Not too many Vikings fans will shed a tear over this news: This coming season will be the team’s last one in the much-maligned Metrodome.
The new stadium’s architect, HKS Inc., and newly-named builder, Mortenson Construction, met Wednesday and decided on a demolition timetable, the Star Tribune reports.
The 31-year-old Dome likely will be torn down in January or February of 2014, to make way for the new $975 million stadium, the newspaper reports.
The Vikings will spend the 2014 and 2015 seasons outdoors in TCF Bank Stadium, current home of the Gophers. The new Vikings stadium is scheduled to be ready for the 2016 season.
The 64,000-seat Metrodome was once home to the Minnesota Twins and University of Minnesota Gopher football team, both of which have moved in to modern new digs in the last few years.
The aging Metrodome has weathered some harsh barbs from fans, who decry its cramped concourses and lack of modern amenities. Fans have said it never really worked as a dual baseball/football venue. And there was that roof collapse.
But the stadium has had its proud moments. Relive some of them in this video collection.
