View source for Kingdome

{{short description|Multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington (1976–2000)}}
{{About|the stadium in Seattle|the arena in Sydney|Sydney Entertainment Centre|the arena in Davao|KJC King Dome}}
{{distinguish|Kingdom (disambiguation){{!}}Kingdom}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name        = Kingdome
| fullname            = King County Stadium
| nickname            = King County Stadium
| logo_image          = Kingdome logo transparent 1981.svg
| image               = Kingdome across parking lot in 1996.jpg
| image_size          = 250px
| caption             = Exterior of the Kingdome from the north parking lot in 1996
| address             = 201 South King Street
| location            = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], U.S.
| coordinates         = {{Coord|47|35|43|N|122|19|53|W|type:landmark_scale:4000|display=inline, title}}
| publictransit       = {{rail-interchange|us|Amtrak}} [[King Street Station]]
| parking             = ~1,100 spaces
| broke_ground        = November 2, 1972
| opened              = March 27, 1976
| closed              = January 9, 2000
| demolished          = March 26, 2000
| owner               = [[King County, Washington|King County]]
| operator            = King County Department of Stadium&nbsp;Administration
| suites              = 46
| surface             = [[AstroTurf]]
| scoreboard          = [[Diamond Vision]]
| construction_cost   = $67 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|67000000|1976}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect           = [[NBBJ|Naramore]], [[John Skilling|Skilling &]] [[Emil Praeger|Praeger]]
| structural engineer = [[Magnusson Klemencic Associates|Skilling, Helle, Christiansen & Robertson, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=King County, Department of Stadium Administration, Domed Stadium, Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA |url=https://digital.lib.washington.edu/architect/structures/5365/ |access-date=October 28, 2012 |website=[[Pacific Coast Architecture Database]] |publisher=[[University of Washington]]}}</ref>
| general_contractor  = Donald M. Drake Company (1972–74)<br />[[Kiewit Corporation|Peter Kiewit Sons Construction Company]] (1974–76)<ref name="DrakeLawsuit-NYTimes">{{Cite news |last=Ledbetter |first=Les |date=December 5, 1977 |title=Seattle Stadium Suit a Legal Test on Cost Overruns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/05/archives/seattle-stadium-suit-a-legal-test-on-cost-overruns.html |access-date=February 24, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |page=18}}</ref>
| former_names        =
| tenants             = [[Seattle Seahawks]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) (1976–1999)<br />[[Seattle Sounders (NASL)|Seattle Sounders]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]) (1976–1983)<br />[[Seattle Mariners]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) (1977–1999)<br />[[Seattle SuperSonics]] ([[National Basketball Association|NBA]]) (1978–1985)
| seating_capacity    = [[Baseball]]: 59,166<br />[[American football|Football]]: 66,000<br />[[Basketball]]: 40,000
[[File:KingdomeDimensions.svg|frameless]]
}}
[[File:Map of Pioneer Square Historic District - cleaned and corrected.jpg|thumb|This 1996 map of the Pioneer Square-Skid Road Historic District shows the location of the Kingdome (at the lower right in the map).]]
The '''Kingdome''' (officially the '''King County Stadium''')<ref>{{Cite act|date=August 25, 1975|type=Ordinance|index=2483|legislature=[[King County Council]]|title=AN ORDINANCE relating to the multi-purpose public stadium specified in King County Resolution No. 34567; providing a name therefore.|url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk/OldOrdsMotions/Ordinance%2002483.pdf}}</ref>{{NoteTag|It was also legally known as the '''King County Multipurpose Domed Stadium''', the '''King County Multipurpose Stadium''', and the '''King County Domed Stadium'''.<ref name="Stadium - KCC">{{Cite act|date=March 26, 2012|type=Section|index=4|legislature=King County Council|article=22 (Stadium)|title=Name|article-type=King County Code Title|url=https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk/code/31_Title_22.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Macintosh |first=Heather |date=January 1, 2001 |title=Kingdome opens to a crowd of 54,000 on March 27, 1976 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2527 |access-date=April 3, 2010 |website=[[HistoryLink]]}}</ref>}} was a [[multi-purpose stadium]] located in the [[Industrial District, Seattle|Industrial District]] (later [[SoDo, Seattle|SoDo]])<ref>{{Cite news |last=Upchurch |first=Michael |date=July 22, 2010 |title=Seattle's slightly amphibious Sodo subject of new photo-history |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/seattles-slightly-amphibious-sodo-subject-of-new-photo-history/ |access-date=March 17, 2021 |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> neighborhood of [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. Owned and operated by [[King County, Washington|King County]], it was the home stadium of the [[Seattle Seahawks]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and the [[Seattle Mariners]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB); it was also home to the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) from 1978 to 1985 and additionally served as both the home [[Association football|outdoor]] and [[indoor soccer|indoor]] venue for the [[Seattle Sounders (NASL)|Seattle Sounders]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL). The Kingdome measured {{convert|660|ft}} wide from its inside walls.<ref name="Stadium facts - KC">{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2000 |title=24 years of Kingdome facts & figures |url=http://your.kingcounty.gov/stadium/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182351/http://your.kingcounty.gov/stadium/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |website=[[King County#Government|King County]]}}</ref>

The idea of constructing a covered stadium for a [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major league]] [[American football|football]] or [[baseball]] team was first proposed to Seattle officials in 1959. Voters rejected separate measures to approve [[government spending|public funding]] for such a stadium in 1960 and 1966, but the outcome was different in 1968; King County voters approved the issue of $40 million in [[municipal bond]]s to construct the stadium. Construction began in 1972 and the stadium opened in [[1976 Seattle Seahawks season|1976]] as the home of the Sounders and Seahawks.<ref name="sochl">{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Tony |date=December 10, 1976 |title=Seattle's own Cardiac Hill? |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IqhfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2818%2C3309986 |work=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]] |page=3B |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The Mariners moved in the [[1977 Seattle Mariners season|following year]], and the SuperSonics moved in the [[1978-79 Seattle Supersonics season|year after that]], only to move back to the [[Seattle Center Coliseum]] in 1985. The stadium hosted several major sports events, including the [[Soccer Bowl]] in August [[Soccer Bowl '76|1976]], the [[Pro Bowl]] in January [[1977 Pro Bowl|1977]], the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] in July [[1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1979]], the [[NBA All-Star Game]] in [[1987 NBA All-Star Game|1987]], and the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Final Four]] in [[1984 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1984]], [[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989]], and [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995]].

During the 1990s, the Seahawks' and Mariners' respective ownership groups began to question the suitability of the Kingdome as a venue for each team, threatening to relocate unless new, publicly funded stadiums were built. An issue was that neither team saw their shared tenancy as profitable; both teams also questioned the integrity of the stadium's roof as highlighted by the collapse of ceiling tiles onto the seating area before a scheduled Mariners game in 1994. As a result, public funding packages for new, purpose-built stadiums for the Mariners and Seahawks were respectively approved in 1995 and 1997.

The Mariners moved to Safeco Field, now known as [[T-Mobile Park]], midway through the 1999 season, and the Seahawks temporarily moved to [[Husky Stadium]] after the [[1999 NFL season|1999 season]]. On March 26, 2000, the Kingdome was demolished by [[building implosion|implosion]]. The Seahawks' new stadium, now known as [[Lumen Field]], was built on the site and opened in [[2002 Seattle Seahawks season|2002]]. King County finally paid off the bonds used to build and repair the Kingdome in 2015, fifteen years after its demolition.<ref name="debtretired">{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=March 26, 2015 |title=Kingdome debt to be retired 15 years after implosion |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/kingdome-debt-to-be-retired-15-years-after-implosion/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130720/http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/kingdome-debt-to-be-retired-15-years-after-implosion/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=July 11, 2015 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

==Concept and construction==
In 1959, Seattle [[restaurateur]] David L. Cohn wrote a letter to the [[Seattle City Council]] suggesting the city needed a covered stadium for a [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major professional sports]] franchise.<ref name="HLCrowley">{{Cite web |last=Crowley |first=Walt |date=February 2, 2006 |title=National Football League awards Seattle a franchise for future Seahawks on December 5, 1974 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7633 |access-date=March 15, 2011 |publisher=HistoryLink.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaiman |first=Beth |date=September 10, 2003 |title=David Cohn, 85; top restaurateur, major booster of UW athletics |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20030910&slug=cohnobit10m |access-date=March 26, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> A domed stadium was thought to be a must because of Seattle's frequent rain. At the time, the city had [[Husky Stadium]] and [[Sick's Stadium]] for [[college football|college]] [[American football|football]] and [[Minor League Baseball|minor league baseball]], respectively, but both were deemed inadequate for a major league team.<ref name="HLCrowley" />

[[File:Proposed floating stadium, 1963.gif|thumb|left|Concept drawing of a floating stadium on the Seattle waterfront, 1963]]
In 1960, [[King County]] commissioners placed a $15 million [[municipal bond|bond]] issue measure on the ballot to fund construction of a stadium, but voters on November 8 defeated it with only 48 percent approval because of doubt the stadium could be built within that budget, and lack of a guarantee the city would have a team to play in the stadium.<ref name="HLCrowley" /><ref name="BigLeague26-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|pp=26–27}}</ref> By 1966, the [[National Football League]] and the [[American League]] were both considering granting the city an [[expansion team|expansion franchise]], and as a result, the [[King County Council]] placed another bond issue measure on the ballot for a September vote. While it received 51.5 percent approval, it did not reach the 60 percent required to proceed; the requirement was due to a 1932 initiative that mandated a supermajority for tax levies over 40 [[Property tax in the United States#Tax rates|mills]].<ref name="HLCrowley" /><ref name="Pilots-PNQ">{{Cite journal |last=Mullins |first=William H. |date=2009 |title=Not Quite Big League: The Pilots and Seattle in the 1960s |journal=Pacific Northwest Quarterly |volume=100 |issue=3 |pages=120–133 |issn=0030-8803 |jstor=40492203 |oclc=2392232}}</ref><ref name="BigLeague46-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|pp=46–47}}</ref>

In 1967, the American League granted Seattle an [[1969 Major League Baseball expansion|expansion]] franchise that would be known as the [[Seattle Pilots]]. The league clearly stated Sick's Stadium was not adequate as a major-league stadium, and stipulated that as a condition of being awarded the franchise, bonds had to be issued to fund construction of a domed stadium that had to be completed by 1970; additionally, the capacity at Sick's Stadium had to be expanded from 11,000 to 30,000 by [[Opening Day]] 1969, when the team was scheduled to begin playing. The Pilots were supposed to begin play in 1971 along with the [[Kansas City Royals]].  However, when [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Stuart Symington]] of [[Missouri]] got wind of those plans, he demanded both teams begin play in 1969. The American League had birthed the Royals and Pilots as a result of the [[Kansas City Athletics]] moving to [[Oakland]], and Symington would not accept the prospect of [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] waiting three years for baseball's return.<ref name="BigLeague52-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|pp=52–58}}</ref>

