Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Totally Explained

Everything about Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome totally explained

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, often simply called The Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington, and Memorial Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
The Metrodome is home to the following sports teams:

Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
Minnesota Twins (AL)
Minnesota Golden Gophers football (Big Ten)
Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball, first half of season (second half at Siebert Field) (Big Ten)

It was the home at one time for:

Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) (1989–1990)

Minnesota Strikers (NASL soccer) (1984) Common notable nicknames include The Dome or the HHH Metrodome, and often nicknamed the Homerdome (even though in reality it's no easier to hit a home run than average).
It is the only public stadium in the United States that doesn't rely on a continuing tax subsidy to finance operations, maintenance or debt payments.

History

The Metrodome arose because its main tenants, the Twins and Vikings, grew dissatisfied with Metropolitan Stadium during the 1970s. The Twins weren't happy with the frequently harsh weather conditions early and late in the baseball season, while the Vikings weren't happy with its relatively small capacity for football (just under 48,500). In addition, the stadium wasn't well maintained; broken railings could be seen in the third deck by the early 1970s.
   Construction success of other domed stadiums, particularly the Silverdome near Detroit, paved the way for voters to approve funding for a new stadium. Downtown Minneapolis was beginning a revitalization program, and the return of professional sports from suburban Bloomington was seen as a major success story. A professional team hadn't been based in downtown Minneapolis since the Minneapolis Lakers left for Los Angeles in 1960.
   Construction on the Metrodome began on December 20, 1979 and was funded by the state of Minnesota. Uncovering the Dome by Amy Klobuchar (now a U.S. Senator) describes the ten-year effort to build the venue. The stadium was named in memoriam to former mayor of Minneapolis, U.S. Senator and U.S. Vice President, Hubert Humphrey, who had died in 1978.
   The Metrodome cost $68 million to build--roughly $2 million under budget, a rarity for modern stadiums. It is a somewhat utilitarian facility, though not quite as spartan as Metropolitan Stadium. One stadium official once said that all the Metrodome was designed to do was "get fans in, let 'em see a game, and let 'em go home."

Major events

The 1985 MLB All-Star Game, games of the 1987 and the 1991 World Series, Super Bowl XXVI in 1992, were all held at the Metrodome.
The NCAA Final Four was held at the Metrodome in 1992 and 2001. Duke University was the winner on both occasions. The Metrodome has also served as one of the four regional venues for the Final Four in 1986, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2003 and most recently, 2006.
The Metrodome is the only venue to host an MLB All-Star Game (1985), a Super Bowl (1992), an NCAA Final Four (1992 & 2001), and a World Series (1987 & 1991). The Metrodome has been recognized as one of the loudest domed venues in which to view a game, due in part to the fact sound is recycled throughout the stadium because of the domed roof. Stadium loudness is a hot sports marketing issue, as the noise lends the home team a home advantage against the visiting team. Prior to the construction of Qwest Field home of the Seattle Seahawks the NFL had named the Metrodome the loudest NFL stadium, a title which Qwest now holds. During the 1987 World Series and 1991 World Series, peak decibel levels were measured at 125 and 118 respectively--both close to the threshold of pain.

Features

The roof

The Metrodome's roof is made of two layers of Teflon coated fiberglass fabric, and is an air-supported structure supported by positive air pressure. It requires 250,000 ft³/min (120 m³/s) of air to keep it inflated. It is reputed to be the largest application of Teflon on Earth.
   To maintain the differential air pressure, spectators usually enter and leave the seating and concourse areas through revolving doors, since the use of regular doors without an airlock would cause significant loss of air pressure. The double-walled construction allows warmed air to circulate beneath the top of the dome, melting accumulated snow. A sophisticated environmental control center in the lower part of the stadium is manned to monitor weather and make adjustments in air distribution to maintain the roof.
   Three times in the stadium's history, heavy snows have caused a small puncture in the roof and caused it to deflate. Varying air pressure due to a severe storm once contributed to a dramatic deflation during a regular season baseball game. On November 19 1981, a rapid accumulation of over a foot of snow caused the roof to collapse, requiring it to be re-inflated.
   On April 27, 1986, a severe thunderstorm rocked the stadium and its roof, and disabled power.
   Because it's unusually low to the playing field (172 feet/52.4 m), the air-inflated dome occasionally is touched by baseballs, altering play. Major League Baseball has specific ground rules for the Metrodome. Any ball which strikes the Dome roof remains in play; if it lands in foul territory it becomes a foul ball, if it lands in fair territory it becomes a fair ball. Any ball which becomes caught in the roof over fair ground (which has only happened twice in its history - Dave Kingman for the Oakland Athletics on May 4,1984. The surface, also known as SporTurf, was very bouncy--so bouncy, in fact, that Billy Martin once protested a game after seeing a base hit that would normally be a pop single turn into a ground rule double. Because the roof is very nearly the same color as a baseball, and transmits light, the Metrodome has a far higher error incidence than a normal stadium during day games, so instead of losing a fly ball in the sun, as is common for non-roofed stadiums, fly balls can easily get lost in the ceiling.
   It gave up even more home runs before air conditioning was installed in 1983. Before 1983, the Dome had been nicknamed "the Sweat Box." TCF Bank Stadium will provide the outdoor, on-campus venue. The stadium is six blocks from the West bank portion of the campus and the Seven Corners retail and entertainment neighborhood that serves the West bank.

