University of Minnesota Athletics
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1982-2008)
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, home of Golden Gopher from 1982-2008, was the nation's largest air-supported, multiple-use facility. It was the site of two World Series, a Super Bowl and two NCAA Final Fours.
In addition to serving as a home facility for the Golden Gophers, the Metrodome was home to the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins. In 1989, it served as home to the Timberwolves, who set the all-time NBA attendance record in their inaugural season.
The Metrodome was located in downtown Minneapolis, just minutes away from the University campus. Its seating capacity was listed at 64,172, but more than 65,000 fans have packed the place for Minnesota football, including a crowd of 65,089 for the game against border-rival Wisconsin in 2008. A stadium record 65,184 attended the Minnesota-Iowa game in 2002.
The noise generated by nearly 65,000 fans gave the Metrodome a nickname: The ThunderDome. Baseball fans around the country remember the moment during the late innings of Game 6 of the 1987 Minnesota Twins-St. Louis Cardinals World Series when ABC-TV's decibel meter broke because of the mind-numbing roar which bordered on illegal.
About the Dome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which opened in 1982, was financially self-supporting. It was the only public stadium in the country that did not rely on a continuing tax subsidy to finance operations, maintenance or debt payments.
The Metrodome was covered by more than 10 acres of Teflon-coated fiberglass. It was the only air-supported dome of its kind in the country, and fans entered the stadium through revolving doors that prevented release of the air that kept the dome upright. The roof required 250,000 cubic feet of air pressure per minute to remain inflated. In all, the Metrodome cost less than $75 million dollars to build..
|
Metrodome Attendance
|
||||
|
Capacity: 62,218 (1982-90) / 64,172 (1991-2008)
|
||||
| Year | Att. | Gm. | Largest Crowd | Avg. |
| 1982 | 353,388 | 6 | Iowa (63,872) | 58,898 |
| 1983 | 243,674 | 5 | Wisconsin (62,689) | 48,735 |
| 1984 | 310,745 | 6 | Iowa (63,479) | 51,791 |
| 1985 | 426,989 | 7 | Wisconsin (64,571) | 60,985 |
| 1986 | 335,150 | 6 | Iowa (65,018) | 55,848 |
| 1987 | 371,919 | 7 | Wisconsin (62,412) | 53,131 |
| 1988 | 312,656 | 7 | Iowa (63,894) | 44,665 |
| 1989 | 237,642 | 6 | Nebraska (58,368) | 39,607 |
| 1990 | 243,511 | 6 | Iowa (64,694) | 40,585 |
| 1991 | 218,219 | 6 | San Jose State (47,914) | 36,369 |
| 1992 | 227,445 | 6 | Iowa (57,368) | 37,908 |
| 1993 | 239,973 | 6 | Wisconsin (64,798) | 39,996 |
| 1994 | 253,851 | 6 | Iowa (53,340) | 42,309 |
| 1995 | 291,443 | 6 | Wisconsin (64,016) | 48,574 |
| 1996 | 261,113 | 6 | Iowa (53,349) | 43,519 |
| 1997 | 269,385 | 6 | Wisconsin (57,563) | 44,898 |
| 1998 | 249,854 | 6 | Iowa (50,640) | 41,642 |
| 1999 | 318,086 | 7 | Wisconsin (63,108) | 45,441 |
| 2000 | 284,112 | 6 | Northwestern (59,004) | 47,352 |
| 2001 | 260,912 | 6 | Wisconsin (55,890) | 43,485 |
| 2002 | 292,492 | 7 | Iowa (65,184) | 41,785 |
| 2003 | 309,038 | 7 | Michigan (62,374) | 44,148 |
| 2004 | 285,438 | 6 | Iowa (64,719) | 47,573 |
| 2005 | 294,147 | 6 | Wisconsin (65,089) | 49,024 |
| 2006 | 313,239 | 6 | Iowa (64,140) | 52,206 |
| 2007 | 362,538 | 7 | North Dakota State (63,088) | 51,791 |
| 2008 | 342,705 | 7 | Iowa (64,071) | 48,958 |