Air let out of Metrodome for final time
The Minnesota Vikings’ Metrodome has deflated for the last time.
Officials from the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority opened the stadium’s relief vents to begin the deflation at 7:15 a.m. Saturday in downtown Minneapolis. Ten acres of Teflon-coated fabric were done deflating in 35 minutes after the fans that provided air to support the roof were turned off.
Bill McCarthy, vice chairman of the authority, called it “a sad and exciting day at the same time.” The deflation and the demolition of the Metrodome will clear the way for construction of a new $1 billion Vikings stadium.
The muffin-shaped dome opened in 1982 and was once a focal point of professional sports in Minnesota. In addition to being the home field for the Vikings and the Twins - who won two World Series there - the Timberwolves played their first NBA season in the Metrodome in 1989. The Twins left in 2009 for Target Field, leaving only the Vikings as the Metrodome’s major tenant.
Crews will begin demolishing the building Monday. The new stadium, which will not have a roof, is expected to be ready for the 2016 NFL season and will be located in roughly the same spot as the Metrodome. The team plans to play at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium, which is also exposed to the elements, during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Few people were out and about in the early morning hours, and those who were walking by the Dome didn’t notice the deflation occurring.
“Really? That’s crazy,” said JonSilveira, a Minneapolis resident who was going to work as the roof silently sunk. “I didn’t notice it.”
When asked if he was sad to see the stadium go, he replied, “No, but I’d rather not pay for the new one.” I’ll be back
Arnold Schwarzenegger, 66, will not only star in a new Bud Light Super Bowl ad, he’s reportedly being paid $3 million to do so.
Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-born body builder who gained superstar status as an actor before serving eight years as governor of California, has made appearances in ads overseas, but for the most part has steered clear of making advertisements in the United States.
“Arnold has shot a series of ads in Japan but pretty much hasn’t done anything in the U.S.,” a source told the New York Post. “Persuading him to promote a beer is a big coup for Bud Light.”
And it’s a lot of money to drink beer.
Top dollar
Jack Finarelli of SportsCurmudgeon.com, on the Dodgers giving their ace pitcher a record seven-year, $215 million contract: “Cross Clayton Kershaw’s name off the list of underpaid athletes.”Quote of the day “We’ve got to finish up
in regulation. I think that should be the answer to that question. Let’s finish it up in regulation.” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson on his team losing in overtime to Georgia
Sports, Pages 22 on 01/19/2014