Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome Information
About 73 million people have visited the Metrodome since it opened in 1982, making it the country's most versatile, heavily used stadium. It also is the only public stadium in the country that does not rely on a continuous tax subsidy.
The Metrodome's Vital Statistics
- 20 acres land area
- Roof is 10 acres of teflon-coated fiberglass 1/16" thick
- Liner material: 1/32" thick woven fiberglass
- Height: 195 feet (16 stories)
- Interior volume is 60 million cubic feet (equivalent of 3,300 homes)
- The roof is supported by 20 electric fans 90 horsepower each
- 40,000 cubic yards of concrete
- 11,900 tons reinforced steel, 500 tons structural steel
- Total field area is 142,515 square feet
- Features 2/3 the light bulbs of the former Met Stadium with twice as much light
- 50 degrees Fahrenheit during non-event times (winter)
- 65 degrees Fahrenheit during winter events
- There are 64,000 seats in the arena and 98 suites
- Seating capacities are 48,000 (baseball); 64,000 (football); 50,000 (basketball)
Following are just a few of the statistics that have led to the Metrodome becoming "Minnesota's Rec Room".
- Host of the Country's Biggest Events: The Metrodome is the only stadium in the world to have hosted all of the following major events: the NFL Super Bowl (1992), Major League Baseball's All-Star game (1985), two MLB World Series (1987, 1991) and two NCAA Division One Men's Final Four Basketball Championships (1992, 2001).
- Something Happening Nearly Every Day: The Metrodome is used about 300 days every year. Of those event days, fewer than 100 feature professional or major college sports.
- Money Raised for Non-Profits: The Metrodome allows non-profits to staff concession stands to raise funds. Non profits raise $2 million a year that is put back into the community.
- A Great Place to Work: The Metrodome employs 2,500-3,000 people each year.
- You Need Something to Drink, Too: Visitors to the Metrodome have consumed more than 4.5 million gallons of soda and more than a half million kegs of beer (or almost 9 million gallons).
- Love is in the Dome: Countless marriage proposals have occurred in the Dome, and a few marriages have been performed.
- Sing it loudly: The Star Spangled Banner has been sung more than 6,000 times at the Metrodome.
- Major Metrodome Pageantry: The Metrodome is well-know for its sporting events, but it has hosted a plethora of non-sports events, trade shows, the Hmong American New Year Celebration, Chisholm All High School Reunion, Police Canine Training, Charitable Fundraisers and private corporate events.
- Touch Football: Between October and February of each year, the Metrodome hosts touch football leagues.
- From the Dead to the Stones: More than a half-million people have seen concerts at the Metrodome - from Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan to Paul McCartney, Metallica and The Rolling Stones.
- Walk a Mile (or 5) in My Shoes: During an average Twins or Vikings game, a Metrodome vendor walks 5 miles up and down the steps at the Metrodome.
- Metrodome Becomes the Rollerdome: From November through April, 50,000 in-line skaters come indoors and cruise along the Metrodome's concourses.
- Football to Baseball: Metrodome staff can transform the football stadium into a baseball ballpark in just four hours.
- Big Enough for Monster Trucks: The Metrodome is the only major facility in Minnesota big enough to host major motorsports events. Supercross, Monster Truck and Snowcross events have all sucessfully revved up the Dome.
- High School and Small Colleges: Each year thousands of Minnesotans from around the state come to the Dome to cheer on high school and small college teams.
- Concrete, Steel and Backfill: The Metrodome was built with 40,000 cubic yards of concrete and 1 million lbs. of steel. Construction crews excavated 600,000 cubic yards and backfilled 300,000 cubic yards. The Dome area encompasses 20 acres.
- One Big Roof: The Metrodome's 580,000-pound fabric roof can utilize up to 20 fans, blowing 250,000 cubic feet of air pressure per minute, to remain inflated. The roof is made up of more than 800,000 square feet of fabric.
- Inflation Day: The most dramatic day in the Metrodome's construction was "Inflation Day," October 2, 1981. The inflation date, which had been predicted two years before, occurred right on time as more than 310 tons of fabric was raised to cover the world's largest multi-use air supported stadium. It took about two hours to raise the roof.