Tacoma Dome

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Tacoma Dome
The Tacoma Dome from the Bridge of Glass
Location 2727 East D Street
Tacoma, Washington 98421
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Owner City of Tacoma
Operator City of Tacoma
Capacity 5,000 – 23,000
  • 20,824 Indoor Soccer
  • 17,100 Basketball
  • 10,000 American Football
Construction
Broke ground July 1, 1981
Opened April 21, 1983
Construction cost $44 million
($105 million in 2024 dollars[1])
Architect McGranahan Messenger Associates[2]
General contractor Merit Co.[2]
Tenants
Tacoma Stars (MISL) (1983–1992)
Tacoma Rockets (WHL) (1991–1995)
Seattle SuperSonics (NBA) (1994–1995)
Tacoma Sabercats (WCHL) (1997–2002)
Goodwill Games (1990)
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament (1989–1990)

The Tacoma Dome is an indoor arena located in Tacoma, Washington, approximately 30 miles south of Seattle.[3]

History

Upon winning an international design competition, local architects McGranahan and Messenger completed the Tacoma Dome in 1983 for $44 million which opened on April 21; the arena seats 17,100 for basketball. 530 feet (160 m) in diameter and 152 feet (46 m) tall, and able to seat 23,000, it is the largest arena with a wooden dome in the world when measured by volume.[4] (The Superior Dome, in Marquette, Michigan, is a larger diameter geodesic dome at 536 feet (163 m), but is only 143 feet (44 m) high and only seats a maximum of 16,000.[5]) Unlike most other arenas of its size, the arena contains little in the way of fixed seating so as to maximize the flexibility of the seating arrangements and of the shape of the playing field. It can even host American football, albeit with seating reduced to only 10,000.

The arena hosted the Seattle SuperSonics from 1994 to 1995 while the Seattle Center Coliseum was being renovated into the venue now known as KeyArena as well as various regular season Sonics games during other seasons. It also hosted the Tacoma Rockets Western Hockey League team from 1991 to 1995, the Tacoma Sabercats of the West Coast Hockey League from 1997 to 2002, The Tacoma Stars indoor soccer team of the MISL from 1983 to 1992, gymnastics and figure skating events during the 1990 Goodwill Games, numerous other minor league ice hockey and indoor soccer teams.[6] The Dome also hosted the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship in back to back years (1989-1990).

The Tacoma Dome hosted NHL preseason exhibition games in 1983, 1984, 1988, 1992[7] and 1996.[8]

Michael Jackson was scheduled to perform three concerts on October 31 and November 1 and 2, 1988 during his Bad Tour.[9] Although all the shows sold out, the concerts were cancelled because of the performer's serious health problems.

Also in the Dome's first year, Billy Graham hosted one of his crusades. He returned to the Tacoma Dome in 1991. In both crusades Graham averaged 30,000 spectators every night.

The Professional Bull Riders hosted a Built Ford Tough Series bull riding event at the Dome annually between 2003 and 2009.

World Championship Wrestling (WCW) held their Spring Stampede pay-per-view at the Dome on April 11, 1999. Diamond Dallas Page defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, Hollywood Hogan and Sting (with Randy Savage as Special Guest Referee) in a Four Corners match to win the title.

Art

The Tacoma Dome is also known for its controversial neon art. In 1984 the Stephen Antonakos piece displayed inside the dome was the subject of intense debate over public funding of artworks for public works projects.[citation needed]

Concerts

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List of Concerts

References

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  2. 2.0 2.1 Timeline: Important Precedents in Stadium Design
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Tacoma Dome - History
  5. Superior Dome | NMU Recreational Sports
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/sports/hockey/programs.htm
  8. http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1996/Canucks-4-Sharks-1/id-c0d9ba619d8ba7580022e91fba8c4389
  9. Bad Tour

External links

Preceded by Host of the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship Game
1985–1986
Succeeded by
Mini Dome
Preceded by Host of the College Cup
1986
Succeeded by
Riggs Field
Preceded by Home of the
Seattle SuperSonics

1994–1995
Succeeded by
KeyArena