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All the United States Michigan Pontiac Pontiac Silverdome
Pontiac Silverdome is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Pontiac Silverdome

What was once the largest NFL stadium.

Pontiac, Michigan

Added By
Chris Condon
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Exploring the field.   exploringwithchris / Atlas Obscura User
The Pontiac Silverdome, surrounded by its sprawling parking lot.   Ken Lund/CC BY-SA 2.0
Inside the stadium hallways.   exploringwithchris / Atlas Obscura User
Photographing the seats.   exploringwithchris / Atlas Obscura User
View from the roof of the former stadium.   exploringwithchris / Atlas Obscura User
  michellekhan121 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Pontiac Silverdome was the former home of the Detroit Lions. The stadium, built in 1975, pioneered a new type of stadium ceiling: domed fiberglass held up by air pressure. In its 31 years of operation it hosted football, soccer, basketball, and ultimate frisbee games, concerts, WrestleMania, and even a mass by Pope John Paul II. It closed after the Lions left for Ford Field and has been deteriorating ever since.

When it opened in 1975 with a seating capacity of over 80,000, the Silverdome was the largest stadium in the NFL. Today it is a ghostly sight in its ruinous state. The stadium was sold in 2009 to buyers who had no plans for it. It briefly reopened for a few sporting events, then closed again; subsequently, it was announced the stadium would be auctioning off its property. Some equipment was sold, but most of the stadium was left to decay.

As for the famous silver dome, it collapsed in 2014 and now lies in tatters across the stadium. Exposed to the elements, moss began to grow on the cement floors. There are no plans to repurpose the stadium, but its demolition has been stalled since 2015. Not much is left inside the derelict Silverdome. It's currently a popular site for urban exploration, but hopefully soon will make way for new growth in the city of Pontiac.

Update December 2017: Demolition has begun—though they had a little trouble at first. It is now used as an automotive overfill lot.

Update August 2018: The Silverdome has been demolished. 

Related Tags

Sports Abandoned

Know Before You Go

Trespassing in the stadium is illegal, but security might be willing to allow visitors inside. Be careful because as of June-July 2017, there is work being done to demolish it. There are people working and police cars making sure no one gets in and a lot of the entrances are now blocked off.

Community Contributors

Added By

exploringwithchris

Edited By

Greg Jones, Molly McBride Jacobson, cederkate, michellekhan121...

  • Greg Jones
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • cederkate
  • michellekhan121
  • mariellemoen
  • lulielu
  • Apmadoc

Published

February 27, 2017

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Silverdome
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZao6Qe006Q&t=46s
  • http://www.viralforest.com/abandoned-pontiac-silverdome-detroit/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Silverdome#Site_re-development
  • https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/local/silverdome-falls-summit-place-right-behind-as-the-palace-goes-quiet-how-county-venues-changed/article_afb5101a-03c8-11e9-a8de-8bff9250e3a5.html
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_94wECaQ7E
Pontiac Silverdome
1200 Featherstone Rd, Pontiac, MI 48342
Pontiac, Michigan
United States
42.646036, -83.254278
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