On February 13, 1968, King County voters approved the issue of $40 million in bonds to fund construction of the "King County Multipurpose Domed Stadium" with 62 percent in favor; it was part of the [[Forward Thrust]] group of [[municipal bond|bond]] propositions that, among other items, had a regional [[rapid transit]] system rejected.<ref name=HLCrowley/><ref name="BigLeague85-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|pp=85–86}}</ref> That year, a committee considered over 100 sites throughout Seattle and King County for the stadium; they unanimously decided the best site would be on the grounds of [[Seattle Center]], site of the [[Century 21 Exposition|1962 World's Fair]]. Community members decried the idea, claiming the committee was influenced by special interest groups.<ref name="Pilots-PNQ" /><ref name="BigLeague173-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|pp=173–174}}</ref><ref name="HLMacIntosh">{{Cite web |last=MacIntosh |first=Heather |date=March 1, 2000 |title=Kingdome: The Controversial Birth of a Seattle Icon (1959–1976) |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=2164 |access-date=March 15, 2011 |publisher=HistoryLink.org}}</ref>

The Pilots began play as planned in [[1969 Seattle Pilots season|1969]], but Sick's Stadium proved to be a problematic venue for fans, media, and visiting players alike. The Pilots only drew 677,000 fans that season, not nearly enough to break even. It soon became apparent that the Pilots would not survive long enough to move to their new stadium without new ownership. It was also obvious that the timetable for a new stadium would have to be significantly advanced, as Sick's Stadium was unsuitable even for temporary use. However, a petition by stadium opponents brought the dome project to a halt. The Pilots' ownership group had run out of money by the end of the season, and with the stadium plans in limbo, the team was forced to declare [[bankruptcy]]. Despite efforts by Seattle-area businessmen to buy the team, as well as an attempt to keep the team in Seattle through the court system, the Pilots were sold to [[Milwaukee]] businessman [[Bud Selig]], who relocated the team to Milwaukee and renamed it the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] a week before the start of the [[1970 Milwaukee Brewers season|1970 season]].<ref name="Pilots-PNQ" /><ref name="BigLeague190-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|pp=190–194, 229–233}}</ref>

[[File:Kingdome_under_construction_-_1973.jpg|thumb|left|The stadium under construction circa 1973]]

Despite the lack of a major league sports team to occupy it, the push to build the domed stadium continued. In May 1970, voters rejected the proposal to build the stadium at Seattle Center.<ref name=HLMacIntosh/><ref name="vinsettrp">{{Cite news |date=May 20, 1970 |title=Voters in Seattle reject proposals |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ipApAAAAIBAJ&pg=4838%2C1677344 |work=Spokesman-Review |page=1 |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> From 1970 to 1972, the commission studied the feasibility and economic impact of building the stadium on King Street adjacent to [[Pioneer Square, Seattle|Pioneer Square]] and the [[International District, Seattle|International District]]—a site that ranked at the bottom when the commission originally narrowed the field of possible sites in 1968.<ref name=HLMacIntosh/> This drew sharp opposition primarily from the International District community, which feared the impact of the stadium on neighborhood businesses located east of the site. The King Street site was approved 8–1 by the county council in late 1971,<ref name="sokinse">{{Cite news |date=December 1, 1971 |title=Stadium okehed inside Seattle |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=msleAAAAIBAJ&pg=4337%2C134361 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |page=15 |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and the groundbreaking ceremony in 1972 was held on November 2.<ref name="phgbcer">{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1972 |title=Protesters halt groundbreaking at Seattle domed stadium site |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZoJfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6088%2C850157 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |page=15 |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Several protesters attended the ceremony, disrupted the speakers, and at one point threw mud balls at them.<ref name=HLMacIntosh/><ref name=phgbcer/>

In bidding for construction of the stadium, which had separate offers for the dome and the rest of the stadium, Donald M. Drake Construction Company of [[Portland, Oregon]], was the winning contractor for both with respective bids of $28.9 million and $5.9 million. [[Kiewit Corporation|Peter Kiewit Sons Construction Company]] was the only other bidder, offering $30.57 million for the stadium and $5.8 million for the roof; the latter came with the caveat of the company using its own design consultant.<ref name="BigLeague253-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|p=253}}</ref> To help alleviate tension between the International District community and county officials, Drake emphasized the hiring of minorities, with minorities eventually representing 13 percent of the workers at the site; a [[community center]] and a shelter were also built in the neighborhood. However, the stadium's construction encountered numerous issues; in January 1973, six support beams for the roof were toppled as one or two of them buckled, bringing down the others in a [[domino effect]]. By January 1974, the stadium reached 50 percent completion; only reaching 60 percent completion in July, it was clear that Drake would not reach the December deadline at that point. It was also apparent that Drake was ill-prepared to work on a project with such scale, with numerous errors, delays, and short-staffing slowing down construction. Efforts to renegotiate the contract failed, and on November 22, Drake stopped work on the Kingdome. The county fired Drake on December 10, bringing in Kiewit to finish construction on the stadium.<ref name="DrakeLawsuit-NYTimes" /><ref name="BigLeague256-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|pp=256–261}}</ref>

[[File:1985 Mother's Cookies - Seattle Kingdome.JPG|thumb|Exterior of the Kingdome in 1985.]]
After [[Ralph Wilson]]'s threats to move the [[Buffalo Bills]] to Seattle came to naught with the construction of [[Highmark Stadium (New York)|Rich Stadium]],<ref name="mtexp">{{Cite news |date=January 15, 1971 |title=Memphis, Tampa express interest in Buffalo Bills |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19710115&id=ezMsAAAAIBAJ&pg=4930,2267693 |work=Spartanburg (SC) Herald |page=14 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> on December 5, 1974, the NFL awarded Seattle an expansion franchise to occupy the new stadium; the team was later named the [[Seattle Seahawks]].<ref name=HLCrowley/><ref name="nfselgrp">{{Cite news |date=December 5, 1974 |title=NFL selects Seattle group |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e5JYAAAAIBAJ&pg=4795%2C1781066 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=49 |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Construction lasted another two years, and the stadium held an opening ceremony on March 27, 1976.<ref name=HLMacIntosh/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ledbetter |first=Les |date=March 27, 1976 |title=Seattle Awaits Debut Of Kingdome Tonight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/03/27/archives/seattle-awaits-debut-of-kingdome-tonight.html |access-date=March 26, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=43}}</ref> It hosted its first professional sporting event two weeks later on April 9, an exhibition [[Association football|soccer]] game between the [[Seattle Sounders (NASL)|Seattle Sounders]] and [[New York Cosmos (1971–85)|New York Cosmos]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]. It set a record for the largest soccer audience in North America at 58,120.<ref name="hcvp">{{Cite news |date=April 10, 1976 |title=Huge crowd views Pele |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ylVOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3922%2C2278346 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=10 |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The stadium was finished at $20 million over budget, with part of the cost overrun covered by a $12.8 million out-of-court settlement in 1980 between the county and Drake's liability insurers.<ref name="BigLeague263-Mullins">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Mullins|2013|p=263}}</ref>

==Surface==
Like virtually all other multi-purpose stadiums, the Kingdome featured [[AstroTurf]] [[artificial turf]] for its playing surface, with its baseball configuration featuring dirt sliding pits around each base.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Divish |first=Ryan |author-link=Ryan Divish |date=March 17, 2019 |title='The slowest surface I've ever seen': Tokyo Dome turf yet another adjustment for Mariners in Japan |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-adjusting-to-the-new-artificial-turf-of-the-tokyo-dome/ |access-date=April 1, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Jack |date=July 2, 2015 |title=Throwback Thursday: Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium And The Era Of Multipurpose Mistakes |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/throwback-thursday-cincinnatis-riverfront-stadium-and-the-era-of-multipurpose-mistakes/ |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] |language=en}}</ref> When it was constructed, artificial turf was considered a must because the roof was likely to inhibit the growth of natural grass, like the [[Astrodome]]'s roof.<ref name="Turf-Times">{{Cite news |last=Farrey |first=Tom |date=November 14, 1991 |title=A Return To Football's Grass Roots? -- Artificial Turf May Not Make Sense, Even Here |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19911114&slug=1317170 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

The AstroTurf surface was first replaced in July 1983 during the MLB All-Star break; [[Monsanto]], the then-owner of AstroTurf, won the turf replacement contract over [[SuperTurf]] (then used by the Metrodome) with a bid of $1.2 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Finnigan |first=Bob |date=March 31, 1983 |title=Kingdome to get new rug during M's season |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F3CD68D6EE9F8F%25402445425-12F3CC37ABD5271B%254094-12F3CC37ABD5271B%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=July 13, 1983 |title=Sounder psych: ironing board and rock |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F429365F0F19B8%25402445529-12F3849D50399AD3%25401-12F3849D50399AD3%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E3 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> By request of the Mariners and Seahawks, it was replaced again in October and December 1990 at a cost of $2.56 million; the previous surface was sold off thereafter, with 25 rolls of it sold to the Tacoma Dome for $108,200.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farrey |first=Tom |date=October 14, 1990 |title=Boz poster still a hit with fans |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB5343C11326E2D |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=C4 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 26, 1991 |title=Rocket's agent says $13.2 million is NFL price tag |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB53477042EC1EC |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=B2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> A strip 40 feet by 4 inches was ripped off left field near second base during a [[field invasion]] by celebrating fans after the Mariners won the [[1995 American League West tie-breaker game|AL West tiebreaker game]] in 1995; it was replaced before the first Mariners home game in the ALDS.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 3, 1995 |title=Fans Tear Turf From Kingdome |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/oct/03/fans-tear-turf-from-kingdome/ |access-date=April 1, 2021 |work=Tacoma News Tribune |via=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref>

Before the 1990 replacement, the AstroTurf surface was converted from baseball to football configuration via the covering of the infield with turf strips; a one-piece surface was placed over the infield after the conclusion of the Mariners season.<ref name="Turf replace proposal, 1990 - Times">{{Cite news |last=Farrey |first=Tom |date=September 6, 1990 |title=Hawks, M's may get separate Dome turf |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB5342A38078800 |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The surface was attached together via both [[hook-and-loop fastener|Velcro]] and [[Zipper storage bag|Ziploc]] fasteners.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Withers |first=Bud |date=January 15, 1990 |title=Baseball players bugged the most by Kingdome's hard rug |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB04955C8E462AE |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=D2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> After the 1990 replacement, separate surfaces were installed for each team; the Seahawks specifically wanted a stiffer variation of AstroTurf. The replacement surfaces were attached together via [[zipper]]s.<ref name="Turf replace proposal, 1990 - Times" />

