Fans thirsting for a bit of Metrodome history may buy the aging stadium's bright-blue seats.
Metrodome seats to be sold to the public
Prices for the blue souvenirs will range from $40 to $80.
December 28, 2013 at 3:07AM
As the final days of the Dome dwindle, members of the general public can buy the seats for $60 each, plus tax. Community organizations and nonprofit groups will be charged $40 a seat. And those fans with an emotional attachment to a specific seat or group of seats will be charged $80 each, plus tax. Single and multiple seats can be purchased as well.
The pricing structure was officially released Friday after the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority awarded the seat-removal contract to Fridley-based Albrecht Sign Co. A minority-owned firm, Albrecht also installed signs at Target Field, the Minneapolis home of the Minnesota Twins.
The Dome has more than 60,000 blue seats, and orders must be placed with Albrecht by Jan. 7. Orders for more than 200 seats must be received by the firm by next Thursday.
Time is tight — power will be shut off at the Dome on Jan. 18, and its roof deflated shortly thereafter, as demolition of the structure begins in order to make way for the new $1 billion Vikings stadium. Sunday's Vikings game against the Detroit Lions will be the team's final game in the Dome.
About 70 organizations have requested seats, ranging from 50 seats to 500, said Michele Kelm-Helgen, chairwoman of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. "There's a lot of nostalgia coming from all this," she said, noting that the seats are original to the 31-year-old stadium (although some have been replaced).
"The Dome was built for $55 million, so we've more than gotten our money's worth," she added.
Seat buyers must arrange a pickup date with the firm and transport the seats themselves. Seats must be paid for in cash, credit card or certified check before pickup.
There will be a three- to four-day window to pick up seats beginning Jan. 14. All no-shows or missed pickup times will result in additional fees (although the company did not immediately reveal the amount for late fees).
Contact Tony Manning at the Albrecht Sign Co. to buy seats or to request more information: 763-754-2899 or tony@albrechtsigncompany.com.
Unsold seats will be recycled, because, after all, they're basically steel and plastic.
Janet Moore • 612-673-7752
From small businesses to giants like Target, retailers are benefitting from the $10 billion industry for South Korean pop music, including its revival of physical album sales.
