The former home of the Lions and Pistons will be demolished in 2016 after a six-month-long attempt to sell the building, the Detroit Free Press reported.
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Built in 1975 for $55.7 million, the Silverdome, in suburban Pontiac, Mich., was most recently home to the Lions but has been vacant since they relocated in 2002 to a more urban setting at Ford Field in downtown Detroit. Since then the stadium’s problems have multiplied, especially after its trademark inflatable canvas roof was damaged in a 2013 winter storm.
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The property — formerly the host to such world-famous events as the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, World Cup and WrestleMania — has been owned since 2009 by the Triple Investment Group, which bought it at auction from the city of Pontiac for $583,000.
Triple Investment Group will demolish the stadium to make room for future redevelopment. A conceptual plan shows potential commercial, industrial, retail and residential development on the 127-acre Silverdome property.
In January, Ohio photographer Johnny Joo (pronounced “Yo”) gained access to the abandoned stadium, and his pictures depict decayed ruins covered in moss and garbage.