The underlying base of the surface was [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]], with the AstroTurf essentially consisting of a carpet on top of a pad with respective thicknesses of one-half inch and five-eights inch.<ref name="Turf-Times" /> Lumps, holes, and ridges were also present in the surface along with gaps within its seams.<ref name="Turf issues, 1984 - Times">{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Steve |date=September 8, 1984 |title=Necessary evil: Kingdome's 'chamber of horrors' artificial surface needs improving |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F8680A441E30CE%25402445952-12F863079323B8EA%254022-12F863079323B8EA%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=C1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> These factors combined to create a playing surface that was despised by both football and baseball players alike; after the 1998 season, a survey by the [[NFL Players Association]] found that 56.7 percent of Seahawks players rated the surface as "poor" or "fair", and was the worst-rated one in the [[AFC West]].<ref name="Turf issues, 1984 - Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 30, 1999 |title=Kingdome turf rated worst in AFC West, but if the money's right ... |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/01-30/0060_kingdome_turf_rated_worst_in_afc_.html |access-date=April 1, 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun}}</ref>

Injuries from playing at the Kingdome and its contemporaries occurred more often compared to stadiums with natural grass.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Underwood |first=John |date=August 12, 1985 |title=Just An Awful Toll |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/08/12/just-an-awful-toll |access-date=April 1, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=Time Inc.}}</ref> Of note, Seahawks running backs [[Sherman Smith]] and [[Curt Warner]] respectively suffered season-ending knee injuries in 1980 and 1984 during games at the Kingdome; additionally, the Kingdome's surface is partly blamed for [[Ken Griffey Jr.]]'s subsequent injuries and decline in performance after the Mariners traded him to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] at the end of the 1999 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lyons |first=Gil |date=September 5, 1984 |title=Knox says Curt's skills, not Astroturf, caused injury |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F867FCA11D9364%25402445949-12F8612F73E13209%254058-12F8612F73E13209%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lyons |first=Gil |date=September 23, 1980 |title=Hawks' Smith out for season with knee injury |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12ED3DCD6429D435%25402444506-12ED32BA0BB89EFE%254026-12ED32BA0BB89EFE%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 3, 2008 |title=Skip the what-ifs, and celebrate what Ken Griffey Jr. is on the verge of doing |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/skip-the-what-ifs-and-celebrate-what-ken-griffey-jr-is-on-the-verge-of-doing/ |access-date=April 1, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

==Football==

===Seahawks===
The expansion [[Seattle Seahawks]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) played their first game ever on August 1, [[1976 Seattle Seahawks season|1976]], a preseason game against the [[1976 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] at the Kingdome in which they lost 27–20 before a crowd of 60,825.<ref name="shlog">{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Tony |date=August 2, 1976 |title=Seahawks lose opening game |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tLsSAAAAIBAJ&pg=2818%2C74470 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=15 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The Seahawks' first regular season game was against the [[1976 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]] at the Kingdome on September 12. The Cardinals defeated the Seahawks, 30–24, with 58,441 fans in attendance.<ref name="40years-NewsTribune" /> At the end of that season, the venue hosted the [[1977 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]], the NFL's all-star game, on January 17, 1977.<ref name="pbopsidt">{{Cite news |date=January 17, 1977 |title=Pro battle of pride set in Dome tonight |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DvpLAAAAIBAJ&pg=5989%2C218977 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=15}}</ref>

The Seahawks hosted ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' games at the Kingdome twelve times in their history and were 9–3 in those games. The Seahawks and the [[History of the Oakland Raiders|Oakland]]/[[Los Angeles Raiders]] played five Monday Night games in the Kingdome in the 1980s with Seattle holding a 3–2 edge including a 37–0 blowout victory in 1986.<ref name="pro-football-reference.com">{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Seattle Seahawks vs. Las Vegas/LA/Oakland Raiders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=sea&tm2=rai&yr=all |access-date=April 14, 2021 |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> The next year, in [[1987 NFL season|1987]], [[Bo Jackson]] of the [[1987 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]] rushed for 221 yards, the most ever on MNF, and scored 2 touchdowns. One of his scores was a 91-yard touchdown and the other was a historic plowing into [[1987 Seattle Seahawks season|Seahawks]] high-profile rookie linebacker [[Brian Bosworth|Brian "The Boz" Bosworth]].

The Seahawks regularly sold out games at the Kingdome from its inception and throughout the 1980s; 117 consecutive regular-season home games were sold out between [[1979 Seattle Seahawks season|1979]] and [[1993 Seattle Seahawks season|1993]]. However, after [[Ken Behring]] took over ownership of the team from the [[Nordstrom]] family in [[1988 Seattle Seahawks season|1988]], the team began to decline in performance; after winning the [[AFC West]] that year, it suffered a franchise-worst 2–14 record in [[1992 Seattle Seahawks season|1992]]. Season ticket sales, which had reached 62,000 that year with a waiting list of 30,000, gradually decreased to 46,000 in [[1995 Seattle Seahawks season|1995]], with the team averaging 46,218 in attendance over five games at the Kingdome in [[1994 Seattle Seahawks season|1994]]; as a result, the Seahawks began failing to sell out games, resulting in their [[National Football League television blackout policies|blackout]] in the [[Seattle metropolitan area|Seattle market]]. After the blackout of the October 24, 1993 game versus the [[1993 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], one more game was blacked out that year, with five games blacked out the following year; [[KING-TV]], which as Seattle's [[NBC]] affiliate was the Seahawks' local broadcast home at the time, prevented further blackouts by purchasing all remaining unsold tickets for three games in 1993 and two games in 1994.<ref name="SeahawksAudience-Spokesman">{{Cite news |last=Newberry |first=Ron |date=August 18, 1995 |title=In Search Of An Audience Seahawks' Ticket Sales Hit All-Time Low; One Longtime Fan Couldn't Give Seats Away |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/aug/18/in-search-of-an-audience-seahawks-ticket-sales/ |access-date=March 18, 2021 |work=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref>

In the Seahawks' heyday, the Kingdome was known as one of the loudest stadiums in the league. Opposing teams were known to practice with [[jet engine]] sounds blaring at full blast to prepare for the painfully high decibel levels typical of Seahawks games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Arnold |first=Kirby |date=December 27, 1999 |title=Noisy farewell bid the Dome |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/12-27/0024_noisy_farewell_bid_the_dome.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528041528/https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/12-27/0024_noisy_farewell_bid_the_dome.html |archive-date=2023-05-28 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun |agency=Everett Herald}}</ref> It was where Seahawks fans, who were long called "the [[12th man (football)|12th Man]]" and led the Seahawks to retire the number 12 in honor of them in [[1984 Seattle Seahawks season|1984]], made their reputation as one of the most ravenous fan bases in the NFL, a reputation that has carried over to what is now Lumen Field.<ref name="SeahawksAudience-Spokesman" /> The Kingdome's reputation contributed to the NFL's [[1989 NFL season|1989]] vote in favor of enacting a rule penalizing home teams for excessive crowd noise; it was especially loathed by Seahawks fans during preseason games, with fan displeasure throughout the league leading commissioner [[Pete Rozelle]] to soften enforcement of the rule before the start of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenks |first=Jayson |date=December 11, 2019 |title=Remembering the time the NFL tried to silence its fans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1446285/2019/12/11/remembering-the-time-the-nfl-tried-to-silence-its-fans/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 19, 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref> Raucous Seahawks fans at the Kingdome were also some of the earliest performers of [[Wave (audience)|The Wave]].<ref name="Kingdome1983">{{Cite news |last=Barber |first=Michael A. |date=December 19, 1983 |title=First-rate reason to party: Seahawks in the playoffs |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |pages=A1, A3 |quote=They were part of The Wave yesterday, that unique Seahawk expression of fan unity – a spontaneous cheer that sweeps over the crowd as they stand and yell in unintelligible tongues for, each one believes, "my" football team. [...] There's also The Wave. No one has figured out what triggered this phenomenon of football. It begins as a roar in one end of the stadium and continues around, as each section of fans fumes up and yells to keep The Wave going. No one has figured out what all those people say when they yell, either. It is nothing intelligible. They just scream their hearts out.}}</ref>

The city of Seattle made numerous bids to host the [[Super Bowl]] during the Seahawks' tenure at the Kingdome. However, despite five bids over 12 years, the Kingdome was never awarded the opportunity to host a Super Bowl; its closest chance was in 1989 for [[Super Bowl XXVI]], which was awarded to the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] in [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krawczynski |first=Jon |date=February 3, 2018 |title=How the 1992 Super Bowl came to be, and paved the way for another big game in the Twin Cities |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/230275/2018/02/03/super-bowl-minneapolis-1992-2018-xxvi-lii-metrodome-us-bank-stadium-marilyn-carlson-nelson/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 24, 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hill |first=Craig |date=January 25, 2014 |title=Don't rule out possibility of Super Bowl in Seattle just yet |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/article25864465.html |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref> In its 1982 bid for [[Super Bowl XIX]], the [[Seattle City Council]] voted to give [[tax exemption]]s to the NFL if the league selected the Kingdome to host the game.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 2, 1982 |title=Sports Briefs |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/06/02/Sports-Briefs/9385391838400/ |access-date=March 24, 2021 |publisher=United Press International |language=en}}</ref>

The Seahawks played their final game at the Kingdome on January 9, [[1999 Seattle Seahawks season|2000]], suffering a first-round playoff loss to the [[1999 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] in their first playoff appearance since the 1988 season. The Dolphins scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to win 20–17; it marked the first home playoff loss for the Seahawks as well as the first road playoff win in 28 years for the Dolphins.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=King |first=Peter |author-link=Peter King (sportswriter) |date=January 17, 2000 |title=Like Old Times Playing as if he were still in his prime, Dan Marino led Miami over Seattle with a vintage fourth-quarter drive |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/01/17/like-old-times-playing-as-if-he-were-still-in-his-prime-dan-marino-led-miami-over-seattle-with-a-vintage-fourth-quarter-drive |access-date=March 24, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nobles |first=Charlie |date=January 9, 2000 |title=N.F.L. WILD-CARD PLAYOFFS; Whistling Past The Graveyard In the Kingdome |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/09/sports/nfl-wild-card-playoffs-whistling-past-the-graveyard-in-the-kingdome.html |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> It was the last NFL victory for [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] [[quarterback]] [[Dan Marino]] and head coach [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]], and it was also the last event the Kingdome ever hosted before its implosion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Ken |date=January 16, 2000 |title=Jaguars flay Dolphins, 62-7; 2nd-worst playoff loss; Marino: sad farewell? |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2000-01-16-0001160035-story.html |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ballparks: Seattle Kingdome |url=http://www.thisgreatgame.com/ballparks-kingdome.html |access-date=October 1, 2018 |publisher=This Great Game |quote=Shortly after the Kingdome’s final event—a Seahawks playoff game on January 9, 2000—the same blueprints used to erect the stadium were dusted off to give demolition crews a good idea of how to bring it down.}}</ref> The Seahawks had an overall record of {{winning percentage|101|83|record=y}} in the Kingdome, and were 2–1 in the postseason.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seattle Kingdome History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/stadiums/SEA98.htm |access-date=April 14, 2021 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref>

