The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, a.k.a. "The Metrodome", "Mall of America Field", "The Thunderdome" and "The Homerdome", is no more. The domed stadium which was opened in 1982 was designed with football's Minnesota Vikings, but which also was the home of baseball's Minnesota Twins from 1982-2009 before they moved to Target Field. The Vikings will play at outdoors the TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota until the $975 million Viking Stadium is completed, which is projected to be in 2016.
Demolition began the day after the Viking's last home game against the Detroit Lions on December 29, 2014, as seats were sold as souvenir.
The air supported dome was deflated on January 18th, 2014.
At least this deflation was intentional, unlike the five times the dome had previously collapsed due to snow.
What architectural aficiandos and pyrotechnic fans look forward to is the demolition phase. The steel support cables on the roof were severed on February 2nd. But when demolition crews were taking down the steel beam support rings, some of them collapsed out of sequence. After a week-long investigation, it was decided that using controlled explosives was the best way to proceed. So on the morning of February 23, 2014 84 explosive charges felled the facility.
And so another dome bites the dust.
No comments:
Post a Comment