Inception and Initial Planning:
1965-72
Commenced at the University of Detroit School of Architecture by Visionary and Chief Project Designer, C. Don Davidson under Dean of Architecture, Bruno Leon.
Commenced at the University of Detroit School of Architecture by Visionary and Chief Project Designer, C. Don Davidson under Dean of Architecture, Bruno Leon.
Construction
Architect: O'dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach
Building Contractor: Barton Malow
Cost: $55.7 Million
Construction completed on time (23 months) and on budget.
1.5 million cubic yards of earth moved for construction.
Materials Used:
52,000 cubic yards of concrete
52,000 cubic yards of concrete
1,700 tons of structural steel
10 acre Teflon-coated Fiberglas roof
18 large steel cables: vary 550 to 750 feet, weighing up to 15,000 lbs. each
10 - 75 hp fans and 15 - 100 hp fans
50 revolving doors
93 pressure balance doors
Building Size: Overall- 770ft. x 600ft.
Playing Field- 94,000 sq. ft.
Lower Concourse- 25,000 sq. ft.
Financing
$15.9 million in General Obligation Notes issued by the City of Pontiac.
$25 million in Revenue Bonds sold by the Pontiac Stadium Building Authority.
$8 million interest on bond money prior to construction.
$7.76 million installment loan for addition of an air supported roof, to be paid for out of stadium revenues.
Former Owners:
City of Pontiac, MI
Triple Investment Group (Canada)
City of Pontiac, MI
Triple Investment Group (Canada)
Groundbreaking Date:
September 19, 1973
Demolition Date:
December 3, 2017
September 19, 1973
Demolition Date:
December 3, 2017
Site: 132 total acres:
Parking Lot - 100 acres
Building - 20 acres - Seating:
Lower Level: 42,082
Bench Seats-(3,634)
Club Level-7,342
Upper Level-29,399
Private Suites-1,246
Wheelchair-256
Capacity
Football, Soccer, Supercross, Tractor Pull, Rodeos: 80,325
Political Rallies, Religious Crusades: 90,000
Concerts: 22,000 to 55,000
Parking:
On-Site (100 acres, lighted, paved)
Automobile - 12,464
Handicap - (389)
Detroit Lions (NFL) - 1972-2002
Detroit Pistons (NBA) - 1978-1988
Michigan Panthers (USFL) - 1983-1984
Detroit Express (NASL) - 1978-1980
Cherry Bowl (NCAA) - 1984-1985
Motor City Bowl (NCAA) - 1997-2001
Notable audience attendance numbers
The largest crowd to ever gather at the Silverdome was on March 29, 1987 for WrestleMania III, with a reported attendance of 93,173. Another notable audience attendance record had earlier been broken on April 30, 1977, when the English rock band Led Zeppelin played in front of 76,229 fans at the Silverdome. This was, at the time, a new world record attendance for a solo indoor attraction, beating the 75,962 that The Who attracted there on December 6, 1975. The Detroit Pistons also set numerous NBA attendance records during their time at the Silverdome; Regular Season, 61,983 vs. Boston, January 29, 1988; Playoffs, 41,732, vs. L.A. Lakers, June 16, 1988. - (courtesy of Wikipedia)