===Amateur===

====College====
The first football (and [[college football]] by extension) game played in the Kingdome occurred just after it opened in 1976, when the [[1976 Washington Huskies football team|Washington Huskies]] varsity team won 10–7 against a team of Husky alumni on May 1 before 20,470 fans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Phil |date=May 2, 1976 |title=Varsity Wins; No Fireworks |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A142FE773BA94746A%2540EANX-NB-16E9FD7EB95E4351%25402442901-16E9F795DFD1DD84%254018-16E9F795DFD1DD84%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=C1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rockne |first=Dick |date=May 2, 1976 |title=Varsity tops Alumni, 10–7 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E0BF7CCDAF5E3C%25402442901-12E0ADD765770A1F%2540132-12E0ADD765770A1F%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=H1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The Huskies looked into temporarily renting the Kingdome for the [[1987 Washington Huskies football team|1987 season]] when the north grandstand of [[Husky Stadium]] collapsed during construction on February 25; however, the Kingdome was ultimately not needed as the grandstand was completed in time for the team's first home game against the [[1987 Stanford Cardinal football team|Stanford Cardinal]] on September 5.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rockne |first=Dick |date=February 26, 1987 |title=After The Fall - The collapse at Husky Stadium leaves answered questions for the university, the project coordinator and UW football fans |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB5323CC1895C34 |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D4 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lange |first=Greg |date=January 18, 2001 |title=Husky Stadium collapses on February 25, 1987. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/2947 |access-date=May 22, 2021 |website=HistoryLink}}</ref> (Seven years later, the [[Seattle Seahawks]] would use Husky Stadium as their home field during the first half of the [[1994 Seattle Seahawks season|1994 season]] while [[Kingdome#1994_ceiling_collapse|the Kingdome's ceiling was under repair.]]) 

The Kingdome also hosted a game between the [[1976 Washington State Cougars football team|Washington State Cougars]] and [[1976 USC Trojans football team|USC Trojans]] on October 9, 1976.<ref name="tkidb">{{Cite news |last=Missildine |first=Harry |date=October 9, 1976 |title=Thompson's key in 'Dome Bowl' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FvQjAAAAIBAJ&pg=2977%2C3490770 |work=The Spokesman-Review |page=13 |via=Google News}}</ref> With 37,268 in attendance, USC running back [[Ricky Bell (running back)|Ricky Bell]] rushed for 346 yards and set the [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-8]] single-game rushing record; <!--later broken by [[Reuben Mayes]] of Washington State;--> the Trojans won by nine points, {{nowrap|23–14.<ref name="brftfsy">{{Cite news |date=October 10, 1976 |title=Bell runs for 346 yards as USC clips Cougars |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MOVVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5045%2C2225785 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |page=6C |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="ctw">{{Cite news |last=Missildine |first=Harry |date=October 10, 1976 |title=Ricky Bell leads SC's 23–14 win |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F_QjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5856%2C4249851 |work=The Spokesman-Review |page=D1 |via=Google News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Jim |title=<nowiki>Ricky Bell: 'The Bulldog'</nowiki> |url=http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091201aab.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117120017/http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091201aab.html |archive-date=November 17, 2007 |access-date=November 9, 2007}}</ref>}} In 1994, under then-new athletic director [[Rick Dickson]], the Cougars flirted with the idea of hosting an additional home game at the Kingdome starting in 1997; however, the plan never came to fruition.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rockne |first=Dick |date=September 7, 1994 |title=Cougar Notebook -- WSU Football In Kingdome? Ad Studies Possibility |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940907&slug=1929338 |access-date=March 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

{{anchor|Challenge Bowl}}In the late 1970s, the Kingdome hosted both instances of a [[Pacific-10 Conference]] all-star game called the Challenge Bowl; the bowl, sponsored by the [[Olympia Brewing Company]], pitted an all-star team of Pac-10 players against a similar team from another conference. The Pac-10 went undefeated with a 27–20 victory (as the Pac-8) over the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] on January 15, 1978, and a 36–23 victory over the [[Big Eight Conference|Big Eight]] on January 13, 1979.<ref name="40years-NewsTribune">{{Cite news |last=Hill |first=Craig |date=September 12, 2016 |title=Remembering Kingdome football, 40 years after first Seahawks game |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/nfl/seattle-seahawks/article101376657.html |access-date=March 19, 2021 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref>

During the same period, the [[Puget Sound Loggers|University of Puget Sound Loggers]] and [[Pacific Lutheran Lutes|Pacific Lutheran University Lutes]] also faced off at the Kingdome twice; the Loggers won both contests, defeating the Lutes 23–21 on September 17, 1977, with 13,167 in attendance, and then defeating them again 27–14 on September 23, 1978, before a crowd of 8,329.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=September 18, 1977 |title=U.P.S. nips Lutes before 13,167 in Kingdome |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E551EC1D4B6A95%25402443405-12E54BC8307F6DBA%2540138-12E54BC8307F6DBA%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=H11 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rudman |first=Steve |date=September 24, 1978 |title=Small Crowd Sees UPS Win |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A142FE773BA94746A%2540EANX-NB-16F2DCFCB02649F5%25402443776-16F1E30D64E3BBA6%254047-16F1E30D64E3BBA6%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=D8 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The 1977 game set a series attendance record at the time.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://cdn4.sportngin.com/attachments/document/0132/7803/1984_vs_UPS_Program.pdf |title=University of Puget Sound vs. Pacific Lutheran University Official Program, 1984 |date=1984 |publisher=Tacoma Athletic Commission |page=1 |chapter=1983 Reunion Sets Attendance Record}}</ref>

====Other levels====
The stadium also hosted the annual [[Washington Interscholastic Activities Association|WIAA]] [[high school football]] state championships in an event called the '''Kingbowl''' from 1977<!--Saturday, December 3--> through 1994;<ref name="kbrcst">{{Cite news |date=November 29, 1977 |title=Kingbowl forecast is 30,000 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ODxOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4877%2C6094558 |work=Spokesman-Review |page=19}}</ref><ref name="washmd">{{Cite news |last=Derrick |first=Merle |date=December 5, 1977 |title=What a show! |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ap0SAAAAIBAJ&pg=6825%2C900045 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=19}}</ref> the title games were moved to the [[Tacoma Dome]] in nearby Tacoma in 1995.<ref name="wmgttac">{{Cite news |date=May 25, 1995 |title=Washington moves games to Tacoma |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4ERWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2754%2C6073305 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |page=2D |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="tdplbruq">{{Cite news |last=Trimmer |first=Dave |date=June 15, 1995 |title=Tacoma Dome plan brings up questions about sites of semis |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=82FWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6649%2C4266266 |work=Spokesman-Review |page=C3}}</ref><!--<ref>{{Cite web |title=WIAA - Washington Interscholastic Activities Association |url=http://www.wiaa.com/ardisplay.aspx?ID=472}}</ref>-->
 
The Seattle and Tacoma Police Departments played a yearly game named the [[Bacon Bowl]] to raise money for charity from 1980 to 2005; the Kingdome hosted it from the beginning until 1982, then had a one-off in 1985 during a nine-year span in which the Tacoma Dome hosted the rest of the games. The Kingdome hosted the game again from 1992 to 1994 before it returned to the Tacoma Dome; the game came back for one final time in 1999 before the stadium was demolished.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://issuu.com/tacomasportsmuseum/docs/toolarge2003.02.05reduced |title=1998 Seattle vs Tacoma Police Football Bacon Bowl |date=1998 |publisher=Bacon Bowl Association |location=Tacoma |page=72 |language=en |access-date=March 24, 2021 |via=Issuu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 21, 1999 |title=Seattle Vs. Tacoma In Charity Bacon Bowl |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19991021&slug=2990236 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Castro |first=Hector |date=October 10, 2003 |title=Police play for charity in Bacon Bowl |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-play-for-charity-in-Bacon-Bowl-1126635.php |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

==Baseball==
Shortly after the Pilots' departure for Milwaukee, the city of Seattle, King County, and the state of Washington sued the [[American League]], claiming a [[breach of contract]]. The league agreed to grant Seattle another franchise in exchange for dropping the lawsuit, and the team that would later be known as the [[Seattle Mariners]] was born.<ref name="MarinerMania-SI">{{Cite magazine |last=Verducci |first=Tom |date=February 5, 1996 |title=Marinermania: How A Tottering Team's Bid For A Wild-Card Berth Turned Into A Late-Season Frenzy-- And Saved Baseball In Seattle |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1996/02/05/marinermania-how-a-tottering-teams-bid-for-a-wildcard-berth-turned-into-a-lateseason-frenzy-and-saved-baseball-in-seattle |access-date=March 25, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=Time Warner}}</ref>

The Mariners held their first game in franchise history at the Kingdome on April 6, [[1977 Seattle Mariners season|1977]], against the [[1977 California Angels season|California Angels]]. The Angels shut out the Mariners 7–0 in front of a sellout crowd of 57,762.<ref name="game1box">{{Cite web |title=California Angels at Seattle Mariners Box Score, April 6, 1977 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA197704060.shtml |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |publisher=Sports Reference}}</ref><ref name="MarinersMemories-Times">{{Cite news |last=Finnigan |first=Bob |date=June 27, 1999 |title=The Fun House -- The Kingdome Holds Many Memories - Good, Bad And Zany - For The Mariners And Their Fans |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990627&slug=2968836 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The first pitch was a strike thrown by the Mariners' [[Diego Seguí]] to [[Jerry Remy]].<ref name="game1box" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Corey |date=April 6, 2020 |title='The one game they didn't have': The tale of the lost Mariners tapes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1722706/2020/04/06/the-one-game-they-didnt-have-the-tale-of-the-lost-mariners-tapes/ |url-access=registration |access-date=May 17, 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref>{{NoteTag|Incidentally, Seguí was a relief pitcher for the Pilots in their first game when they faced the [[1969 California Angels season|Angels]] at [[Anaheim Stadium]] on April 8, 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Alan J |date=April 8, 1999 |title=Seattle Pilots play their first game on April 8, 1969. |url=https://historylink.org/File/1022 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |website=HistoryLink}}</ref>}} In the top of the first inning, [[Don Baylor]] registered the first hit at the stadium with a double that scored Remy, who had stolen second and third base after drawing a walk from Seguí.<ref name="game1box" /> The Mariners' first batter, [[Dave Collins (baseball)|Dave Collins]], struck out; however, the next batter, [[Jose Baez (baseball)|José Báez]], singled for the franchise's first ever hit.<ref name="game1box" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilma |first=David |date=July 2, 2001 |title=Seattle Mariners play their first baseball game in Seattle on April 6, 1977. |url=https://historylink.org/File/3419 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |website=HistoryLink}}</ref> The first home run at the venue was hit in the top of the third inning by [[Joe Rudi]]; designated hitter [[Juan Bernhardt]] scored the Mariners' first home run in their fifth game at the Kingdome on April 10.<ref name="game1box" /><ref name="Firsts - Mariners">{{Cite web |title=Club Firsts |url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/history/club-firsts |access-date=May 12, 2019 |website=MLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1999 |title=M's 1st HR And Win At Safeco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ms-1st-hr-and-win-at-safeco/ |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=CBS News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The Mariners had their first win at the Kingdome and team history two games after the opener (they were also shut out in their second game 2–0), defeating the Angels 7–6 on April 8 via a walk-off double from [[Larry Milbourne]].<ref name="Firsts - Mariners" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=California Angels at Seattle Mariners Box Score, April 8, 1977 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA197704080.shtml |access-date=May 17, 2021 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> The venue hosted the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] on [[1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|July 17, 1979]].<ref name="ppgasgt">{{Cite news |last=Feeney |first=Charley |date=July 17, 1979 |title=50th All-Star Game tonight |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qk8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6536%2C1968731 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |page=13 |via=Google News}}</ref>

