Doomed domes

Atlanta Falcons

Doomed domes

Once the jewel of sports facilities, covered roof domed stadiums - including the Georgia Dome in Atlanta - are being scrapped in favor of retractable or open-roof facilities with luxe amenities.

Once the crown jewel of stadium design, multi-sport domed facilities are being cast aside in favor of more elaborate architecture filled with luxury and premium suites. The Georgia Dome will soon follow in the steps of the Kingdome, the RCA Dome - and the latest likely victim of the wrecking ball - the Astrodome.

One dubbed the "eight wonder of the world," the world's first multi-purpose stadium in Houston was home to the city's baseball (Astros 1965-1999) and the NFL (Oilers 1966-1997) franchises. It was spacious enough to fit an 18-story building under its 208-foot high roof. The stadium also was home to the city's rodeo for nearly four decades. The stadium hasn't been home to a sports team since 1999 and has been closed to all events since 2009.

The future of the Houston Astrodome appears set after voters rejected a $200 million proposal to save the stadium from the threat of demolition and convert it into a giant convention and event center and exhibition space.

The home of the Atlanta Falcons since its opening in 1992, the Georgia Dome, which seats more than 71,000, has hosted two Super Bowls (1994 and 2000); the SEC Championship; the Chick-fil-A and Peach Bowls; three Final Fours (2002, 2007 and 2013), along with regional semifinals and finals in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2012; and NCAA Women's Final Four in 2003.

The Georgia Dome will be demolished to give way to the Atlanta Falcons' $1.2 billion retractable roof stadium near the Dome. The facility is scheduled to be built by 2017.

Seating more than 82,000, the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., was the largest stadium in the NFL until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C. opened in 1997. The home of the Detroit Lions from it's debut in 1975 until 2001, the Silverdome played host to a number of events and teams. The Detroit Pistons called it home from 1978 to 1988, as did the USFL's Michigan Panthers, the Motor City Bowl, and the Cherry Bowl. The Silverdome also hosted the 1979 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl XVI in 1982, and the 1988 and 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Midwest Regionals. The Silverdome sits vacant nowadays. The roof was permanently deflated in January 2013 as an energy saving measure. The Lions play at Ford Field in downtown Detroit.

Indianapolis' RCA Dome played host to the NFL's Colts franchise for 24 seasons, from 1984 until 2007. The dome also served as the site of the 1985 NBA All-Star Game; four Final Fours (1991, 1997, 2000, 2006); and the 2005 Women's Final Four.

The roof of the RCA Dome was deflated in September 2008 in preparations for its demolition. The stadium was replaced by a new retractable-roof stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium.

Opened in 1976, Seattle's Kingdome was home to the city's baseball, football, soccer and basketball franchises. The stadium hosted several major sports events, including the Soccer Bowl in 1976, the Pro Bowl in 1977, baseball's All-Star Game in 1979, the NBA All-Star Game in 1987, and the NCAA Final Four in 1984, 1989, and 1995.

The Seattle Seahawks last played in the Kingdome in 1997. It was once closed for four months after problems with ceiling tiles. The Kingdome, which seated 66,000, was demolished by implosion on March 26, 2000.

Minneapolis' Metrodome has played host to the Minnesota Vikings since 1982. Baseball's Minnesota Twins called it home from 1982 to 2009. When it opened in April 1982, it was the second major sports facility to feature a fiberglass fabric roof self-supported by air pressure - the Silverdome as the first. It remains the only stadium to have hosted a Super Bowl (1992), a World Series (1987, 1991), an All-Star Game (1985), and and NCAA Final Four (1992, 2001). The dome is scheduled to be demolished in February 2014 to make way for a new stadium for the Vikings.

1/11

Once the crown jewel of stadium design, multi-sport domed facilities are being cast aside in favor of more elaborate architecture filled with luxury and premium suites. The Georgia Dome will soon follow in the steps of the Kingdome, the RCA Dome - and the latest likely victim of the wrecking ball - the Astrodome.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Georgia students organize protests against ICE after Minnesota killings

Alerts

PHOTOS: Snellville's Brookwood High School students rally and march against ICE

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

PHOTOS: Georgia readies for incoming ice storm

PHOTOS: Metro Atlanta ICE protest join national effort

PHOTOS: Falcons fall again Sunday, this time to Seahawks

PHOTOS: Panthers defeat Falcons in overtime

PHOTOS: Falcons work overtime in Germany before losing

PHOTOS: Falcons fall at home to Dolphins