How the Metrodome roof collapse got the Minnesota Vikings a new stadium

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the home stadium of the Minnesota Vikings, suffered a catastrophic failure in December 2010 when its unique roof collapsed.

The incident occurred after a blizzard hit the Minneapolis area, dumping over 17 inches of snow on the city. The roof of the stadium collapsed under the weight of snow and ice.

The Metrodome opened in 1982 and immediately became the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. The team had earlier played its NFL games at the now-demolished Metropolitan Stadium. The roof of the Metrodome was made with Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric, which was held up by air pressure.

The roof at the Metrodome was the first of its kind in the United States and the collapse led the stadium to lose one of its distinctive attributes. The collapse of the roof had both short and long-term effects on the Vikings' future in terms of home games.

Immediate effect of the Metrodome roof collapse on the Minnesota Vikings

The incident immediately raised problems for the scheduled meeting between the Vikings and the New York Giants. The NFL sought an alternative for the noon kickoff game to go ahead as scheduled, but their effort was to no avail.

League officials had contemplations about holding the game at the TCF Bank Stadium, the new home of the University of Minnesota Gold Gophers. However, the university authorities informed them that the notice was too sudden, as the stadium had been shut down for an extended period. It would take a week to prepare the stadium for such games.

The NFL was left with no other choice but to reschedule the game. With the absence of a local option, the league announced the matchup would take place on Monday night in Detroit. The situation practically left the Vikings without a home stadium, leading to an unexpected loss of revenue. They played their final two games of the season at the TCF Bank Stadium.

Minnesota Vikings build the U.S. Bank Stadium

U.S. Bank Stadium

The Vikings were already planning to move to a new stadium before the incident. However, the collapse provided the impetus to move forward with the plans. It highlighted the need for a new stadium that could provide a safe and reliable home for the team.

The collapse of the Metrodome roof helped galvanize public support for a new stadium. The public was able to immediately relate to the need for a new facility, seeing the damage caused by the collapse. It also increased political support for the project, as Minnesota lawmakers recognized the need for a modern stadium.

Having played the 2014 and 2015 seasons inside the University of Minnesota campus, the Vikings opened their new stadium in 2016. The U.S. Bank Stadium was completed at a construction cost of $1.061 billion.

The collapse of the Metrodome roof had practical implications for the design of the new stadium, which became the first fixed-roof stadium in the NFL since Ford Field (2002). Its transparent roof can withstand heavy loads of snow and other extreme weather conditions.