Cuneta Astrodome

The Astrodome’s Role After 1999

When the PBA’s contract with the Pasay city government expired in 1999, the league moved its offices and most of its games to the PhilSports Arena (formerly the Ultra Sports Complex) in Pasig. The PhilSports Arena had served as the PBA’s home from 1985 to 1992. While the Cuneta Astrodome did host some PBA games in the late 1990s and early 2000s, its use became sporadic after the league moved its headquarters and regular events to other venues.

However, despite the shift in the PBA’s home base, the Cuneta Astrodome remained an important alternate venue for the league. It hosted a significant number of PBA championship series over the years. In fact, by 2011, it had hosted over 30 PBA championship series games, including the Game 2 of the 2011 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.

Current Role and Legacy

Today, the Cuneta Astrodome continues to serve as an alternate venue for the PBA. It remains one of the backup arenas, alongside the PhilSports Arena in Pasig and the Ynares Center in Antipolo. If the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the league’s primary home, is unavailable, the Cuneta Astrodome steps in to host games. This continued association with the PBA has cemented the Astrodome’s place in the history of Philippine basketball.

The Astrodome remains iconic in Philippine sports culture, especially among fans of the PBA, and continues to be a part of the basketball scene, even as newer, more modern venues dominate the landscape.