Turns out, there'll be no big bang.
Metrodome demolition won't be much of a blast
Builders of the new Vikings stadium plan to demolish the Metrodome piece by piece, possibly starting in February, instead of using explosives because it's close to many downtown businesses.
August 6, 2013 at 9:25PM
Instead, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome will be torn down piece by piece once the Minnesota Vikings finish out their final NFL season in the downtown Minneapolis venue.
Michele Kelm-Helgen, chairwoman of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which is overseeing the construction of the team's new stadium on the Metrodome site, said Tuesday that demolition work could begin as early as February, assuming the Vikings qualify for post-season play and host a playoff game in January.
She said demolition crews will spend about six weeks removing pieces of the stadium that can be salvaged or recycled and deflating and removing its roof. After that, crews would begin tearing down the stadium walls and foundation.
Kelm-Helgen said Mortenson Construction, the builder of the new stadium, recently decided on the staged teardown rather than the big bang option because the building is "so close to so many other downtown businesses."
Groundbreaking on the new stadium is set for October in a parking area east of the Dome. The new stadium is scheduled to open in time for the 2016 NFL season.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