The Kingdome was somewhat problematic as a baseball venue. Foul territory was quite large, and seats in the upper deck as far as {{convert|617|ft}} from home plate.<ref name="Storied">{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Curt |author-link=Curt Smith (author) |url=https://archive.org/details/storiedstadiumsb00curt |title=Storied Stadiums |publisher=Carroll & Graf |year=2001 |isbn=0-7867-1187-6 |location=New York City |url-access=registration}}</ref> Part of the problem was that the Kingdome was not a multipurpose stadium in the truest sense. Instead, it was built as a football stadium that could convert into a baseball stadium. For instance, most fans in the outfield seats on the 300 level were unable to see parts of right and center field; these areas were not part of the football playing field.

[[File:10 inside kindome.jpg|thumb|Hosting the [[1997 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] in July<!-- 19,--> [[1997 Seattle Mariners season|1997]]]]
For most of the Mariners' first 18 years, their poor play (they did not have a winning season until [[1991 Seattle Mariners season|1991]]) combined with the Kingdome's design, led to poor attendance. Some writers and fans called it "the Tomb" (because of its gray concrete and lack of noise) and "[[Puget Sound|Puget]] Puke."<ref name="Storied" /> After their inaugural home opener, the Mariners didn't have another sellout for the next 1,018 home games until their [[1990 Seattle Mariners season|1990]] home opener on April 13.<ref name="MarinerMania-SI" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sherwin |first=Bob |date=April 14, 1990 |title=My Oh My, Just Like Old Times -- First M's Sellout Witnesses A 15- 7 Drubbing In Opener |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19900414&slug=1066381 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> At one point the Mariners covered seats in the upper decks in right and right-center with a tarp in order to make the stadium feel "less empty".<ref name="DimensionChanges-LATimes" /> Additionally, the Kingdome's acoustics created problems for stadium announcers, who had to deal with significant echo issues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Conversation With Mariners Announcer Tom Hutyler |url=http://1995mariners.com/2009/03/13/a-conversation-with-mariners-announcer-tom-hutyler/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618075830/http://1995mariners.com/2009/03/13/a-conversation-with-mariners-announcer-tom-hutyler/ |archive-date=June 18, 2009 |website=1995mariners.com}}</ref> However, when the team's fortunes began to change in the mid-1990s and they began drawing larger crowds, especially in the post-season, the noise created an electric atmosphere and gave the home team a distinct advantage similar to the effect on football games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Paul |date=October 17, 1995 |title=MARINERS COUNT ON EAR-SPLITTING, DOME-FIELD EDGE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-10-17-9510170262-story.html |access-date=March 19, 2021 |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> The average attendance of 22,064 in 1995 was the lowest in three years with the removal of nine home games for the season, but when put in perspective, it was still higher compared to any of the Mariners' first 14 seasons.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 1, 1995 |title=Despite Huge Crowds Late, M'S Attendance Hits Three-Year Low |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/oct/01/despite-huge-crowds-late-ms-attendance-hits-three/ |access-date=March 19, 2021 |work=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref>

Despite its cavernous interior, the Kingdome's field dimensions were relatively small. It had a reputation as a hitter's park, especially in the 1990s when [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], [[Edgar Martínez]], [[Jay Buhner]], [[Alex Rodriguez]], and other sluggers played there.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Swift |first=E.M. |date=May 18, 1981 |title=At Home In The Dome |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/05/18/at-home-in-the-dome-designated-hitter-richie-zisk-zaps-em-in-the-cozy-confines-of-seattles-ball-park |access-date=March 25, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |pages=57–58}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 15, 1981 |title=They're called 'Domeruns,' in acknowledgment that a home run... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/04/15/Theyre-called-Domeruns-in-acknowledgment-that-a-home-run/6454356158800/ |access-date=March 25, 2021 |publisher=[[UPI]]}}</ref>

The large number of in-play objects—speakers, roof support wires and streamers—contributed to an "arena baseball" feel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Dave |date=April 8, 1982 |title=Sports of The Times; Domeball: It's Not Baseball |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/08/sports/sports-of-the-times-domeball-it-s-not-baseball.html |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=B17}}</ref> The Kingdome was somewhat improved in [[1982 Seattle Mariners season|1982]] with the addition of a {{convert|23|ft|adj=on}} wall in right field nicknamed the "Walla Walla" (after [[Walla Walla, Washington|the city]] in southeastern Washington); a nearly $100,000 [[Daktronics]] out-of-town scoreboard was later installed on it in 1990.<ref name="MarinersMemories-Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Tom |date=January 6, 1982 |title=Left-handed power hitters should find home runs a little... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/06/Left-handed-power-hitters-should-find-home-runs-a-little/6056379141200/ |access-date=March 25, 2021 |publisher=United Press International}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sherwin |first=Bob |date=March 12, 1990 |title=Scoreboard To Put Mariner Fans On-Line |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB533DFDDF84739 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> In [[1990 Seattle Mariners season|1990]] and [[1991 Seattle Mariners season|1991]], the moving of home plate closer to the backstop, the addition of box seats down the third base line and the removal of a few rows of seats in left field reduced foul territory and made the outfield dimensions longer and asymmetrical.<ref name="DimensionChanges-LATimes">{{Cite news |last=LaRue |first=Larry |date=November 12, 1989 |title=Kingdome, Like Mariners, May Get a Facelift |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-12-sp-2241-story.html |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=McClatchy News Service}}</ref><ref name="1991Changes-LATimes">{{Cite news |date=December 5, 1990 |title=THE SIDELINES : Kingdome Stretching Its Left |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-05-sp-5637-story.html |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

In its early years, the outfield was symmetrical with a uniform wall height: deep in center, and short elsewhere. For the All-Star Game in 1979, center field was {{convert|410|ft}}, power alleys were {{convert|357|ft}}, and the foul lines were {{convert|316|ft}};<ref name=ppgasgt/> the unpadded wall was green with a top yellow stripe, approximately {{convert|12|ft|spell=in}} in height and did not have the power alley distances listed on&nbsp;it.<ref name="ytvid">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMJK6CA6G3Y |title=1979 MLB All-Star Game (Seattle) |date=July 12, 2017 |type=Original TV broadcast |publisher=NBC |orig-date=July 17, 1979 |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/OMJK6CA6G3Y |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Down the lines, the distance was also listed in [[fathom]]s (52.7 fm), presumably to maintain a nautical theme in line with the team name; however, this practice was ditched after the [[1980 Seattle Mariners season|1980 season]].<ref name="MarinersMemories-Times" /> Like the Kingdome's contemporaries, the [[bullpen]]s were located in foul territory adjacent to the baselines and the stands.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pennington |first=Bill |title=Chumps to Champs: How the Worst Teams in Yankees History Led to the '90s Dynasty |date=2019 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=9781328849878 |location=Boston |page=263 |language=en |chapter=Chapter 29: "Did That Just Happen?" |quote=McDowell was one of ten Yankees pitchers or coaches in the bullpen, which was no more than three benches, a tub of Gatorade and a pitcher's mound in foul territory near the right-field stands. |access-date=March 25, 2021 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-1VkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA263}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Dan |date=August 27, 2019 |title=Behind the demise of on-field bullpens in MLB and their lasting imprint on the game |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/news/behind-the-demise-of-on-field-bullpens-in-mlb-and-their-lasting-imprint-on-the-game/458yz76uf8mw1qn5t1sc5ixfy |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=Sporting News |publisher=DAZN Group}}</ref>

The longest game in the Kingdome took place on July 30, [[1998 Seattle Mariners season|1998]], when the [[1998 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] defeated the Mariners 9–8 in 17 innings via a three-run homer from [[Manny Ramirez]] off [[Bob Wells (baseball)|Bob Wells]]; [[Paul Shuey]] staved off a comeback by the Mariners in the bottom of the inning to end the game the next morning after five hours and 23 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wittenmyer |first=Gordon |date=July 31, 1998 |title=M's endure a long night's journey to defeat |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1998/07-31/0019_m_s_endure_a_long_night_s_journey.html |access-date=April 1, 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 31, 1998 |title=Griffey Hits 41st But Loses In 17th |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/griffey-hits-41st-but-loses-in-17th/ |access-date=April 1, 2021 |work=CBS News}}</ref>

The most noteworthy baseball game in the Kingdome's history took place on October 8, [[1995 Seattle Mariners season|1995]]; in the [[List of baseball jargon (R)#rubber game|rubber game]] of the [[1995 American League Division Series|ALDS]], the Mariners defeated the [[1995 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] 6–5 in 11 innings in front of 57,411 raucous fans. In the bottom of the 11th, Martinez [[The Double (Seattle Mariners)|doubled to left]], sending [[Joey Cora]] and Griffey home with the winning runs and vaulting the Mariners into the [[1995 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] for the first time in franchise history.<ref name="MarinerMania-SI" />

