Met Center, originally known as Metropolitan Sports Center, opened on October 21, 1967, in Bloomington, Minnesota, built just north of Metropolitan Stadium at a cost of about $5.8 million. The arena was constructed specifically to give the expansion Minnesota North Stars an NHL home, and it hosted the team’s debut against the California Seals the night it opened.
Over its 26-year run, Met Center became one of the most respected buildings in the NHL, prized for its fast ice and strong sightlines. It also hosted ABA, NASL, and MISL tenants, major concerts, and two Stanley Cup Finals, before the North Stars’ 1993 relocation to Dallas led to its closure and eventual demolition.
- Dallas Stars played here 1967–1993. See every Stars arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Minnesota North Stars (NHL, 1967-1993)
- Location: Bloomington, Minnesota
- Opened: October 21, 1967
- Closed: April 13, 1993 (demolished December 13, 1994)
- Capacity: About 15,784 for hockey
- Notable fact: Hosted the 1972 NHL All-Star Game and the 1981 and 1991 Stanley Cup Finals
Home of the North Stars
Met Center was built for a single purpose: giving Minnesota’s new NHL expansion franchise a permanent home. The North Stars played there from their first season in 1967 through their final campaign in Minnesota in 1993, reaching the Stanley Cup Final twice, in 1981 and 1991. Before the North Stars’ arrival in the building full-time, it also briefly hosted the ABA’s Minnesota Muskies and Pipers.
The arena carried a somber distinction as well: North Stars player Bill Masterton suffered a fatal head injury during a January 1968 game there, the only death directly resulting from an on-ice injury in NHL history.
Closure and Demolition
When the North Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993, Met Center lost its primary tenant and closed soon after. With no anchor franchise to sustain it, the aging arena was torn down on December 13, 1994. The site in Bloomington was later redeveloped, and the Mall of America now stands near where the North Stars once played.
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USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Keeps chili hot from the tailgate to the fourth quarter.
Team-color face paint in a twist-up stick — no brushes, no mess in the car.
Met Center FAQs
Why was Met Center demolished?
The North Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993, and without an NHL anchor tenant, the arena was closed and demolished in December 1994.
What was Met Center’s seating capacity?
Met Center seated about 15,784 fans for hockey games, with slightly higher capacity configurations used for other events.
Did Met Center host any major NHL events?
Yes, it hosted the 1972 NHL All-Star Game and two Stanley Cup Finals, in 1981 and 1991.
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