One of the vital iconic World Cup stadiums was left to rot after being bought for the value of a small London flat
The Pontiac Silverdome was deserted after getting used for the 1994 World Cup (Picture: Detroit Unseen)
As the US prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, soccer followers are trying again on the legacy of the 1994 event, the final time the occasion was held on American soil. Nonetheless, not one of the venues from that summer season will function this time – and a number of other have since vanished solely, most notably the Pontiac Silverdome.
As soon as a defining landmark in Detroit, Michigan, the Silverdome was dwelling to the Detroit Lions and, till 2001, stood as the most important stadium within the NFL. It staged among the most vital moments in world sport and tradition, from Tremendous Bowl XVI to Wrestlemania III and the 1987 go to of Pope John Paul II. Its place in soccer historical past was sealed throughout the 1994 World Cup, when it hosted 4 matches, together with the opening sport between the USA and Switzerland. However regardless of its scale and pedigree – the Silverdome’s story resulted in stark distinction.
The 80,300-seat area was constructed at a price of £41million In 2009, it was bought for simply over £430,000, a determine corresponding to the value of a modest two-bedroom flat in London.
When it opened, it featured a fibreglass material roof held up by air strain – the primary use of the architectural method in a serious athletic facility. In 1993, the state-of-the-art stadium performed host to Germany vs England within the US Cup – with Germany operating out 2-1 winners.
This summer season, 11 of the 16 venues are within the US: the MetLife Stadium in New York, the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GEHA Subject at Arrowhewad Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, the NRG Stadium in Houston, Levi’s Stadium in San Franciso, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Lincoln Subject in Philadelphia, Lumen Subject in Seattle, the Gillette Stadium in Boston and the Onerous Rock Stadium in Miami.
Will all of them nonetheless be standing in 32 years’ time? Or will they observe the identical destiny because the once-grand Pontiac Silverdome, a venue that slipped from world prominence into obsolescence with startling ease? As ever, solely time will inform.
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