Victory Journal - The Journal of Sport & Culture
”TOMB OF DOOM, More than just a store—it’s an adventure”
Illustration: GUSTAVO DAO
“Sold to the city as a destination to rival the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower and billed as a “ninth wonder of the world” by boosters like Sidney Shlenker, the former president of the Houston Astrodome and owner of the Denver Nuggets who was brought in to secure financing and manage the attraction, the project was a monumental disaster from day one, plagued by false starts, setbacks, short money, and—eventually—no money at all. Even the groundbreaking ceremony didn’t go as planned, as thunderstorms and heavy rains delayed the scheduled spectacle by a day. It featured Dan Aykroyd, a 321-foot-tall crane and a 75-foot shovel that was brought in by helicopter. ”
