Upon winning an international design competition, local architects McGranahan and Messenger completed the Tacoma Dome at a cost of $44 million; it opened on April 21, 1983.[4] At 530 feet (160 m) in diameter and 152 feet (46 m) in height, the arena seats 20,722 for basketball games, with a maximum capacity of 21,000. It is the largest arena with a wooden dome in the world by volume[5] (the Superior Dome in Marquette, Michigan, is a larger-diameter geodesic dome at 536 feet (163 m), but is 143 feet (44 m) high and seats a maximum of 16,000).[6]
The wood which was used to make the roof came from trees that were downed in the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Unlike most other arenas of its size, the arena contains little in the way of fixed seating, so as to maximize the flexibility of the seating arrangements and the shape of the playing field. It can also host American football, albeit with seating reduced to 10,000.
The dome's first event was a concert by American singer/actor Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band as part of the Dome's opening festivities, April 24, 1983.[7] It was the Seattle SuperSonics' home floor for the 1994–95 season while the Seattle Center Coliseum was being renovated, and was used for various regular Sonics games during other seasons. It also hosted the Tacoma Rockets of the WHL from 1991 to 1995, the Tacoma Sabercats of the WCHL from 1997 to 2002, and the Tacoma Stars indoor soccer team of the MISL from 1983 to 1992.
Bon Jovi filmed portions of their music video for the song "Lay Your Hands on Me" during their May 10, 1989 show at the Dome. Mötley Crüe performed at the Tacoma Dome on October 15, 1987, as part of their Girls, Girls, Girls Tour. During this performance, drummer Tommy Lee realized his dream of playing a drum solo upside down in a 360-degree rotating cage.[11]Michael Jackson was scheduled to perform three concerts there on October 31 and November 1 and 2, 1988, during his Bad Tour. Although all the shows sold out, the concerts were cancelled because of the performer's serious health problems.[12]Billy Graham hosted one of his crusades in the Dome's first year of operation. He returned to the venue in 1991. During both crusades, Graham averaged 30,000 spectators every night.[citation needed]
The Professional Bull Riders hosted an annual Built Ford Tough Seriesbull riding event at the dome between 2003 and 2009. World Championship Wrestling held their Spring Stampedepay-per-view at the dome on April 11, 1999. Diamond Dallas Page defeated WCW World Heavyweight ChampionRic Flair, Hollywood Hogan and Sting (with Randy Savage as special guest referee) in a Four Corners match to win the title. During a Monster Jam event at the Tacoma Dome in January 2009, a piece of debris from a truck flew into the stands during a freestyle performance, killing a six-year-old spectator and injuring another spectator.[13] This is so far the only fatality to occur at a Monster Jam event.
On February 2, 2016, the Tacoma Dome started new security procedures in light of its sold-out AC/DC concert. The new enhancements included metal detector wands at each entrance, a bag size restriction, the prohibition of backpacks, and the search of all bags before entry.[14] In November 2016, the City of Tacoma approved a two-year, $21.3 million renovation project.[15] The renovations took place over the summer of 2018, with the cost rising to $30 million,[16] and were completed on October 8, 2018.[17]
The venue hosted WWE's Stomping Grounds pay-per-view event on June 23, 2019, the first professional wrestling pay per view since Spring Stampede 20 years earlier. In addition, the qualifying matches for the eleventh and thirteenth seasons of American Ninja Warrior took place at the Dome.
Shania Twain – June 13, 1998, with Leahy, May 3, 2018 Shania Now Tour
A Perfect Circle – April 9, 2004, with The Mars Volta
Above & Beyond – March 21, 2015, with Mat Zo, Myon & Shane 54 and 16 Bit Lolitas
The Acquire the Fire Concert – May 3, 2003 and May 4, 2007
AC/DC – October 13, 1983, with Fastway and Quiet Riot, August 19, 1986, with Queensrÿche, June 16, 1988, with White Lion, January 16, 1991, with King's X, February 10, 1996, with The Poor, April 20, 2001, with Wide Mouth Mason, November 30, 2008, with The Answer, August 31, 2009, with The Answer, and February 2, 2016 as the opening night of their 2016 North American leg.
