Mar 25, 2025 - History
Remembering the Kingdome's fall, 25 years on
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It took about 4,700 pounds of explosive to bring the concrete dome down. Photo: Robert Sorbo/Sygma via Getty Images
Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the Kingdome, which made way for construction of the stadium now known as Lumen Field.
Stunning stat: After the detonation of more than 4,000 pounds of explosives, it took less than 20 seconds for the Kingdome's 25,000-ton roof to collapse into a pile of rubble.
Flashback: The Kingdome opened in 1976, and went on to host Mariners and Seahawks games for more than two decades.
- But in 1994, some of the roof tiles fell down before a Mariners game, crashing into the seats below.
- The roof damage cost millions to repair — bonds that King County didn't pay off until 2015, 15 years after the venue's destruction.
