The idea
for a domed stadium was conceived in the late 1960s when a Minneapolis
architect named Robert Cerny introduced a concept of a domed football stadium
in downtown Minneapolis. Minneapolis city leaders saw an opportunity to bring
professional sports downtown and put Robert Cerny's vision to work.
The Dome
idea was put in front of public officials many times between 1972 and 1976 before
it was finally approved in 1977. Construction of the much debated and
anticipated Metrodome started in December of 1979 on 20 acres of land located
at 900
South 5th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Dome
was grandly inflated on October 2, 1981 and the stadium was completed in April
1982. The project was completed on time and under budget. The final price came
in at $55 million. After several name proposals, Hubert H. Humphrey was the
clear choice. Humphrey was a former Minneapolis Mayor, U.S. Senator and U.S.
Vice President. Because of his dedication to the state and to teamwork, the
Metrodome was appropriately named in his honor -- The Hubert H. Humphrey
Metrodome. The Metrodome is the country's only public stadium that does not
rely on a continuing tax subsidy to finance operations, maintenance or debt
payments.
The
white, air-supported Teflon roof is 10 acres of Teflon-coated fiberglass
1/16" thick. The liner is made of 1/32" thick woven fiberglass. The
roof is supported by 20 electric fans running at 90 horsepower each. The roof
has had four occurrences of minor rips.
The Metrodome
is a state resource, providing a home for the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota
Twins and University of Minnesota Gophers. Since 1982, the combined attendance
at Metrodome events exceeds 55 million people, making it the most versatile and
heavily used stadium in the nation.
Out of
more than 300 event days per year at the Metrodome, less than 100 feature
professional or major college sports. The rest of the event days are used by
high schools and colleges, concerts, community activities and other events. The
Metrodome hosts boys' and girls' high schools from throughout Minnesota for
athletic and other events. The Dome is the only major facility in Minnesota big enough to host major motorsports events and also draws more than 4,000
runners and 30,000 inline skaters per year. Co-ed volleyball and touch football
leagues bring in 2,000 people per week to the Metrodome between October and
February. Other events hosted at the Metrodome include the International
Special Olympics, many cultural festivals, religious events and charitable
fundraisers. The dome hosts trade shows, police canine training and
fire-fighting recruitment tests. The dome has even hosted its’ share of
weddings and birthday parties.
The
ever-busy Metrodome is the only stadium in the world to have hosted all of the
following: the NFL Super Bowl (1992), Major League Baseball's All-Star Game
(1985), two World Series (1987, 1991), and the Final Four of the NCAA Division
I Men's Basketball Championship (1992, 2001).
More than
half a million people have come to the Metrodome to see concerts by major
performers such as Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Guns N' Roses, Faith No More,
Metallica, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, George Strait, Tom Petty and The
Grateful Dead.
There are
64,000 seats in the arena and 115 suites. Seating capacities are: 48,000
(baseball); 64,000 (football); 50,000 (basketball). The field can be converted
from football to baseball in less than four hours. The pitcher’s mound, weighing
23,000 pounds, is powered by an electric motor and can be raised and lowered at
the push of a button.
The Dome
is infamous for its fan noise level. Baseball fans around the country will
remember the moment during the late innings of Game 6 of the 1987 Minnesota
Twins-St. Louis Cardinals World Series when ABC-TV's decibel meter broke
because of the mind-numbing fan roar.
Unique in
design and legendary for noise level, the Metrodome is a staple in the Minneapolis skyline. Hosting the Vikings, Twins and Gophers is an honor to the Dome and a
testament to the dedication of Minnesota sports fans and ticket holders
everywhere.
The Metrodome has more recently been host to additional NCAA Men?s Basketball action, when the Men?s Regional in the NCAA tournament was held. Along with college sport functions, the Metrodome also hosts myriad high school events. High school students from around the Midwest come to cheer on their schools in state-tournaments. The Metrodome is the place to be for major motorsports events. Monster trucks rallies come a few times a year and motocross is becoming an increasingly popular event at the Metrodome.
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