The Pontiac Silverdome stadium in Michigan was once hailed as the finest in the world when it opened in 1975. It hosted major events for decades but fell into disrepair after losing its main tenants in the 1980s and 90s. The stadium struggled financially and was sold for just $583,000 in 2009. It continued deteriorating with roof collapses in 1985 and 2013. The Silverdome came to symbolize the decline of Detroit and its auto industry. Demolition of the abandoned eyesore began in December 2017. It had been used recently only for storage despite hopes it could spark redevelopment. The last event was a BMX competition in 2015, with the rider noting “it’s like a war zone.”
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Loren Estleman’s Detroit novels are a great history of the Motor City.
‘Whiskey River’ covers Prohibition Era, Edsel is about Ford’s biggest blunder, and King of The Corner covers the 1990s.