Bryan Adams – August 18, 1985 and May 9, 1992, with The Storm
Aerosmith – March 14, 1990, with Skid Row, October 25, 1994, with Collective Soul and Pride & Glory, November 12, 2002, Kid Rock & Twisted Brown Trucker and Must and August 8, 2012, with Cheap Trick
Rhett Akins – November 21, 2003, with Jeff Carson, Daryle Singletary and Chad Brock
Jason Aldean – September 27, 2013, with Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett
American Idol Live! – September 2, 2006, July 27, 2007, July 12, 2008 and July 7, 2009
Kenny Chesney – June 17, 2004, with The Rascal Flatts and Uncle Kracker, June 25, 2005, with Gretchen Wilson and Blaine Larsen and July 22, 2011, with Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker
Mark Chesnutt – November 17, 2004
Chevelle – June 4, 2008, with Candlebox and Another Black Day
Chicago – April 12, 1985 and September 24, 1988
Eric Church – March 18, 2017
Eric Clapton – September 27, 1988, with Buckwheat Zydeco and September 6, 1992, with Curtis Stigers
Whitney Houston – August 17, 1994, with Smoothe Sylk
Los Inquietos del Norte – April 12, 2008 and May 23, 2010
Iron Maiden – February 10, 1987, with The Vinnie Vincent Invasion, September 19, 2000, with Queensrÿche and Halford, April 11, 2016 with The Raven Age, and September 5, 2019 with The Raven Age.
Alan Jackson & The Strayhorns – March 22, 1995, November 11, 2000, with Brad Paisley & The Drama Kings and May 9, 2008, with Miranda Lambert
JAY Z – April 21, 1999, with Method Man & Redman and DMX and December 16, 2011, with Kanye West
Billy Joel – May 8, 1984 and April 15, 1990
Elton John – August 31, 1984, September 9–10, 1995 and January 24, 2001, with Billy Joel,September 17-18,2019
The Jonas Brothers – June 28, 2009, with Jordin Sparks, Honor Society and The Wonder Girls October 12, 2019 with Bebe Rexha, and Jordan McGraw
Journey – August 19, 1983, with Bryan Adams
Judas Priest – May 26, 1984, with Great White, May 18, 1986, with Dokken and November 22, 2014, with Steel Panther
The Judds – February 24–25, 2000, with Jo Dee Messina
The Jurassic 5 – August 24, 2002
KBKS 106.1 KISS–FM's Jingle Bell Bash – December 21, 2002, December 7, 2003, December 5, 2004, December 4, 2005, December 10, 2006 and December 4, 2007
Toby Keith – February 8, 2003, with The Rascal Flatts and Amy Dalley, November 13, 2004, with Terri Clark and January 21, 2006, with Joe Nichols and Scotty Emerick
KISS – August 31, 1996, with Stabbing Westward and February 2, 2019
KoЯn – April 9, 1999, with Rob Zombie and Videodrone, November 19, 2002, with Disturbed, Trust Company, Earshot and Marz, November 14, 2004, with Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin and Skindred and March 5, 2006, with Mudvayne and 10 Years
Lady Gaga – August 21, 2010, with Semi Precious Weapons, January 14, 2013, with Lady Starlight and Madeon, and August 5, 2017 to over 19,000 people.
Kendrick Lamar – August 1, 2017, with Travis Scott and DRAM (rapper)
Miranda Lambert – February 13, 2015, with Justin Moore, RaeLynn and Jukebox Mafia
Avril Lavigne – April 28, 2003, with Simple Plan and Gob
Dave Matthews Band – November 4, 1998, with Maktub
Paul McCartney – October 19, 2002
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill – August 12, 2000 and June 14, 2007, with Halfway to Hazard and Lori McKenna
Megadeth – November 28, 1987
Metallica – June 29, 1987, with Anthrax and Metal Church
George Michael – September 23, 1988 and October 9, 1991
Eddie Money – May 16, 2002
Mötley Crüe – November 22, 1985, with Autograph, October 15, 1987, with Whitesnake, June 8, 1990, with Tesla, August 12, 2011, with Poison and The New York Dolls, and July 24, 2015 with Alice Cooper.
Willie Nelson & Family – March 12, 1985, with Merle Haggard & The Strangers and Waylon Jennings
New Kids on the Block – November 22, 2008, with Natasha Bedingfield and Lady Gaga and July 9, 2013, with Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees
The Newsboys ��� May 13, 2000 and October 28–29, 2005, with Brad Stine
Nickelback – February 20, 2007, with Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin, May 7, 2010, with Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and Sick Puppies and June 23, 2012, with Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days
Page & Plant – May 25, 1995, with The Tragically Hip
Brad Paisley & The Drama Kings – February 28, 2009, with Dierks Bentley and Crystal Shawanda and February 11, 2012, with The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery
Pantera – July 25, 2001, with Slayer, Static-X, Skrape and Morbid Angel
Katy Perry – September 13, 2014, with Tegan and Sara and Ferras; February 3, 2018
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – November 9, 2002, with Jackson Browne
Robert Plant – June 11, 1985
Poco – May 29, 1993 and November 19, 1996, with Steppenwolf
The Police – September 1, 1983, with The Fixx and The Thompson Twins
Poison – March 28, 1989, with Tesla
Prince – February 14–15, 1985, with The Revolution, Apollonia 6 and Sheila E. and December 19, 2011, with The New Power Generation
The Rascal Flatts – March 4 and April 7, 2007, with Jason Aldean, April 5, 2008, with Taylor Swift, October 29, 2009, with Cledus T. Judd and Darius Rucker and September 22, 2012, with Little Big Town, The Eli Young Band and Edens Edge
RBD – May 7, 2006
Lionel Richie – December 14, 1986, with Sheila E.
