Kingdome debt finally paid off 15 years after demolition

Updated MAR 26, 2015 7:15p ET

By John Ferensen

It only took a scant 39 years and exactly 15 years after its demolition but the Kingdome, the hideous mound of concrete where CenturyLink Field stands today,has finally been paid off.

The Kingdome where the Seattle SuperSonics won an NBA title (technically, they clinched it on the road, but played all their home games there), and where the Seahawks and Mariners mostly stank opened for business in 1976, famously hosting a Led Zeppelin concert in its infancy. Attendees thought the roof would collapse. It didnt, and it would only take 18 more years to happen.

The ceiling wouldnt give out until July 1994, when falling tiles forced the Mariners onto the road the remainder of a strike-shortened season, while the Seahawks had to play an entire season at Husky Stadium across town. The Kingdome is also whereBo Jackson nearly ran to Tacoma,The Doublehappened, where Michael Jordan entertained 38,067 people, and whereTom Chambers won the 1987 NBA All-Star Game MVPplaying in front of a home crowd.

The Kingdome was rendered obsolete by the late 1990s, and was replaced by two sports palaces: Safeco Field and the aforementioned CenturyLink Field. To put the Kingdomes terrible payment plan in perspective (the falling ceiling tiles only added to the cost), Safeco (opened in 1999)was paid off in 2011, while The Clink (opened in 2002) is on schedule to be paid off by 2021.

R.I.P. Kingdome. Finally.

More from Next Impulse Sports:

See the rest here:
Kingdome debt finally paid off 15 years after demolition