . The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continued to be held at the Astrodome until the opening of the adjacent NRG Stadium in 2002 (which coincided with the debut of the Houston Texans ,

14000-516: The wintertime near the start of the school year. At Scottish formal events, boys usually wear kilts (kilts are also often seen in the other Celtic regions) and Highland dress outfitters often sell out in an area around this time of year due to demand from school events. Also in Scotland , it is customary for traditional Scottish country dancing (part of the curriculum of all secondary schools) to be included. In Australia, formals are usually held in

14125-418: The youth's journey into adulthood. Attire at champagne parties typically mirrors the elegance and formality of prom attire, with teenagers and sometimes even their guests donning stylish evening gowns, suits, and formalwear. Prom attendees may be limited by their schools to be juniors or seniors and guests under age 21. Before prom, girls typically get their hair styled, often in groups as a social activity at

14250-482: Was $ 2.1 million. The Dome was completed in November 1964, six months ahead of schedule. Many engineering changes were required during construction, including the modest flattening of the supposed "hemispherical roof" to cope with environmentally induced structural deformation and the use of a new paving process called "lime stabilization" to cope with changes in the chemistry of the soil. The air conditioning system

14375-470: Was announced in November 2019 that the Revitalization Project has been scrapped by Commissioners Court Judge Lina Hidalgo . Hidalgo explained that "The plan that had been designed wouldn't have yielded truly a usable building". As of November, there have been no new plans for the Astrodome. The Battle of the Sexes tennis match occurred on September 20, 1973, aired on ABC with Billie Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs in three straight sets. While more of

14500-551: Was built to house Houston's new NFL franchise, the Houston Texans . The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo moved to the new venue in 2003, leaving the Astrodome without any major tenants. The last concert at the Astrodome was George Strait & the Ace in the Hole Band during the 2002 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, before a record crowd of 68,266; the performance was recorded in For

14625-414: Was completed for the three-game series with the Phillies starting on Tuesday, July 19, finally covering the entire field. Groundskeepers dressed as astronauts kept the turf clean with vacuum cleaners between innings. The infield design had the same large dirt arc and running paths as a traditional natural grass field. In 1973 , the Astros installed an all-AstroTurf infield, except for dirt patches around

14750-941: Was designed by Houston mechanical engineers Israel A. Naman and Jack Boyd Buckley of I. A. Naman + Associates. The multi-purpose stadium, designed to facilitate both football and baseball, is nearly circular and uses movable lower seating areas. It also ushered in the era of other fully domed stadiums, such as the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans , as well as the all now-demolished Pontiac Silverdome near Detroit , Georgia Dome in Atlanta , Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis , Kingdome in Seattle , and RCA Dome in Indianapolis . To test what effect

14875-495: Was designed by I. A. Naman; other aspects that were considered included visibility (which could be reduced by cigarette smoke), light admittance, and acoustics (requiring approximately 1 ⁄ 2 the roof area to be covered with sound-absorbing materials), the air handling units were designed to move 2,500,000 cu ft/min (1,200 m /s) of air, with approximately 10% of that being fresh air from outside to limit carbon dioxide buildup. The scoreboard, eventually known as

15000-697: Was financed and assisted in development by Roy Hofheinz , mayor of Houston and known for pioneering modern stadiums. Construction on the stadium began in 1963, more than a year after the ceremonial groundbreaking, and it officially opened in 1965. It served as home to the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1965 until 1999 , and the home to the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL)/ National Football League (NFL) from 1968 until 1996 , and also

15125-522: Was held at the Astrodome in August of that year. The Astros accommodated the convention by taking a month-long road trip. A manually operated scoreboard debuted that season. On August 19, 1995, a scheduled preseason game between the Oilers and the San Diego Chargers had to be canceled due to the dilapidated condition of the playing field. Oilers owner Bud Adams demanded a new stadium, but

15250-532: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Major League Baseball expanded to Houston in 1960, when the National League agreed to add two teams. The Houston Colt .45s (renamed the Astros in 1965) were to begin play in 1962, along with their expansion brethren New York Mets . Roy Hofheinz , a former mayor of Houston , and his group were granted the franchise after they promised to build

15375-437: Was positively indignant at the way everybody, particularly the news media, kept calling the new county facility by the wrong name. "The county built it and the county paid for it," he loudly complained to a packed hearing room, "and, dammit, the county owns it!" Growing purplish, the commissioner blustered that "People by God ought to start calling it by its right name: The Harris County Domed Stadium !!"   "Well," soothed

15500-577: Was remodeled in 1988. The seven-floor apartment was adjacent to the right field bleachers and included a shooting gallery, a bowling alley, a chapel, and a presidential suite . The stadium's opening day took place on April 9, 1965. A sold-out crowd of 47,879 watched an exhibition game between the Astros and the New York Yankees . President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife Lady Bird were in attendance, as well as Governor John Connally and Mayor Louie Welch . Governor Connally tossed out

15625-414: Was the last park in the majors to have sliding pits; it opened in 1989 and switched to a traditional dirt skin infield in 2016 . Throughout its history, the Astrodome was known as a pitcher's park . The power alleys were never shorter than 370 feet (113 m) from the plate; on at least two occasions they were as far as 390 feet (119 m). Over time, it gave up fewer home runs than any other park in

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