Final Days of the Pontiac Silverdome

A look at what has become of the Silverdome in the years since its closure. It opened its door in 1975 at a cost of $55.7 million ($245 million in 2016 dollars). It was primarily the home of the Detroit Lions, but also housed the Detroit Pistons and served as the home venue for the Detroit Express soccer team. The stadium was a regular concert venue and hosted a number of athletic and non-athletic events, including Mass with Pope John Paul II, Wrestlemania III, early round games of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl XVI, regional games in the NCAA, and the 1979 NBA All-Star Game. The stadium was left without a permanent tenant in 2002 after the Detroit Lions moved to their new stadium, Ford Field, in Downtown Detroit. The property was put up for auction in 2009 and sold for just $500,000. The deflation of the iconic roof in 2013 marked the end of the line for the Pontiac Silverdome. From that moment, it would never host again. Final demolition has been slated for Spring 2016.