Jenni Rivera – September 24, 2011
The Rock & Worship Roadshow – March 25, 2010 and January 12, 2014
Kenny Rogers – January 13 and April 14, 1985, with Dolly Parton and Sawyer Brown and January 23, 1986
The Rolling Stones – November 6, 2002, with Sheryl Crow
Run–D.M.C. – December 31, 1986, with Bobby Brown and El DeBarge
Rush – May 18, 1984, with The Gary Moore Band
Santana – October 25, 2000, with Everlast and November 15, 2003
Scorpions – August 29, 1985, with Ratt and Bon Jovi and October 12, 1988, with Winger
Joan Sebastian – June 22, 2003, June 20, 2004, with Marc Anthony and September 5, 2010
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – March 29, 2013, with Joe Walsh
Ed Sheeran – July 29, 2017
Blake Shelton – November 11, 2005, with The Rascal Flatts and Keith Anderson and September 19, 2014, with Neal McCoy, The Band Perry and Dan + Shay
Slipknot – September 26, 2001, with System of a Down, No One, American Head Charge and Rammstein and April 16, 2005, with Lamb of God and Shadows Fall
Michael W. Smith – May 21, 2003, with Third Day
Britney Spears – May 29, 2002, with Nikka Costa and 3rd Faze, April 9, 2009, with The Pussycat Dolls and June 29, 2011, with Nicki Minaj, Jessie & The Toy Boys and NERVO
Spice Girls – August 8, 1998
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – October 17 and 19, 1984, May 5–6, 1988, October 13, 1992 (without The E Street Band), April 4, 2000 and August 21, 2002
Stellar Kart – May 3, 2008
Rod Stewart – July 8, 1984, December 10, 1991 and December 15, 1993
Stone Temple Pilots – November 17, 2001
George Strait & The Ace in the Hole Band – April 13, 1996, January 27, 2007, with Ronnie Milsap and Taylor Swift, March 27, 2010, with Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack and April 12, 2014, with Chris Young
Johann Strauss Orchestra – June 13, 2009
Los Super Reyes – March 21, 2010
Taylor Swift – September 7, 2011, with NEEDTOBREATHE and Josh Kelley and August 31, 2013, with Ed Sheeran and Casey James
Roberto Tapia – September 3, 2011, with El Komander and Los Acosta
Los Tigres del Norte – August 25, 2002, August 30, 2008, with Lupillo Rivera, August 15, 2009 and August 13, 2011, with Grupo Montéz de Durango and Larry Hernandez
Justin Timberlake – June 8, 2003, with Christina Aguilera and The Black Eyed Peas and September 8, 2007, with Good Charlotte and Timbaland
Tool – November 8, 2001, with Tricky
The Marshall Tucker Band – May 7, 2004
Tina Turner – September 29, 1984, September 29, 1985, with John Parr, October 4, 1987 and May 12, 2000, with Lionel Richie and Janice Robinson
Conway Twitty – April 7, 1992, with George Jones and Vince Gill
U2 – April 20–21, 1992, with The Pixies and April 12, 2001, with PJ Harvey
The Up in Smoke Tour – August 15, 2000
Keith Urban – September 12, 2009, with Little Big Town
Van Halen – November 14, 1991, with Alice in Chains, January 22, 1992, with Alice in Chains and May 5, 2012, with Kool & the Gang
ZZ Top – July 25–26, 1986, with The Unforgiven, November 18, 1990, with The Jeff Healey Band and November 24, 1999, with Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
Art[]
The Tacoma Dome is also known for its controversial neon art. In 1984, a work by Stephen Antonakos displayed inside the dome became the subject of intense debate over public funding of artworks for public works projects.[18]
^Barnes, Brooks (June 26, 2009). "Michael Jackson: A thrilling pop icon, a troubled soul". Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2018. He was scheduled to appear at the Tacoma Dome in October 1988 — selling more than 70,000 tickets over three nights — but canceled the day before the opening show, due to the flu.
^Bryant, Tammi (November 30, 2016). "CITY OF TACOMA ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RENOVATE THE TACOMA DOME"(PDF). TacomaDome.org. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Renovations will begin in summer of 2017. New seating will be installed during summer of 2018, with all renovations completed by fall of 2018.
Tacoma Dome Station
Tacoma Station
