What next for the Metrodome?

The dome is next to the passenger train tracks so that will make it attractive for things.

True, Peter. Or at least maybe it will help!

They may have to try & market to concert event s7 try to get more of them into the metrodome~

That's a possibility... I kind of wondered if they'd host a big concert series there.

Problem with the Metrodome is that you have to have a big event there or your event looks small. Nothing worse than the look of a half filled building.

It's a large building that is very energy inefficient.

I didn't think about that, Winston. You're right, even a large crowd can look like low attendance in a huge space.

It's literally & figuratively a white elephant. It paid for itself in 5 years. Without the Twins' 81 home games, it costs more to operate than the 10 or so Vikings home games can generate in revenue. Besides, the Vikings say they will not renew their lease after the next 2 years. The Vikings will stay there only until we build them a new stadium. The future of the dome? The only practical thing that I can think of is that it would make a good haybarn.

Well, I'm not sure Minneapolis can make that kind of hay. At the end of the day, Jim, would you suggest a tear-down?

Definitely a tear-down, Julia, but not until such time as we allow the Vikings to blackmail us into a new stadium. It is by far the worst baseball venue in the major leagues. It's the last of three venues in the country that tried to accomodate both football & baseball. BTW, that was an interesting discussion re this on MPR this AM.

I didn't want to assume, but def. got that "tear-down" vibe from you.

Are you talking about this Midday show: Minnesota Twins leave the Metrodome behind?

Yes, Julia. I just caught the last half hour or so of it, but it sounded like a good discussion.

I say give the keys to the Metrodome to the Vikings and say "No backs" it's yours. Give the the building and the ground it stands on. Just hand over the title.

It's cheaper than they taxpayers giving them new money from our pockets, the building is paid for and so is the land. The building cost $50 million 25 years ago which is now chump change in today's world. They can make money off of all concessions, signage, concerts, truck rallys, and whatever you put in it.

I'll be darned, Winston, that's a good idea. If the Vikes want to do some renovation to add more luxury seats, which none of us can afford, they could play at the new Gopher's stadium in the interim.

That's a pretty interesting idea, Winston! Has an arrangement like that worked before?

Don't know.

One thing with this is that you have to take power away from the Metropolitian sports commission, with no stadiums to manage, why do we need a sports commission? There is always wailing and gnashing of teeth whenever a government entity is dissolved, but we are always ready and able to start a new one.

The land is worth money, Hennipen County would like to get it on the tax roles, and the Vikings would want a sweetheart deal.

Still, it's cheaper than coughing up 700 million that they are looking for.

The Twins had to take less than what they wanted(retractable roof), so why not the Vikes?

Metrodome
* 30 years old, most mechanical equipment has a 35-40 year life, so it will need new system
* Needs to up dated to new ADA rules, not sure they would grandfather a large builing like that for that large a rennovation.Very costly.
* Roof looks like sh_t. Two years ago I sat in second deck all the way up, fabric is moldy and very gross.
* Building has no drainage for rain if roof removed. It's gotta have a fabric roof. Structure was only built to have a fabric roof, not a hard roof or retractable.
* Building is made to be heated over the winter, building not designed for freeze/thaw. Building would eventually fall apart after many freeze thaw cycles.

Blech. You saw mold on the roof? *shudder*

I don't think there's any cheap way out of this, but I'd love to hear the Metro Sports Comm.'s take on your idea. One can imagine they'd have ... a response.

Ahhh, Brandt Williams posted Farewell to the Metrodome? Not quite yet. Of course, "Sunday's post-game ceremony commemorating the Twin's last game at the Metrodome seemed a bit strange. Why? The season isn't over yet."