Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome facts for kids
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Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in May 2007
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 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Location in Minnesota
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Location in the United States
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| Address | 900 South 5th Street |
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| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°58′26″N 93°15′29″W / 44.97389°N 93.25806°W |
| Owner | Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (1982–2012) Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (2012–2013) |
| Operator | Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (1982–2012) Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (2012–2013) |
| Capacity | American football: 64,121 Baseball: 46,564 (expandable to 55,883) Basketball: 50,000 Concerts: 60,000 |
| Field size | Left field: 343 ft (105 m) Left-center: 385 ft (117 m) (unmarked) Center field: 408 ft (124 m) Right-center: 367 ft (112 m) (unmarked) Right field: 327 ft (100 m) Backstop: 60 ft (18 m) Dome apex: 186 ft (57 m) Wall: 7 ft (2.1 m) (left and center field) Wall: 23 ft (7 m) (right field)  |
| Surface | SuperTurf (1982–1986) AstroTurf (1987–2003) FieldTurf (2004–2010) Sportexe Momentum Turf (2010) UBU-Intensity Series-S5-M Synthetic Turf (2011–2013) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 20, 1979 |
| Opened | April 3, 1982 |
| Closed | December 29, 2013 |
| Demolished | January 18, 2014 – April 17, 2014 |
| Construction cost | US$55 million ($222 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Fazlur Rahman Khan (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) Setter, Leach & Lindstrom, Inc. |
| Structural engineer | Geiger Berger Associates |
| General contractor | Barton-Malow |
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The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, often called the Metrodome, was a famous sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It had a unique dome-shaped roof. The stadium opened in 1982 and was home to several professional and college sports teams.
The Metrodome was the home field for the Minnesota Vikings (NFL football) from 1982 to 2013. It also hosted the Minnesota Twins (MLB baseball) from 1982 to 2009. The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team played there from 1982 to 2008. Even the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA basketball) played their first season there in 1989-1990.
This stadium was special because it had a roof made of fiberglass fabric, held up by air pressure. It was one of the first major sports venues to use this kind of roof. The Metrodome was the only stadium to host a Super Bowl (1992), World Series (1987, 1991), MLB All-Star Game (1985), and the NCAA Division I Basketball Final Four (1992, 2001).
People gave the Metrodome many nicknames, like "The Dome" and "The Thunderdome." After hosting its last Vikings game on December 29, 2013, the stadium was closed. Its roof was deflated on January 18, 2014, and demolition began to make way for a new stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium.
Contents
Building the Metrodome
In the early 1970s, the Minnesota Vikings football team needed a bigger stadium. Their old home, Metropolitan Stadium, was too small for NFL rules. Fans also thought a covered stadium would help the Minnesota Twins baseball team play better in cold weather.
Building the Metrodome started on December 20, 1979. It was paid for by local taxes and donations. The stadium was named after Hubert Humphrey, a former mayor and U.S. Vice President. The main architect was Fazlur Rahman Khan.
The Metrodome cost about $68 million to build, which was less than expected. It was designed to be a simple, practical place for fans to watch games. One official said its main goal was to "get fans in, let 'em see a game, and let 'em go home."
Roof Challenges
The Metrodome's air-supported roof faced problems five times due to heavy snow or bad weather. Four of these incidents happened in the first five years it was open.
Early Roof Incidents
- On November 19, 1981, a lot of snow caused the roof to collapse. It had to be re-inflated.
- On December 30, 1982, the roof tore because of a crane used to remove snow.
- On April 14, 1983, heavy late-season snow caused another tear and deflation.
- On April 26, 1986, strong winds caused a small tear, delaying a baseball game.
2010 Roof Collapse
On December 10, 2010, a huge snowstorm hit Minneapolis. Workers could not remove the snow from the roof safely. Early on December 12, three panels of the roof tore open, and snow fell onto the field. Cameras set up for a football game captured the roof collapsing, and the video quickly became very popular online.
This collapse forced the Vikings to move their games to other stadiums. The roof was so damaged that it needed a full replacement, costing about $18 million. The new roof was installed and inflated by July 2011.
Taking Down the Dome
After Minnesota approved a new stadium for the Vikings, the Metrodome's time was up. The Vikings played their last game there on December 29, 2013. The next day, workers started removing seats to sell to the public.
