Way back in 1959 was when City Officials first started to talk about building a dome stadium in Seattle. After a few rejected bond attempts, the voters finally approved a 40 million dollar bond in 1968. It would take four more years before construction would finally start in 1972 and another three and a half years to complete the project. Finally on March 27, 1976 the Kingdome was officially opened.
An interesting fact is when the Kingdome was first purposed they were looking at building it at Seattle Center. Voters nixed that idea and the Kingdome found a new home on King Street by Pioneer Square. I am glad their original plan was rejected by voters, it is hard enough trying to leave Key Arena after a concert. Imagine if it was a crowd of over 60,000 fans leaving a Seahawks game and flooding all those side streets trying to get to the freeway.
What was always special to me about the Kingdome was when you walked in, you could not see the field until you walked up the ramps. I was always in awe when I got to the top of the ramp and could take in the full view of the field. The Kingdome was just like an old comfortable pair of shoes you keep wearing even with the holes them. I enjoyed the games the most when the attendance was so low I could sit any where, watch the game and listen to Dave Niehaus on my radio. I was there when the Mariners played their last game in the Kingdome. I know how beautiful Safeco field is but on that day I wasn't ready to leave.
When you talk about the Kingdome you have to talk about the Seahawks' fans. I was always amazed how little old Seattle could have the loudest fans in the NFL. Which was only helped by the dome stadium. The NFL would find out when Century Link field opened that it wasn't the dome that made it loud but the fans.
The Kingdome held more then just sporting events. So many of us have attended a car, RV or boat show, a home and garden show or even the occasional rock concert. Just think of 65,000+ in the Kingdome seeing a Rolling Stones concert.
Fun Facts:
* First concert was Paul McCartney and Wings with a crowd of 67,053.
* The Mariners were not the first baseball team to play in the Kingdome. They were beat out by the University of Washington baseball team vs. their alumni and a Little League Baseball Jamboree.
* Motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel performed at the Kingdome in 1976.
* Other major sports events held at the Kingdome included the 1977 NFL Pro- Bowl , the 1979 MLB All-Star game, 1987 NBA All-Star game and three NCAA Final Fours.
* Back in 1994 the Mariners were the first MLB team to have a baseball game postponded for falling ceiling tiles.
* Monsters of Rock performed in 1988 who can forget these great 80's bands: Van Halen(Sammy Hagar), Scorpions, Metallica, Dokken and Kingdom Come.
* Even after it was demolished in 2000, tax payers were still paying off the debt on the Kingdome.
The Kingdome was demolished this week on March 26, 2000. I linked the video of the Kingdome coming down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xLzTKQ4-qU
Last year I wrote a blog on some fun I had in the Kingdome.
