Pontiac Silverdome facts for kids
 |
|
Pontiac Silverdome in 2011
|
|
| Former names | Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium (1975–1976) Pontiac Silverdome (1976–2013) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1200 Featherstone Road |
| Location | Pontiac, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°38′45″N 83°15′18″W / 42.64583°N 83.25500°W |
| Owner |
|
| Operator | Triple Sports & Entertainment |
| Capacity | 82,000+ 80,311 (American football, soccer) |
| Record attendance | 93,682 September 18, 1987 (Catholic Mass with Pope John Paul II) |
| Surface |
|
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 19, 1973 |
| Opened |
|
| Closed |
|
| Demolished | December 4, 2017 – March 2018 |
| Construction cost | US$55.7 million ($367 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect |
|
| Structural engineer | Geiger Berger Associates |
| General contractor | Barton Malow |
| Tenants | |
| Detroit Lions (NFL) (1975–2001) Detroit Pistons (NBA) (1978–1988) Detroit Express (NASL) (1978–1980) Michigan Panthers (USFL) (1983–1984) Cherry Bowl (NCAA) (1984–1985) Motor City Bowl (NCAA) (1997–2001) Detroit Mechanix (AUDL) (2012) |
|
The Pontiac Silverdome was a famous stadium located in Pontiac, Michigan. It opened in 1975 and was known for its unique roof. The roof was made of a special fiberglass fabric and was held up by air pressure, which was a new idea for big sports buildings at the time.
With over 82,000 seats, the Silverdome was once the largest stadium in the National Football League (NFL). It was the home field for the Detroit Lions NFL team from 1975 to 2001. The Detroit Pistons basketball team also played there from 1978 to 1988.
The Silverdome hosted many exciting events. These included Super Bowl XVI, WrestleMania III, and games for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It also held concerts, monster truck shows, and other sports events.
After the Lions moved to Ford Field in 2002, the Silverdome was empty for a while. The city of Pontiac sold it in 2009. It reopened in 2010 for a few years, but a roof tear in 2013 led to its final closure. The stadium was torn down between 2017 and 2018. Today, an Amazon facility stands on the site.
Contents
What Was the Silverdome Used For?
The Silverdome was a busy place, hosting many different sports and events.
Home to Major Sports Teams
It was the home stadium for the Detroit Lions NFL team for 27 seasons. The Detroit Pistons NBA team also played their home games there for ten years. Other teams included the Detroit Express soccer team and the Michigan Panthers football team.
Hosting Big Games and Tournaments
The stadium hosted college football games like the Cherry Bowl and the Motor City Bowl. It also held the MHSAA football state finals for many years. In 1994, it was one of the venues for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. This was special because it was the first time World Cup games were played indoors. A special grass field was grown on wooden pallets for these matches.
The Silverdome also hosted the 1979 NBA All-Star Game and Super Bowl XVI in 1982. College basketball tournaments, like the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, were also held there.
Record-Breaking Events
On March 29, 1987, WrestleMania III set a record for the largest crowd at a live indoor sporting event in North America, with 93,173 fans. This record stood for many years. The Silverdome also hosted AMA Supercross Championship motorcycle races.
In 2012, the stadium became home to the Detroit Mechanix, a professional Ultimate Frisbee team. It even hosted their championship game that year.
The Silverdome's Story
How the Stadium Was Planned and Built
The idea for a big sports complex came from C. Don Davidson, a native of Pontiac. He wanted to help his city grow. After studying architecture, he worked with city officials and William Clay Ford Sr., the owner of the Detroit Lions. They looked for the best place to build a new stadium.
Pontiac was chosen, and Davidson became the chief designer. The stadium was finished in 1975 and cost $55.7 million. It was first called the Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium. It had over 80,000 seats, including luxury suites and club seats.
The Unique Air-Supported Roof
The Silverdome's most famous feature was its roof. It was made of special Teflon-coated fiberglass panels. Air pressure inside the stadium held the roof up. From the sky, the roof looked silver because of the sun's reflection, which is how it got the name "Silverdome."
In 1985, heavy snow caused part of the roof to tear. This led to the entire roof being replaced. The Detroit Pistons had to play their remaining games at another arena that season. The roof was repaired and stayed inflated for almost 28 more years.
Huge Crowds and Famous Visitors
The Silverdome saw some incredible crowds. On September 18, 1987, Pope John Paul II held a Catholic Mass there, with 93,682 people attending. This was the largest crowd ever at the Silverdome.