Playing field

The Gophers share the field with the Vikings and Twins. During the earlier part of the season, the baseball turf sections are visible on the field. Many Big Ten teams had gone to some kind of turf because of the climate during the football season. However, other schools don't have seams in the turf where sections are moved.

Revenue

The luxury suite revenues are taken by the Vikings. The concessions revenue is taken by the Metropolitan sports commission. And there's no parking revenue for the University. Although, the amount the University pays to use the Metrodome is lower than the Vikings or Twins. Revenue is also generated from the vast amount of Dome Dogs eaten.

NFL

As the stadium was designed first and foremost for the Minnesota Vikings, they've the fewest problems. As a location and playing field with new turf, it's still a suitable venue for football. The Vikings owners want more luxury suites and better concessions. They have twice rejected a renovation, with the 2001 price tag at $269 million. Early fall weather has led to calls for a retractable roof, but climate control is still deemed a necessity for a season that runs through December. The Vikings are seen as the team with the most leverage, as Minnesotans view the Vikings as their favorite sports franchise in the state.. The likelihood that the Vikings will move without a new stadium is unknown. The NFL in Los Angeles is always offered as a destination for the Vikings, however that situation isn't without its own controversy.
Even without the Gophers and Twins, the Metrodome can survive with the Vikings as primary tenants.

University of Minnesota

The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team began playing in the Metrodome for the 1982 season. Attendance was expected to increase over the old Memorial Stadium attendance, especially for late fall games, due to the climate controlled comfort. At the time it was also believed that the new NFL venue would be a recruiting benefit for the Gophers. The Gopher teams have struggled in the Big Ten Conference since the 1970s. Gopher football games rarely fill the Metrodome to capacity, except when nearby rivals visit, such as the Wisconsin Badgers and Iowa Hawkeyes. and MDRA running (exercise programs in the concourses)

Conventions, such as TwinsFest, golf shows, home and garden expos, and car shows

Cultural celebrations, such as Hmong New Year gatherings.

Wrestling shows, such as AWA WrestleRock '86

Monster Jam

Minnesota Youth in Music Marching Band Competition

Travel and accessibility

The Metrodome is located near the junction of Interstate 94 and Interstate 35W, and many fans come by car. There is limited parking in surface lots throughout eastern downtown, ranging from $5 for a Twins game, to $50 for a close stall at a Vikings game. On-street meters provide the lowest parking rate, especially the "free evenings" meters near the heart of downtown six blocks from the Metrodome. A new option as of 2004 is the Downtown East/Metrodome station on the light rail Hiawatha Line. Many people also come by bus, whether on a charter or on the regular regional bus system. Bus service is also available from the University of Minnesota. Tailgating has often been a popular pre-game activity for football fans, and many nearby parking lots have been available in the past for people who want to start early. However, in recent years, new development in the downtown region of Minneapolis has meant that these parking lots have begun to disappear. In 2004, the Vikings offered fans a tailgating area in the huge parking lot known as Rapid Park. The area however is on the opposite side of downtown Minneapolis from the Metrodome itself, next to the Target Center, (although shuttle buses did go back and forth) and is the building site for the new Twins Ballpark which the Twins broke ground for in late August of 2007.

Career-achievement events

The Metrodome was the scene of several players joining the 3000 hit club, including Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield, and Cal Ripken, Jr..

Dwyane Wade recorded just the fourth triple double in NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament history on March 29, 2003.

On June 28, 2007, in the top of the first inning, Frank Thomas hit a three-run home run to left-center against Carlos Silva for his 500th career home run. He was later ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

On September 30, 2007, Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers threw his record-breaking 421st career touchdown pass to Greg Jennings while playing the Vikings at the Metrodome.Further Information

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