On May 2, [[1996 Seattle Mariners season|1996]], a game at the Kingdome between the Mariners and the [[1996 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] was suspended in the bottom of the seventh inning because of a minor [[earthquake]]. The earthquake, estimated at a magnitude of 5.3 to 5.4, occurred during a pitching change as Indians' [[pitcher]] [[Orel Hershiser]] was walking off the mound following a home run by [[Edgar Martínez]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saperstein |first=Aliya |date=March 27, 2000 |title=Not even a quake could crack the Dome |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB04BC33B326A4E |access-date=March 25, 2021 |publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=E11 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref name="Memories-Times">{{Cite news |last=Condotta |first=Bob |date=March 26, 2020 |title=Take a trip down memory lane with the best — and worst — memories of the Kingdome |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/take-a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-the-best-and-worst-memories-of-the-kingdome/ |access-date=February 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>  After an inspection by engineers, the game was continued the next evening, resulting in a 6–4 win for the Indians.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 4, 1996 |title=Kingdome Not Damaged By Quake, Experts Say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/05/04/kingdome-not-damaged-by-quake-experts-say/de729286-0f80-4ccd-8706-dfaceb04c96a/ |access-date=March 20, 2021 |work=The Washington Post |location=Seattle |page=H5 |id={{ProQuest|1030603929}} |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Seguí, who retired from professional baseball after the 1977 season, was invited by the Mariners to throw the ceremonial last pitch after the final Mariners game at the Kingdome in 1999. However, while they were able to make the tickets and reservations for Seguí, a payment mix-up prevented him from boarding the flight out of [[Kansas City International Airport]] on the day of the game; the incident made him irate such that he refused to visit Seattle again until [[2012 Seattle Mariners season|2012]], when he was invited as part of the Mariners' 35th anniversary celebration.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mosher |first=Terry |date=September 10, 2013 |title=Segui forever linked to Seattle |url=https://archive.kitsapsun.com/news/terry-mosher--segui-forever-linked-to-seattle-ep-415969877-355934621.html/ |access-date=May 17, 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun |language=en}}</ref> Despite the disappointment from Seguí's son, then-Mariners first baseman [[David Segui]], the ceremony went on as planned; David's son, then-seven-year-old Cory Segui, threw the last pitch to [[Bob Stinson (baseball)|Bob Stinson]], who was the Mariners' catcher in their first game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cour |first=Jim |date=June 27, 1999 |title=Diego Segui Misses Kingdome Farewell |url=https://apnews.com/article/38aeb68a72ee124032ff58890c9a6984 |access-date=May 17, 2021 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref>

In [[1989 Seattle Mariners season|1989]], Griffey Jr. hit a home run in his first-ever plate appearance at the Kingdome on April 10. On June 27, [[1999 Seattle Mariners season|1999]], Griffey Jr. hit the last home run ever at the Kingdome against the [[1999 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 22, 2016 |title=24 for No. 24: Ken Griffey Jr.'s most memorable moments |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/article91117797.html |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The News Tribune}}</ref> The Mariners played 1,755 games at the Kingdome, compiling an overall home record of {{winning percentage|852|903|record=y}} during their 22½-season tenure there.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andriesen |first=David |date=April 20, 2002 |title=Rangers DL lineup impressive - back spasms force Pudge to stay behind |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F30F7B31A2846AF |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=C3 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

==Basketball==

===SuperSonics===
[[File:Kingdome usage, 1980 (32523178267).jpg|right|thumb|In 1980, the Seattle SuperSonics total attendance exceeded that of all other sports or shows held in the Kingdome.]]
Besides the Mariners and Seahawks, the stadium also hosted the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) for seven seasons. The SuperSonics, having previously played at the [[Seattle Center Coliseum]], announced on July 29, 1977, that they intended to move into the Kingdome for the [[1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics season|1978–79 season]] after the expiration of their contract with the city of Seattle, the owner of the Coliseum; the team pushed for a move to the Kingdome after the city balked at a $30 million plan to expand the Coliseum to 20,000 seats the previous year.<ref name="Sonics announce move - Times">{{Cite news |last=Heberlein |first=Greg |date=July 30, 1977 |title=Kingdome gets new tenant |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E5548C14C43C9D%25402443355-12E3AA1B2EFF3D6D%254045-12E3AA1B2EFF3D6D%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> On August 22, the [[King County Council]] voted 7–2 to approve a 17-year lease with the SuperSonics, with the agreement signed the following day.<ref name="Ruano referendum filing - Times">{{Cite news |last=MacLeod |first=Alex |date=August 23, 1977 |title=Ruano seeks referendum on Sonics' move |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E45137A31E2A6E%25402443379-12E44C40DF2B502F%25400-12E44C40DF2B502F%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The following week, the council unanimously voted on August 29 to spend $1.5 million on improvements to the Kingdome in preparation for the team; the team would pay the same amount over the first seven years as part of the agreement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Katz |first=Dean |date=August 30, 1977 |title=Fund OK'd for Sonics shift |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E4513E4C607B22%25402443386-12E3AA0A0C49617B%254013-12E3AA0A0C49617B%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=A14 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Additional terms of the agreement had the SuperSonics pay the county 10 percent of ticket sale proceeds (not including admissions taxes) and $2,539 in personnel costs per game; the county additionally kept all game concession and parking revenue.<ref name="Sonics announce move - Times" /> On the same day as the agreement signing, longtime Kingdome critic Frank Ruano filed a referendum petition in an attempt to halt the move, but he announced on September 17 that he would withdraw support from the petition for lack of support.<ref name="Ruano referendum filing - Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Heberlein |first=Greg |date=September 18, 1977 |title=Ruano quits fighting Sonics' move |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E551EC1D4B6A95%25402443405-12E54B0AD0570785%25400-12E54B0AD0570785%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

While the SuperSonics had played a few games at the Kingdome over the previous two seasons, their full-time tenancy required the addition of 5,000 portable stadium seats added onto the floor of the arena as well as additional scoreboards and a new basketball court.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Attner |first=Paul |date=October 25, 1978 |title=Bullets, Sonics Meet Again |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/10/25/bullets-sonics-meet-again/0214c802-b9c6-45d0-968c-479c15f18abb/ |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Meyers |first=Georg N. |date=February 19, 1978 |title=11 'last' chances for Sonics in old home |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E65C2272EBE27F%25402443559-12E656CAC837BDEB%2540115-12E656CAC837BDEB%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 18, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=G1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The center circle of the court was positioned over first base, with the court itself laid parallel and adjacent to the right-field seats; the portable seats were positioned across the court with one end hovering over home plate.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 19, 1978 |title=The 'cozy Kingdome' |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E65C2272EBE27F%25402443559-12E5FAF0D75BDDD2%2540124-12E5FAF0D75BDDD2%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 18, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=G10 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

The first SuperSonics game in the Kingdome under the agreement was an exhibition game versus the [[1978-79 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]] on September 22, 1978.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heberlein |first=Greg |date=September 22, 1978 |title=Sonics debut tonight in Dome |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E8432AF3EDBC97%25402443774-12E83C0ECE958015%254028-12E83C0ECE958015%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=C1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> A few weeks later, a crowd of 15,219 watched as the SuperSonics defeated the [[1978-79 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]], 104–86, on October 14 in their first regular-season game as a tenant.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heberlein |first=Greg |date=October 14, 1978 |title=Whoosh! Sonics fly past Bulls, 104–86 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E800E5ADEAAC91%25402443796-12E7EFD1CE425518%254048-12E7EFD1CE425518%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Captain [[Fred Brown (basketball)|Fred Brown]] and leading scorer [[Gus Williams (basketball)|Gus Williams]] helped lead the team to their first and only championship that season, defeating the [[1978-79 Washington Bullets season|Washington Bullets]] in the [[1979 NBA Finals|Finals]] and avenging their [[1978 NBA Finals|Finals]] loss to them [[1977-78 Seattle SuperSonics season|the previous season]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosen |first=Jeff |date=March 26, 2004 |title=Sonics pay homage to past |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2004/03-26/433335_sonics_pay_homage_to_past.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun}}</ref> At the time, the Kingdome was known in the NBA for being the noisiest arena for basketball and for having the largest crowds, with stadium vendor Bill Scott ({{aka}} Bill the Beerman) taking the duties as cheerleader.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Neil |first=Danny |date=March 27, 2007 |title=Voice that filled Kingdome came straight from heart |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/voice-that-filled-kingdome-came-straight-from-heart/ |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Jim |date=March 26, 2007 |title=Bill Scott, 1949-2007: 'Beerman' lifted everyone's spirits |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/article/Bill-Scott-1949-2007-Beerman-lifted-1232359.php |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

In the [[1979–80 Seattle SuperSonics season|1979–80 season]], the SuperSonics set an NBA record average attendance of 21,725 fans per game (since broken).<ref name="richardson">{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Kenneth |date=January 27, 1989 |title=Sonics Going Dome Tonight: Hawks in Rare Kingdome Visit |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB0491234440987 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref><ref name="LastChamp-BR">{{Cite web |last=Frandsen |first=Mike |date=February 1, 2014 |title=Seattle's Last Title: SuperSonics' 1979 NBA Finals Win over Washington Bullets |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1945151-seattles-last-title-supersonics-1979-nba-finals-win-over-washington-bullets |access-date=March 23, 2021 |website=Bleacher Report |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System}}</ref> The SuperSonics set the NBA single-game playoff attendance record at 39,457 during Game 4 of the 1978 NBA Finals; they set it again on April 15, 1980, during a conference semifinal game against the [[1979–80 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee Bucks]] with an attendance record of 40,172 (also since broken).<ref name="LastChamp-BR" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Fred |date=October 25, 2019 |title=From a poor start to the Finals: How the 1978 SuperSonics made a run similar to the Nationals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1323310/2019/10/25/from-a-poor-start-to-the-finals-how-the-1978-supersonics-made-a-run-similar-to-the-nationals/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 23, 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 17, 1980 |title=Bucks Beat Sonics for 3-2 Lead |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/04/17/bucks-beat-sonics-for-3-2-lead/5c4ee841-3d0e-4bd2-8dfb-c24b31d7f7bf/ |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Washington Post |page=F4 |id={{ProQuest|147219431}}}}</ref> The Kingdome regular season, single-game attendance record of 38,067 was set on November 22, 1991, when the SuperSonics faced the [[1991–92 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago Bulls]].<ref name="apnytimes">{{Cite news |date=November 24, 1991 |title=Jordan Finds a Groove In Time to Edge Sonics |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE6D61431F937A15752C1A967958260 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

While leaving a SuperSonics game on February 16, 1983, a 21-year-old man from [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]] fell off a ramp and plunged 47 feet to his death; this was despite the installation of signs warning about the chest-level barriers the previous year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 18, 1983 |title=Fan Dies in Fall |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/18/sports/fan-dies-in-fall.html |access-date=March 31, 2021 |work=The New York Times |agency=UPI}}</ref>

Logistics would be a problem throughout the team's tenure at the Kingdome because the Seahawks and Mariners had scheduling priority over them, especially during the playoffs when the Mariners were playing there at the same time in the spring.<ref name="SonicsLeave-Times">{{Cite news |last=McCready |first=Eldredge |date=April 6, 1985 |title=So Long, Kingdome - Tomorrow Marks The End Of 'Dome Era' For Sonics |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB531334AB91EA9 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=C1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> As part of the 1977 agreement, King County agreed to pay the SuperSonics $15,000 for each game (up to five) that was moved elsewhere because of booking issues.<ref name="Sonics announce move - Times" /> Even then, the scheduling priority meant that the SuperSonics would only play home playoff games at the Kingdome while the Mariners were on the road, with most of the games played at the Coliseum; the team even had to use [[Hec Edmundson Pavilion]] at the [[University of Washington]] for a few games when both the Kingdome and the Coliseum were unavailable.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DuPree |first=David |date=April 22, 1980 |title=Weary Sonics Open Series With Fresh, Favored Lakers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/04/22/weary-sonics-open-series-with-fresh-favored-lakers/1e7fac88-df1d-4677-91e0-e258ad987bf0/ |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref>

