Tacoma Dome facts for kids
The arena viewed from the Bridge of Glass (c.2006)
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| Address | 2727 E D St Tacoma, WA 98421-1216 |
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| Location | Metro Seattle |
| Public transit |  Tacoma Dome Station Tacoma Station |
| Owner | City of Tacoma |
| Operator | Venues & Events Department |
| Capacity | 21,000 Detailed capacity
Soccer: 20,824
Basketball: 20,722 Hockey: 19,106 Football: 10,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 1, 1981 |
| Opened | April 21, 1983 |
| Renovated | 2018 |
| Construction cost | $44 million ($142 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | McGranahan Messenger Associates |
| General contractor | Merit Co. |
| Tenants | |
| Tacoma Stars (MISL) (1983–92) Tacoma Rockets (WHL) (1991–95) Seattle SuperSonics (NBA) (1994–95) Tacoma Sabercats (WCHL) (1997–2002) NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship (1989–90) Seattle Sounders (USL First Division) (1994) WIAA state football tournament (1995–2019) WIAA boys' state basketball tournament (2001–present, partial schedule) |
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The Tacoma Dome is a large building in Tacoma, Washington, United States. It is a multi-purpose arena, meaning it can be used for many different events. You can find it along Interstate 5, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Seattle.
Contents
History of the Tacoma Dome
The Tacoma Dome was designed by local architects McGranahan and Messenger. It cost $44 million to build and first opened its doors on April 21, 1983.
This arena is special because it has the largest wooden dome roof in the world. It is 530 feet (162 meters) wide and 152 feet (46 meters) high. The wood used for the roof came from trees that were knocked down during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
Unlike many other large arenas, the Tacoma Dome has very few fixed seats. This design allows the seating and playing area to be changed easily for different events. It can hold up to 21,000 people. For basketball games, it seats 20,722, and for American football, it can seat 10,000.
First Events and Sports Teams
The very first event at the Tacoma Dome was a concert by British musician David Bowie on August 11, 1983.
Over the years, many sports teams have called the Tacoma Dome home. These include:
- The Tacoma Stars (indoor soccer) from 1983 to 1992.
- The Tacoma Rockets (hockey) from 1991 to 1995.
- The Tacoma Sabercats (hockey) from 1997 to 2002.
The Seattle SuperSonics, a professional basketball team, played their home games here during the 1994–95 season. This was while their usual arena, the Seattle Center Coliseum, was being updated.
Major Events and Shows
The Tacoma Dome has hosted many exciting events, including:
- The gymnastics and figure skating events for the 1990 Goodwill Games.
- The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in 1989 and 1990.
- The NCAA Division I-AA football championship game in 1985 and 1986.
- Professional National Hockey League (NHL) preseason games in 1983, 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996.
Famous musicians have also used the Tacoma Dome for their music videos. Bon Jovi filmed parts of their "Lay Your Hands on Me" video here in 1989. In 1987, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee performed a drum solo upside down in a rotating cage during a show at the Dome.
Even though it was sold out, three concerts by Michael Jackson for his Bad Tour in 1988 were canceled due to his health. Well-known speaker Billy Graham held large events here in 1983 and 1991, attracting about 30,000 people each night.
The dome has also hosted Professional Bull Riders events from 2003 to 2009. Professional wrestling events have taken place here, including World Championship Wrestling's Spring Stampede in 1999 and WWE's Stomping Grounds in 2019. The qualifying rounds for the eleventh season of American Ninja Warrior were also held at the Dome.
Recent Updates
In 2016, the Tacoma Dome added new security measures, like metal detector wands and bag checks, for large events. The city of Tacoma approved a $30 million renovation project, which was completed in October 2018. These updates help keep the venue modern and safe for everyone.
Concerts at the Tacoma Dome
The Tacoma Dome has been a popular spot for many famous musicians and bands. Here are some of the artists who have performed there:
- AC/DC
- Bryan Adams
- Aerosmith
- Jason Aldean
- American Idol Live!
- Backstreet Boys
- Justin Bieber
- Black Sabbath
- Bon Jovi
- David Bowie
- Garth Brooks
- Brooks & Dunn
- Jimmy Buffett
- Cher
- Kenny Chesney
- Eric Church
- Eric Clapton
- Phil Collins
- Miley Cyrus
- Def Leppard
- Neil Diamond
- Celine Dion
- The Dixie Chicks
- Drake
- Bob Dylan
- Eagles
- Fleetwood Mac
- Peter Gabriel
- Green Day
- Guns N' Roses
- Whitney Houston
- Iron Maiden
- Alan Jackson
- Janet Jackson
- JAY Z
- Billy Joel
- Elton John
- Jonas Brothers
- Journey
- Judas Priest
- Toby Keith
- KISS
- KoЯn
- Lady Gaga
- Kendrick Lamar
- Avril Lavigne
- Linkin Park
- Paul McCartney
- Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
- Metallica
- George Michael
- Mötley Crüe
- Willie Nelson
- New Kids on the Block
- Nickelback
- NSYNC
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Katy Perry
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- The Police
- Prince
- Rammstein
- The Rascal Flatts
- Lionel Richie
- The Rolling Stones
- Rush
- Santana
- Scorpions
- Ed Sheeran
- Blake Shelton
- Frank Sinatra
- Slayer
- Slipknot
- Britney Spears
- Spice Girls
- Bruce Springsteen
- Rod Stewart
- George Strait
- Taylor Swift
- Justin Timberlake
- Tina Turner
- U2
- Van Halen
- The Who
- The Wiggles
- ZZ Top
Art at the Dome
The Tacoma Dome is also known for its unique neon art. In 1984, a piece of art by Stephen Antonakos was put inside the dome. This artwork caused a lot of discussion about how public money should be used to fund art in public places.
Images for kids
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The arena viewed from the Bridge of Glass (c.2006)
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View of the Tacoma Dome from D Street in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Tacoma Dome para niños