Many famous music artists also performed there. Led Zeppelin set a world record in 1977 for the largest crowd at a solo indoor concert. The Detroit Pistons also set NBA attendance records during their time at the Silverdome.
World Cup Soccer in 1994
The Silverdome was one of the venues for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. This was a big deal because it was the first time World Cup games were played indoors. A special natural grass field was grown and installed over the artificial turf for these matches. The stadium hosted several exciting games, including a match where the United States tied with Switzerland.
Marching Band Competitions
The Silverdome was also a popular place for marching band events. It hosted the Michigan Competing Band Association State Marching Band Championships and the Bands of America Regional championships.
Life After the Lions Left
After the Detroit Lions moved to Ford Field in 2002, the Silverdome was used less often. The city of Pontiac faced money problems and tried to sell the stadium. In 2009, it was sold at an auction for $550,000 to a real estate developer named Andreas Apostolopoulos.
The new owners reopened the Silverdome in 2010. It hosted monster truck events, soccer games, and boxing matches. However, in 2013, heavy snow caused another tear in the roof. Because it was hard to find someone to fix the unique air-supported roof, the stadium closed for good. For a few years, the parking lot was used to store thousands of recalled Volkswagen cars.
Demolition and New Development
In 2017, the owners decided to tear down the Silverdome. The demolition began on December 4, 2017, with a planned implosion of the upper ring. After a small delay, the implosion was successful. The rest of the stadium was taken down piece by piece. By March 2018, the Silverdome was completely gone.
In 2019, it was announced that Amazon would build a new distribution and delivery center on the site. This new facility opened in 2020 and 2021.
Memorable Events at the Silverdome
NFL Football Highlights
- August 23, 1975 – The Detroit Lions played their first preseason game at the Silverdome.
- January 24, 1982 – The Silverdome hosted Super Bowl XVI.
- January 5, 1992 – The Lions won their first home playoff game at the stadium against the Dallas Cowboys.
- January 6, 2002 – The final Lions game was played at the Silverdome, a victory against the Dallas Cowboys.
Basketball Milestones
- October 13, 1978 – The Detroit Pistons played their first home game in the Silverdome.
- February 4, 1979 – The stadium hosted the 1979 NBA All-Star Game.
- June 1988 – Games 3 through 5 of the 1988 NBA Finals were played here.
Soccer Matches
- June 18, 1994 – The United States tied 1–1 with Switzerland in the first World Cup game ever played indoors.
- June 22, 1994 – Switzerland defeated Romania 4–1 in a World Cup match.
- June 28, 1994 – Brazil tied 1–1 with Sweden in a World Cup game.
Boxing and Wrestling
- March 29, 1987 – WrestleMania III set an attendance record with 93,173 fans.
- January 29, 2011 – A major professional boxing match, "The Superfight," was held here.
Concerts by Famous Artists
The Silverdome hosted many legendary concerts.
| Date | Artist(s) | Attendance | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 6, 1975 | The Who | 75,962 | One of their biggest shows. |
| December 31, 1975 | Elvis Presley | 62,500 | Elvis's first New Year's Eve concert. |
| April 30, 1977 | Led Zeppelin | 76,229 | Set an attendance record for a solo indoor concert. |
| August 17–19, 1984 | The Jacksons | 143,700 (total for 3 shows) | Part of their "Victory Tour." |
| September 4, 1985 | Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band | 69,844 | Part of the "Born in the U.S.A. Tour." |
| August 7, 1987 | Madonna | 41,017 | Part of her "Who's That Girl World Tour." |
| December 9–10, 1989 | The Rolling Stones | 100,234 (total for 2 shows) | Part of their "Steel Wheels Tour." |
| July 21, 1992 | Metallica Guns N' Roses |
47,540 | A huge co-headlining stadium tour. |
| July 14–15, 1994 | Pink Floyd | 111,355 (total for 2 shows) | They played their classic album The Dark Side of the Moon in full. |
| December 31, 1999 | Metallica | 54,707 | A special New Year's Eve concert to welcome the year 2000. |
| July 18, 2000 | NSYNC | 48,708 | This concert was filmed for their movie "*NSYNC: Bigger Than Live." |
| February 15, 2001 | Backstreet Boys | — | Part of their "Black & Blue Tour." |
Other Fun Events
- February 22, 1982 – The first monster truck car crush inside a stadium happened here.
- September 18, 1987 – Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass, drawing the largest crowd in the Silverdome's history.
- April 17, 2010 – The Silverdome reopened with a "Domination In The Dome" monster truck event.
See also
In Spanish: Pontiac Silverdome para niños