Along with the scheduling issues, as with other multipurpose stadiums used by the NBA the Kingdome proved itself to be a less-than-ideal venue for basketball.<ref name="SonicsLeave-Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sakamoto |first=Bob |date=November 3, 1985 |title=Sonics Roll Past Bulls |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-11-03-8503150417-story.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 28, 1985 |title=SuperSonics Aren't Returning to Tacoma |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-28-sp-21488-story.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Although the Kingdome's capacity allowed the SuperSonics to set attendance records, the vast space it afforded meant that it did not have the intimate environment of a dedicated arena; furthermore, fans were displeased about the poor sight lines and cold temperatures in the Kingdome. All these factors, plus dwindling attendance due to poor team performance towards the end of their tenancy at the Kingdome, led SuperSonics general manager [[Zollie Volchok]] to sign a 10-year contract with the city of Seattle in 1983, agreeing to have the team move back to the Coliseum after the [[1984–85 Seattle SuperSonics season|1984–85 season]] in exchange for upgrades there.<ref name="SonicsLeave-Times" />

The SuperSonics faced the [[1984–85 Phoenix Suns season|Phoenix Suns]] at the Kingdome on April 7, 1985, in their final game as a regular tenant, losing 110–125 with 5,672 in attendance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phoenix Suns at Seattle SuperSonics Box Score, April 7, 1985 |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198504070SEA.html |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=[[Basketball-Reference.com]] |publisher=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> However, exemplifying the scheduling issues, it was not their final home game of the season; the SuperSonics were forced to play at the [[Tacoma Dome]] on April 11 because the Mariners hosted the [[1985 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] at the Kingdome that day.<ref name="SonicsLeave-Times" /> By that point, the SuperSonics had an average attendance of 7,399, failing to surpass 10,000 seats sold in 29 of 37 games held at the Kingdome in their final season there.<ref name="Basketball moments - P-I" />

Despite calling the Coliseum home again, the SuperSonics still played occasionally at the Kingdome over the next few years when large crowds were anticipated; as such, the SuperSonics hosted the [[1987 NBA All-Star Game]] there, having previously hosted the [[1974 NBA All-Star Game|1974 game]] at the Coliseum before the Kingdome opened.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farrey |first=Tom |date=July 28, 1991 |title=The Bottom Line -- Television Pays The Bills -- Sonics: Lost Money Until New NBC Contract |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19910728&slug=1296758 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 10, 1985 |title=Seattle chosen for 1987 NBA All-Star Game |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/10/Seattle-chosen-for-1987-NBA-All-Star-Game/3992497764800/ |access-date=March 23, 2021 |publisher=United Press International |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cotton |first=Anthony |date=February 9, 1987 |title=Fill-In Chambers Is All-Star MVP As West Prevails |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/02/09/fill-in-chambers-is-all-star-mvp-as-west-prevails/5483a34d-bab7-4996-bcdd-2f5873456088/ |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref> However, SuperSonics owner [[Barry Ackerley]], who had bought the team from [[Sam Schulman]] in October 1983 after the Coliseum deal was signed, started seeking a new arena for them in 1989; team president [[Bob Whitsitt]] claimed that the Coliseum was outdated and leaking.<ref name="SonicsLeave-Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 15, 1983 |title=SuperSonics Sold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/15/sports/supersonics-sold.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Granberry |first=Michael |date=February 4, 1989 |title=Arena Official Cautious About Sonics' Interest |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-04-sp-1386-story.html |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Ackerley proposed to build a new arena south of the Kingdome (where [[T-Mobile Park]] stands today<ref name="Mariners site selection - AP">{{Cite news |date=April 30, 1996 |title=Mariners Favor Site South of Kingdome |url=https://apnews.com/article/e809395ac599e9e048150c835de54c83 |access-date=June 11, 2021 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref>), but the plan was initially rejected by King County because of objections from the Seahawks and Mariners over inadequate parking.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 15, 1990 |title=Kingdome or Tacoma Dome interim home for Sonics? |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/02/15/Kingdome-or-Tacoma-Dome-interim-home-for-Sonics/6859635058000/ |access-date=March 23, 2021 |publisher=United Press International}}</ref> The plan was eventually approved by the [[Seattle City Council]] 7–1 on May 30, 1990, but it was ultimately scrapped the following year on June 26 because of issues in financing it; as a compromise measure, the Coliseum was rebuilt as [[KeyArena]] during the [[1994–95 Seattle SuperSonics season|1994–95 season]], with the SuperSonics playing home games at the Tacoma Dome instead of the closer Kingdome in the meantime.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nelson |first=Robert T. |date=May 30, 1990 |title=City's OK Merely First Step In Ackerley's Arena Quest |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19900530&slug=1074471 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lilly |first=Dick |date=June 26, 1991 |title=New Sonics Arena Dead - Financing Troubles Sideline Ackerley |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19910626&slug=1291209 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Atkin |first=Ross |date=August 2, 1994 |title=Seattle Supersonics Will Play 'Out of Town' All Next Season |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1994/0802/02151.html |url-access=limited |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> The SuperSonics played at KeyArena until they were [[Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City|controversially relocated]] to [[Oklahoma City]] by owner [[Clay Bennett (businessman)|Clay Bennett]] after the [[2007–08 Seattle SuperSonics season|2007–08 season]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Genna |last2=McNertney |first2=Case |date=October 11, 2018 |title=The day the Sonics came to Seattle |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattle-history/article/The-day-the-Sonics-came-to-Seattle-13300055.php |access-date=March 23, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

The SuperSonics played 303 games at the Kingdome in total, including 14 playoff games; they held an overall record of {{winning percentage|208|95|record=y}} and a playoff record of {{winning percentage|8|6|record=y}} at the stadium. Of those games, 20 of them had attendances of 30,000 or more.<ref name="Basketball moments - P-I">{{Cite news |last=Raley |first=Dan |date=March 27, 2000 |title=Basketball had its Dome moments, too |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB04BC33A23D589 |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=E5 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

===College===
The first men's college basketball game at the Kingdome was held on January 9, 1984, when the [[1983-84 Washington Huskies men's basketball team|Washington Huskies]] defeated the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame Fighting Irish]], 63–61, in the second overtime in front of 7,466 fans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwarzmann |first=Bob |date=January 10, 1984 |title=Huskies' Germans conquer the Irish - Schrempf, Welp star in win |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F7C163B4103818%25402445710-12F7BE946F704086%25408-12F7BE946F704086%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=B1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref name="Basketball moments - P-I" /> The Huskies held their only other basketball game at the Kingdome more than a decade later, defeating the [[1994-95 Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team|Old Dominion Monarchs]] 71–61 on December 22, [[1994-95 Washington Huskies men's basketball team|1994]], with 4,187 in attendance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peoples |first=John |date=December 23, 1994 |title=NCAA, Huskies winners in Dome - UW rehearsal proves venue set for Final 4 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB53799E6F6356E |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=C4 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref name="Basketball moments - P-I" />

The only women's basketball game at the Kingdome was held on December 6, 1979, when the [[Soviet Union women's national basketball team|Soviet national team]] beat [[Seattle Redhawks women's basketball|Seattle University]] 135-45, before 7,239 spectators.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwarzmann |first=Bob |date=December 7, 1979 |title=Soviets run, pass, shoot, - and win |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12EAE01C6FBECACB%25402444215-12EAA416A830C3C2%254029-12EAA416A830C3C2%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref name="Basketball moments - P-I" />

====Final Four====
The [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Final Four]] of men's [[college basketball]] was held three times at the Kingdome, with the stadium hosting the [[1984 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1984]], [[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989]], and [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995]] editions. The [[1984 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|1984 championship game]] saw the [[1983–84 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team|Georgetown Hoyas]] defeat the [[1983–84 Houston Cougars men's basketball team|Houston Cougars]], 84–75.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Asher |first=Mark |date=April 4, 1984 |title=1984 NCAA Basketball Championship |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1984/04/04/1984-ncaa-basketball-championship/bbff452c-a3fc-4c59-b01e-a43aba1995f1/ |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref> Meanwhile, the [[1989 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|1989 championship game]] had the [[1988–89 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan Wolverines]] beat the [[1988–89 Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball team|Seton Hall Pirates]], 80–79, in overtime because of a controversial last-second foul call against the Pirates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Markus |first=Don |date=April 9, 1989 |title=They're Still Talking About the Call Against the Hall |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-09-sp-1804-story.html |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Finally, with the [[1995 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|1995 championship game]], the [[1994–95 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA Bruins]] defeated the [[1994–95 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas Razorbacks]], 89–78, to win their first championship since the retirement of coach [[John Wooden]] twenty years earlier in [[1974–75 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|1975]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Helfand |first=Zach |date=March 16, 2015 |title=Twenty years ago, Tyus Edney saved UCLA's last NCAA title run |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-1995-champs-20150316-story.html |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

The Kingdome was not the first venue in Seattle to host the Final Four; [[Hec Edmundson Pavilion]] had previously hosted it in [[1949 NCAA basketball tournament|1949]] and [[1952 NCAA basketball tournament|1952]]. However, the Kingdome is credited with helping shape the Final Four into an event with a stature comparable to that of the Super Bowl because of its large capacity. It was the only such capable venue on the West Coast of the United States; the last time a non-Seattle West Coast site hosted the game was when the [[Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena]] hosted it in [[1972 NCAA University Division baseball tournament|1972]]. The 1995 edition was the last time that Seattle hosted a Final Four, and it will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future since the Kingdome's successors were not designed with a controlled environment in mind; it also remains the last time that the Final Four was held on the West Coast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newnham |first=Blaine |date=March 27, 1998 |title=Without A Venue Like Kingdome, Seattle Has Seen Last Final Four |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19980327&slug=2741871 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The Final Four was not held again in the Western United States until [[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2017]], when [[University of Phoenix Stadium]] in [[Glendale, Arizona]], hosted it for the [[Phoenix metropolitan area|Phoenix area]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stevens |first=Patrick |date=March 26, 2017 |title=2017 March Madness: The Final Four from A to Z |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/03/26/2017-march-madness-the-final-four-from-a-to-z/ |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Jeff |date=November 14, 2014 |title=Phoenix ('17) among cities to land Final Four |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/11876673/phoenix-host-men-final-four-first-2017 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=ESPN |language=en}}</ref>

