Owner says Silverdome will finally be demolished
The Silverdome, the former home of the Detroit Lions, will be demolished after years of disuse, the building’s owner told the Detroit Free Press.They hope to begin the demolition process this spring.
The Lions left the 80,000-seat stadium in 2002 when Ford Field opened in downtown Detroit. The building was sold at auction for $550,000 (plus real estate fees) in 2009.
It was used sparingly until the city of Pontiac closed the building in 2006. It opened again in 2010 and hosted a few events before winds and snow shredded the dome’s roof in 2013 and it was abandoned.
After the roof collapse, the building became a popular destination for urban explorers. Most of the contents of the building were auctioned off in 2014.
The building’s owner believes it will be easier to sell the land the stadium sits on if the structure is razed. The city hopes to redevelop the site with an office building, hotel and restaurants.
• Red Bull turns a BMX rider loose in the ravaged shell of the Silverdome
- Dan Gartland
