Astrodome documentary "Eighth Wonder of the World" to air on MLB Network

HOUSTON, TX - MLB Network Presents, MLB Network's original series of documentaries and access-driven profiles hosted by Bob Costas, returns next week and will air an episode on Dec. 15 featuring a detailed account of the creation and impact the Astrodome had on the sports and entertainment industry.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Astrodome opening in 1965 and narrated by award-winning actor and Houston native Dennis Quaid, The Eighth Wonder of the World brings viewers back inside the Astrodome to relive its greatest moments and examine its place in history as one of the great innovations of the 20th century.  

Featuring interviews with President George H. W. Bush, Houston native and award-winning news anchor Dan Rather, baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King, and original Astros Jimmy Wynn and Larry Dierker, the one-hour program documents the history of the Astrodome, from Judge Roy Hofheinz generating the idea of this futuristic stadium to the Houston Astros' dramatic six-game 1986 NL Championship series against the New York Mets. 

The program details how the Astrodome was not only home to baseball games, but to all different kinds of events, including the "Game of the Century" featuring Elvin Hayes and the Houston Cougars ending UCLA's 47-game winning streak, and the "Battle of the Sexes" featuring the nationally televised tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. The Eighth Wonder of the World covers how the Astrodome hosted thousands of refugees from Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett discusses the potential of saving this iconic stadium from destruction. 

-ASTROS-