Today in 1975, 62,000 screaming fans watched the Detroit Lions beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the very first game ever played at the Silverdome.
Oh, the Silverdome... Let's take a quick trip down memory lane:
September 19th, 1973: Construction started.
The Lions were sharing the Tigers' home turf at Briggs Stadium, so this was a big, domey, silvery big deal for everyone. It took 2 years and cost $55.7 million.
August 23rd, 1975: Not quite ready, but screw it!
The Silverdome was 95% complete, but that didn't stop the first ever Lions game from taking place. So what did that unfinished 5% look like? Well... Unfinished parking lots, toilets that didn't flush, massive traffic jams, and a dome that was half finished, allowing the previous night's downpour to soak the Astroturf.
But who cares? The Lions won 27-24 with 3 touchdowns coming in the last quarter!
September, 1977: Hello, Pistons!
The Detroit Pistons left Cobo and played at the Dome for the next 10 years, until the Palace was ready for the '88 season. A portable wooden court and grandstands were installed on the field.
But most importantly, the Bad Boys were born here.
January 24, 1982: Super Bowl XVI
Bengals vs 49ers. And the first Super Bowl ever played in a cold weather state. In Michigan. Because we rock. 'Nuff said.
March 29th, 1987: BIGGER! BETTER! BADDER!
It doesn't get any more '80s than this... Hulk Hogan vs André the Giant. Wrestlemania III packed over 93,000 fans into the Silverdome, setting a record for the largest indoor stadium attendance ever in North America. Several million watched over Pay-Per-View, also setting a record.
December 21st, 1997: Barry gets 2,000 yards.
Barry rushed for 184 yards against the the New York Jets, in a 13-10 win. And ended the season with 2,053 yards. The third guy ever do it in a single season in the NFL.
January 26th, 2002: The last game.
The Lions played the Dallas Cowboys. 27 seasons and 208 games played. It was a bittersweet moment... Excited to go to the new digs, but man, oh man, a lot of stuff happened here.
