A Vikingless dome?

[RodentRampage]

If the Vikings get a new stadium that is not built on the existing Metrodome site, then a decision has to be made about whether the Metrodome will continue to exist or whether it will be torn down. There are benefits to maintaining an indoor venue that is larger than what is available at a basketball or hockey arena. But we wouldn't need a 60,000 seat venue without the Vikings. The lights and speakers at the Metrodome are supported by the roof, which is in turn supported by air pressure. I would reduce the seating capacity of the upper deck in order to mount the lights and speakers on the deck instead of on the roof.

This would lower the weight on the roof by tons. The less weight the roof supports, the less air pressure needed to inflate the dome. This means that less energy would be needed. It also would decrease the stress placed on the roof, which might help prevent a tear like this from taking place in the future. Does anyone know if any other air-supported domes suspend equipment from the roof as the Metrodome does? While it might cost $15,000,000 to replace the roof, tearing down the dome isn't free either. Of course, new development might be more beneficial than having a large indoor arena, but it is worth considering.

 

[MaxyJR1]

In theory a good idea, but the businesses around the Metrodome will die with no Vikings team. Growth will be around the new stadium.

 

[Goldmember]

Of course, new development might be more beneficial than having a large indoor arena, but it is worth considering.

Let's keep in mind that the "value" of the 20 acres that the dome sits on is determined almost entirety by speculation. There is actually almost no demand for new buildings in Downtown East, and even at the pinnacle of the real estate bubble, demand was extremely low in this area. This is why buildings were torn down and still serve as parking lots 40-years later.

Practically speaking, the 2010 value of this land is less than zero to an investor who needs qucik returns. It is substantially more valuable to a cash-rich speculator that thinks a massively subsidized project is about to be built nearby (i.e. the bet Wilf made on the otherwise worthless Start Tribune land).

There is no immediate "higher-use" for the Metrodome site.

 

[RodentRampage]

There aren't a lot of businesses around the Metrodome. Huberts would close of course.

 

[imthewalrus]

Does the Metropolitan Sports commission have the money to pay the electric and heating bill and cooling bill to keep the stadium running 12 months a year if there is no revenue produced? With the current cost of electricity, I would imagine that it costs between 6 million and 9 million a year just to keep the roof up. And, they have to hire staff to maintain the place year round, revenue producing events or not.

Over the decades, the cost of energy has made the entire concept of having a roof supported by columns of air being blown through the roof 24 hours a day 365 days a year a very costly thing. It wasn't so bad when the Twins, the vikings and the Gophers all played there. However, tractor pulls and MSHL Football and U of M Baseball won't provide any revenue to speak of. And the rock concerts have too many other better places to use in the Twin Cities Metro Area.

Does the stadium commissioner have money to burn to keep the hot air rising, blowing, and holding up the roof. Somebody has got to pay the bills.

 

[snackeru]

Dome would be razed

Without a major tenant, the Dome would probably be razed. As previous posters have already pointed out, the cost of running the Dome without adequate revenue coming in would spell its doom.

 

[CrocShots]

It better be ready for Monster Jam on Jan. 22. I can't watch Monster Trucks if i'm not wasted and slowly getting cancer from the exhaust floating in the upper deck at the dome.