Competition to Determine Future of Silverdome

A competition is taking place to help determine what happens to the dilapidated Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit. 

Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Allsport

The Silverdome was the most prominent building of its kind when it opened in 1975, and throughout three decades proudly hosted world-class events including Superbowl XVI,  '94 FIFA World Cup, sold-out concerts by some of the world's biggest names in music, and  the 1987 Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II attended by 93,000 worshippers, to name a few.  It is perhaps best known as being home arena to the Detroit Lions up until 2002 when the team moved to Ford Field in Detroit.

Triple Investments purchased the vacant property in 2009 for $583,000, and it trying to figure out what to do with it ever since, according to the press release. Many of its contents were sold at auction last year. Its roof has collapsed and its condition has prompted criticism from area residents.

That’s why Triple Investment is sponsoring the Silverdome International Design Competition, which is billed as an effort that will shape the future of the City of Pontiac.

The competition is calling all architects, planners, students, engineers, designers and artists from around the world to participate in submitting their ideas, design, renderings, and/or original concept for the redesign of the Silverdome and its surrounding property.

The deadline is April 12. Prizes are $3,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place.  Submissions about the Silverdome and its surrounding property are being sought from architects, planners, students, engineers, designers and artists.