The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome stood in downtown Minneapolis from 1982 to 2014 as one of America’s most distinctive sports venues. Named for Minnesota’s beloved former Vice President and U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey, the dome opened on April 3, 1982, and quickly became home to the Minnesota Vikings, the Minnesota Twins, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers football program — making it one of the few stadiums in the country to simultaneously host major NFL and MLB franchises.
Covered by a unique air-supported Teflon-coated fiberglass roof held up by pressurized air rather than physical support structures, the Metrodome earned a reputation for its deafening crowd noise and cauldron-like atmosphere. It witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in Minnesota sports history before being demolished in early 2014 to make way for U.S. Bank Stadium.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 900 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Opened: April 3, 1982
- Final Event: December 29, 2013
- Demolished: April 17, 2014
- Capacity (Football): 64,121
- Capacity (Baseball): 46,564 (expandable to 55,883)
- Construction Cost: $55 million
- Primary Tenants: Minnesota Vikings (NFL, 1982–2013), Minnesota Twins (MLB, 1982–2009), Minnesota Golden Gophers (1982–2008)
- Notable Fact: Hosted two World Series championships (1987, 1991) and Super Bowl XXVI (1992)
Life Inside the Dome
The Metrodome’s air-supported roof — a Teflon-coated fiberglass membrane kept aloft by positive air pressure — made it one of the engineering curiosities of American sports. Fans entering through revolving doors helped maintain the internal pressure, and the roof’s acoustic properties turned the stadium into a noise trap that opposing teams dreaded. The Vikings’ home-field advantage was widely credited in part to crowd volumes that regularly exceeded 110 decibels.
The dome’s quirks extended to baseball as well. A white Teflon ceiling made fly balls notoriously difficult to track, and a short right-field wall topped by a Plexiglas barrier created a unique ground-rule double when balls ricocheted into the stands — a feature critics called the ‘baggie.’ Despite its oddities, the Metrodome consistently sold out for Vikings games and drew strong Twins attendance during championship runs.
Championship Legacy and Final Years
The Metrodome cemented its place in sports history with two Minnesota Twins World Series titles — in 1987 and again in 1991, four years apart — both of which went the full seven games and featured the Twins winning every home contest. The stadium also hosted Super Bowl XXVI in January 1992, where the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37–24, and welcomed the NCAA Final Four in 1992 and 2001.
In December 2010, a blizzard caused the roof to spectacularly collapse on national television, forcing two NFL games to be relocated. After the Vikings secured a new stadium deal, the Metrodome hosted its final NFL game on December 29, 2013. Roof deflation began January 18, 2014, and full demolition was completed by April 17, 2014 — four weeks ahead of schedule — clearing the site for what would become U.S. Bank Stadium.
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Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FAQs
Why was the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome demolished?
The Metrodome was torn down in 2014 to clear the way for U.S. Bank Stadium, a new $1.06 billion facility that opened in 2016 on the same downtown Minneapolis site and became the permanent home of the Minnesota Vikings.
What teams called the Metrodome home?
The Minnesota Vikings (NFL, 1982–2013), the Minnesota Twins (MLB, 1982–2009), and the Minnesota Golden Gophers college football team (1982–2008) were the primary tenants. The Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) also played their inaugural 1989–90 season there.
Did the Metrodome’s roof ever collapse?
Yes. The most dramatic collapse occurred on December 12, 2010, when a powerful blizzard dumped heavy snow that punctured and deflated the air-supported roof on live television. The Metrodome also experienced partial collapses or deflations in 1981, 1982, and 1983 during its early years.
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