Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome: Newspapers

Newspapers:

• Minneapolis: Minneapolis Star Tribune
• Minneapolis: Minneapolis Tribune
• Minneapolis: Minneapolis Star
• St. Paul: St. Paul Pioneer Press
• St. Paul: St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch

 Dates:

• December 1, 1978: Construction on a domed downtown stadium is narrowly approved by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.
• December 20, 1979: Construction begins on the Metrodome.
• June 1981: Construction begins on the Metrodome's inflatable roof.
• October 2, 1981: The Metrodome roof is inflated for the first time.
• Nov. 19, 1981: The Metrodome roof deflates due to heavy snow and is re-inflated 4 days later.
• April 3, 1982: The Metrodome opens with an exhibition game between the Minnesota Twins and the Philadelphia Phillies.
• April 6, 1982: The first regular season baseball game is played in the Metrodome with the Minnesota Twins losing to the Seattle Mariners.
• May 28, 1982: Twins right-fielder Tom Brunansky hits the first home run in the Metrodome.
• September 11, 1982: The first University of Minnesota Gophers football game is played in the Metrodome.
• Sept. 12, 1982: The first regular season football game is played in the Metrodome with the Minnesota Vikings winning over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• November 20, 1982: The first Minnesota High School Prep Bowl is played in the Metrodome.
• December 30, 1982: Heavy snow causes the Metrodome roof to collapse.
• April 14, 1983: The Metrodome roof collapses for a third time due to heavy snow, postponing a Twins game.
• June 1983: Air conditioning is installed in the Metrodome.
• July 16,1985: The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is played in the Metrodome with the National League winning 6-1 .
• April 27, 1986: The Metrodome roof rips during a windstorm, forcing an evacuation of part of the crowd.
• June 26, 1986: The first rock concert is held at the Metrodome, featuring Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead.
• October 17, 18, 24, and 25, 1987: Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 of the first World Series games played in an indoor stadium take place in the Metrodome. 
• October 25, 1987: The Minnesota Twins win the World Series in the Metrodome.
• November 1989- April 1990: The Timberwolves play their inaugural season in the Metrodome.
• April 17, 1990: The Timberwolves' final game at Metrodome draws crowd of 49,551.
• October 19, 20, 26, and 27,1991: Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 of the World Series are played in the Metrodome.
• October 27, 1991: The Minnesota Twins win the World Series in the Metrodome.
• January 26, 1992: Super Bowl XXVI is played in the Metrodome.
• April 3, 1992: The Metrodome celebrates its 10 year anniversary.
• March 19- April 6, 1992: The NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament games are played in the Metrodome.
• May 1992: NAMES project AIDS Memorial Quilt is displayed at the Metrodome.
• September 15, 1992: Guns-n-Roses, Metallica, and Faith No More concert is held at the Metrodome.
• October 17,1992: A tenth anniversary party for the Metrodome, free and open to the public, is held onsite.
• January 17, 1999: The Vikings play in the NFC Championship game at the Metrodome and lose in overtime.
• March 13- April 2, 2001: The NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament games are played in the Metrodome.
• April 3, 2002: The Metrodome celebrates its 20 year anniversary.
• March 12, 2006: 15,000 to 20,000 fans gather at Metrodome for Kirby Puckett's public memorial service.
• May 2006: Minnesota legislature passes the necessary funding measure for Target Field, a new outdoor stadium for the Twins.
• April 3, 2007: The Metrodome celebrates its 25 year anniversary.
• November 4, 2007: Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson sets the NFL single-game rushing record with a 296-yard outing.
• October 2009: The Metrodome is renamed Mall of America Field (at the H.H.H. Metrodome).
• October 4, 2009: The Minnesota Twins play their final regular season game in the Metrodome.
• October 11, 2009: The Minnesota Twins play their final game in the Metrodome.
• December 10, 2010: The Metrodome roof collapses, due to heavy snow.
• April 3, 2012: The Metrodome celebrates its 30 year anniversary.
• March 1, 2012: An agreement is reached for the Vikings to build a replacement for the Metrodome, located on the same site. 
• December 29, 2013: The Minnesota Vikings play their final game in the Metrodome, winning against the Detroit Lions.
• January 18, 2014: The Metrodome roof is deflated for the last time, to prepare for demolition of the building.
• April 17, 2014: Demolition of the Metrodome is completed four weeks ahead of schedule.

"Domed City Grid Stadium Proposed," by Jim Shoop. Article in Minneapolis Star, November October 22, 1970.

"A Downtown Football Stadium: Asset or Burden?". Article in Minneapolis Tribune, June 9, 1971.

 "Downtown Woos Vikings with Promise of Home". Article in Minneapolis Tribune, October 3, 1971.

"A Stadium for Each of Us," by Jim Klobuchar. Article in Minneapolis Star, February 5, 1972.

"Most Oppose Downtown Dome". Article in Minneapolis Star, February 22, 1972.

"The Great Domed Stadium Debate". Special section in Minneapolis Star, January 15, 1973.

"Stadium Gets a Boost with a Pledge Report," by Eric Pianin. Article in Minneapolis Star, March 13, 1973.

"Governor Says Stadium Needed to Keep Teams". Article in Minneapolis Star, April 9, 1975.

"Financing: Where would more than $46 million come from? And where would it go?" Special section in Minneapolis Star.

"Minnesotans Fear Loss of Pro Teams if No Stadium Built". Article in Minneapolis Tribune, March 24, 1976.

"Perpich Signs Stadium Bill". Article in Minneapolis Tribune, May 17, 1977.

"Residents Fight Site for Domed Stadium". Article in Minneapolis Star, July 7, 1977.

"Panel Picks Downtown Stadium". Article in Minneapolis Tribune, December 2, 1978.

"The Dome Deal: City Gave Developers Rights to 50-Block Area". Article in Minneapolis Star, October 9, 1981.

Metrodome Opening Souvenir Section. Special section in Minneapolis Tribune, March 28, 1982.

"Retractable Dome roof study OKd," by David Shaffer. Article in St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, January 19, 1989.

"Minnesota's Playing Hard to land 1992 Super Bowl," by Randy Furst. Article in Minneapolis Star-Tribune, January 20, 1989.

"Metrodome: Ten Eventful Years," article in St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 13, 1992.

"The Memory Dome," article in St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 3, 1992.

"Explosives take down more parts of the Metrodome," by Chris Havens. Article in Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 24, 2014.

The Minnesota Historical Society holds the world's largest collection of Minnesota newspapers, with dates ranging from 1849 to the present day.

Past issues of most newspaper titles are available on microfilm in the MNHS library, but there is also digital access to select newspapers. 

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