The roof was deflated for the last time on January 18, 2014. On February 2, 2014, steel cables holding the roof were cut using explosives. This was a big step before the concrete structure was torn down.
Demolition of the stadium walls began on February 10, 2014. A week later, part of the concrete ring beam at the top collapsed unexpectedly. No one was hurt. Experts decided to use more explosives to safely bring down the rest of the ring beam. On February 23, 2014, 84 explosive charges were used to finish the job.
By March 15, 2014, the last parts of the upper deck were gone. On April 11, 2014, the inner concrete walls were reduced to rubble, marking the official end of the Metrodome. The demolition was completed on April 17, 2014, a month ahead of schedule. It took 4,910 truckloads to remove all the debris.
What Happened at the Metrodome?
The Metrodome was a very busy place, hosting many different events. It was the only venue to host an MLB All-Star Game (1985), a Super Bowl (1992), the NCAA Final Four (1992 & 2001), and the World Series (1987 & 1991).
Loudest Stadium
The Metrodome was known as one of the loudest stadiums for games. Its fabric roof recycled sound, making it very noisy. This noise gave the home teams a big advantage. During the 1987 and 1991 World Series, the noise levels were almost as loud as a jet airliner!
Minnesota Vikings Football
The Metrodome was built mainly for the Minnesota Vikings. They played their first game there on August 21, 1982. The Vikings had a great record at the dome, winning 162 regular-season games and 6 playoff games.
The Metrodome hosted Super Bowl XXVI on January 26, 1992. The Washington Redskins beat the Buffalo Bills 37–24 in this big game. It was only the second Super Bowl played in a cold-weather city.
Minnesota Twins Baseball
The Minnesota Twins won two World Series championships at the Metrodome, in 1987 and 1991. The stadium's unique features, like its loud noise and white roof, gave the Twins a strong home-field advantage. The 1991 World Series is often called one of the best ever.
A section of Chicago Avenue in front of the stadium was renamed 34 Kirby Puckett Place in honor of the famous Twins player. The Metrodome was sometimes called "The House That Puck Built" for baseball.
The Twins played their last regular-season game at the Metrodome on October 4, 2009. They won a special tiebreaker game there on October 6, 2009. Their final game at the Metrodome was a playoff loss to the New York Yankees on October 11, 2009.
Basketball Games
The Metrodome hosted ten NCAA basketball tournaments, including the Final Four in 1992 and 2001. It was much larger than most basketball arenas.
The Minnesota Timberwolves NBA team played their first season (1989–90) at the Metrodome. They set an NBA record for the highest single-season attendance, with over a million fans.
College Football
The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team played at the Metrodome from 1982 to 2008. While it offered a climate-controlled environment, fans missed the traditional outdoor college football experience. The Gophers later moved to their own on-campus stadium.
Other Events
The Metrodome hosted many other events, including:
- High school football championships (Prep Bowl).
- College baseball games, especially in early spring due to cold weather.
- Soccer games, including the Minnesota Strikers and Minnesota Thunder.
- Large concerts by famous artists like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd.
- Motorcycle races (AMA Motocross Championship).
- Religious services and cultural celebrations.
- Conventions and trade shows.
Naming the Field
In 2009, the Mall of America bought the rights to name the field inside the Metrodome. For several years, it was called "Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome." The Mall of America is built on the site of the old Metropolitan Stadium, which was the Twins' and Vikings' previous home.
New Stadiums for Teams
Over time, the Metrodome became less suitable for its main teams. The concourses were too narrow, and the teams wanted more modern facilities. All three major teams eventually moved to new stadiums.
Minnesota Twins' New Home
The Minnesota Twins moved to their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, in 2010. The Twins felt the Metrodome did not generate enough money for them to compete with other teams. They also wanted a stadium designed specifically for baseball.
Golden Gophers' New Home
The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team moved to Huntington Bank Stadium (originally TCF Bank Stadium) on their campus in 2009. This new outdoor stadium brought back the traditional college football atmosphere.
Minnesota Vikings' New Home
The Minnesota Vikings played their last game at the Metrodome in 2013. They played two seasons at the Gophers' stadium while their new home, U.S. Bank Stadium, was built. The new stadium opened in 2016 on the same site where the Metrodome once stood.
See also
In Spanish: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome para niños
