24 years ago today (9/6/1988) the original Astrodome scoreboard is retired.

Above: The Astrodome before and after the removal of the scoreboard.

The video board was removed in order to add more seating in to The Astrodome.  Bud Adams, owner of the Houston Oilers, had threatened to move the team unless renovations were made.  Adams moved the Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.

As of 2012, the City of Houston is still paying for these renovations to the dome and will continue to do so for another twenty years.

h/t to Mike Acosta!