===Other===
On February 18, 1979, the [[Harlem Globetrotters]] held an [[exhibition game]] at the Kingdome with close to 23,000 in attendance, of which around 3,500 were under 12 years old.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Lenny |date=February 18, 1979 |title=Trotters a Smash Hit |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A142FE773BA94746A%2540EANX-NB-16F04ABDC7B3F662%25402443923-16EF968321C97F3B%254036-16EF968321C97F3B%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=D2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

As a result of the [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|boycott]] of the [[1980 Summer Olympics]] by the United States, the [[United States men's national basketball team|U.S. Olympic team]] faced off against a squad of NBA players in a six-game exhibition tournament called the "Gold Medal Series" that June. On June 20, the NBA All-Stars defeated the U.S. Olympic team, 78–76, before a crowd of 10,902; it was the only victory by the NBA squad in the tournament.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Herberlein |first=Greg |date=June 21, 1980 |title=Westphal leads pros past Olympians |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12EC490BEA28C7B7%25402444412-12EC375F46DD6DE7%254048-12EC375F46DD6DE7%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2010 |title=Games of the XXIInd Olympiad -- 1980 |url=https://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/games-of-the-xxiind-olympiad-1980.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429202259/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/games-of-the-xxiind-olympiad-1980.aspx |archive-date=April 29, 2015 |access-date=August 28, 2021 |website=[[USA Basketball]]}}</ref>

The [[Washington Interscholastic Activities Association]] (WIAA) held their 3A and 4A [[high school basketball]] state tournament five times at the Kingdome between 1993 and 1999. The boys' and girls' games were held simultaneously until the championship, at which point they took turns playing on a single court.<ref name="Basketball moments - P-I" />

==Soccer==

===Sounders===
The [[Seattle Sounders (NASL)|Seattle Sounders]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL) were the first tenant to move into the Kingdome upon its opening, having played at [[Memorial Stadium (Seattle)|Memorial Stadium]] for their first two seasons.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Jares |first=Joe |date=April 19, 1976 |title=In a Kingdome by the Sea |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1976/04/19/in-a-kingdome-by-the-sea |access-date=March 18, 2021 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |pages=85–86 |volume=44 |issue=16}}</ref> As a result, they held the honor of hosting the first sporting event at the Kingdome with an [[exhibition game]] versus the [[New York Cosmos (1971–85)|New York Cosmos]] on April 9, 1976; the Cosmos defeated them 3–1 with 58,128 fans in attendance. Highlighting the secondary treatment of the Sounders, about 5,000 seats were not yet installed when the game occurred.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=April 9, 2016 |title=Sounders, Pele and the huge crowd at the Kingdome |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-pele-and-the-huge-crowd-at-the-kingdome/ |access-date=February 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vincent |date=April 10, 1976 |title=The King (Pele) stars in Kingdome |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E0BF5E4D355DCA%25402442879-12E0BB522D474A58%254038-12E0BB522D474A58%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref name="FirstMatch-HL">{{Cite web |last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |date=December 20, 2014 |title=Kingdome's first sporting event, an exhibition soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and New York Cosmos, draws crowd of 58,128 on April 9, 1976. |url=https://historylink.org/File/11000 |access-date=February 23, 2021 |website=HistoryLink}}</ref> Just weeks later, they hosted their first regular-season game in the Kingdome on April 26, defeating the [[Portland Timbers (1975–1982)|Portland Timbers]] 1–0 via a [[Geoff Hurst]] [[penalty kick]] in the second overtime before 24,983 spectators.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=April 26, 1976 |title=Sounders wipe out frustration |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E0BC58B8AFD06A%25402442895-12E0B0DF893C04DA%254022-12E0B0DF893C04DA%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=B1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

The largest crowd to attend a Sounders match, regular or postseason, occurred on [[1977 North American Soccer League playoffs#(S2) Los Angeles Aztecs vs. (W3) Seattle Sounders|August 25, 1977]], when 56,256 spectators watched as they defeated the [[Los Angeles Aztecs]] 1–0 in the second game of the Pacific Conference Final to advance to their first [[Soccer Bowl '77|Soccer Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meyers |first=Georg N. |date=August 26, 1977 |title=If ever the Kingdome was going to crumble... |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E451395F507456%25402443382-12E44EBFA4BDB6B7%254026-12E44EBFA4BDB6B7%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=C1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The Sounders' regular-season attendance record was set on August 9, 1980, when the Cosmos defeated them 1–0 in front of 49,606 fans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parietti |first=Walt |date=August 10, 1980 |title=Cosmos give Sounders the boot, 1–0 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12ED3B4DCB250E19%25402444462-12ED2B7D434537C0%254028-12ED2B7D434537C0%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=B1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Overall, the team drew an average attendance of 20,183 from 1975 to 1982, peaking in the 1980 season with an average attendance of 24,247.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Massey |first=Matt |date=May 6, 2004 |title=Seattle loved the Sounders of '74 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20040506&slug=sounders06 |access-date=March 18, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref name="Sounders postmortem - Times">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=September 14, 1983 |title=SOUNDERS: 1974-83 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F623586E3FAC16%25402445592-12F61AD4D46ED94B%254061-12F61AD4D46ED94B%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=August 28, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

Along with traditional soccer, the Sounders participated in NASL [[indoor soccer]] for the [[1980–81 NASL Indoor season|1980–81]] and [[1981–82 NASL Indoor season|1981–82]] seasons.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yannis |first=Alex |date=December 6, 1981 |title=N.A.S.L. Is Going Indoors in Big Way |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/sports/nasl-is-going-indoors-in-big-way.html |access-date=March 18, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=S12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1981 |title=Timbers-Sounders Game Opens NASL Indoor Season |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19811203&id=Wp0cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F2gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6757,1147061 |access-date=March 18, 2021 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |page=15B |via=Google News |agency=United Press International}}</ref> However, the [[1983 North American Soccer League season|1983 outdoor season]] proved to be a dire one for the Sounders; with the team's front office heavily cutting costly foreign players from the roster, the team suffered their worst season ever performance-wise, resulting in a record low average attendance of 8,181.<ref name="Sounders postmortem - Times" /> That season additionally saw the smallest crowd to attend a Sounders game, with only 4,270 spectators on hand to witness their 3–1 victory over the [[Tulsa Roughnecks (1978–1984)|Tulsa Roughnecks]] on July 27.<ref name="Sounders postmortem - Times" /> With the cuts not enough to keep the team afloat, the owners ultimately elected to fold it that year on September 6; their final home game was a 3–2 victory over the [[San Diego Sockers (1978–1996)|San Diego Sockers]] on August 25 with 7,331 fans in attendance.<ref name="Sounders-HL">{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Heather |date=July 20, 2003 |title=Original Seattle Sounders (1974-1983) |url=https://historylink.org/File/4219 |access-date=March 18, 2021 |work=HistoryLink}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=August 25, 1983 |title=Close shave: Sounders win by whisker |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F629DD05F6EDF4%25402445572-12F622882708D8AE%254066/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

===College===
The Kingdome hosted the [[NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship]] Finals twice in consecutive years. The final on [[1984 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament|December 17, 1984]], featured the [[1984 Clemson Tigers men's soccer team|Clemson Tigers]], coached by Dr. [[I. M. Ibrahim]], and defending national champion [[Indiana Hoosiers men's soccer|Indiana Hoosiers]], headed by coach [[Jerry Yeagley]]; 7,926 spectators watched as the Tigers won 2–1 in regulation to bring home their first national championship in soccer and deny the Hoosiers a third straight title.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Craig |date=December 17, 1984 |title=Will Seattle get another shot at soccer final? |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F91D9D74A2C049%25402446052-12F9188CF3E64A1F%254027-12F9188CF3E64A1F%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=B9 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> A year later, on [[1985 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament|December 14, 1985]], a crowd of 5,986 watched as the [[UCLA Bruins men's soccer|UCLA Bruins]] defeated the [[American Eagles men's soccer|American Eagles]] 1–0 after eight overtime periods to win their first national soccer championship; Bruin coach [[Sigi Schmid]] went on to coach the [[Seattle Sounders FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS), a [[Phoenix club (sports)|phoenix club]] of the NASL Sounders, from its inaugural season in [[2009 Seattle Sounders FC season|2009]] to [[2016 Seattle Sounders FC season|2016]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edes |first=Gordon |date=December 15, 1985 |title=UCLA Wins Longest NCAA Soccer Final in 8th Overtime, 1-0 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-15-sp-622-story.html |access-date=March 19, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=December 26, 2018 |title=Sigi Schmid, Sounders' first MLS coach, dies at 65 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sigi-schmid-the-sounders-original-coach-dies-at-65/ |access-date=March 19, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

===Other professional games===
A game of the [[1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup tournament]] was held at the Kingdome on May 28, with [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] defeating [[Team America (NASL)|Team America]] 2–0 before 20,245 spectators.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=May 29, 1976 |title=Brazilians beat Team America, 2-0 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E1076B34F039FA%25402442928-12E105A30D3A110C%254016-12E105A30D3A110C%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=C1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

The Kingdome also hosted the NASL's championship game, the [[Soccer Bowl]], between the [[Minnesota Kicks]] and the [[Toronto Metros-Croatia]] on [[Soccer Bowl '76|August 28, 1976]]; the Metros-Croatia defeated the Kicks 3–0 before a crowd of 25,765, setting an NASL championship attendance record at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Michael |date=February 11, 2015 |title=How Eusébio and a team of Canadian Croatians took North American soccer by storm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/11/how-eusebio-and-a-team-of-canadian-croatians-took-north-american-soccer-by-storm |access-date=March 18, 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 29, 1976 |title=Toronto Records Soccer Bowl Win |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19760829&id=BCFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5541,5535255 |access-date=March 18, 2021 |work=The Spokesman-Review |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

A [[1977 CONCACAF Championship qualification|CONCACAF Championship qualifier]] for the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]] was hosted at the Kingdome on October 20, 1976; the game, which saw the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] defeat [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]] 2–0 before a crowd of 17,675, was the first instance of a World Cup qualifier that was held indoors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Keefe |first=Vince |date=October 21, 1976 |title=Speedy U. S. booters win |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12E1A62E275D4D01%25402443073-12E1657C8592D7A5%254075-12E1657C8592D7A5%2540/hlterms%3A |access-date=May 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=G1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lisi |first=Clemente Angelo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VVni5qj0cvIC&pg=PA144 |title=A History of the World Cup, 1930–2010 |date=March 28, 2011 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9780810877542 |location=Lanham, Maryland |page=144 |access-date=May 23, 2021}}</ref>

A doubleheader featuring both the U.S. Olympic and national squads was held at the Kingdome on February 3, 1979.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yannis |first=Alex |date=January 21, 1979 |title=U.S. Soccer Squads Regrouping |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/21/archives/us-soccer-squads-regrouping-local-matters-have-long-reach-cup-squad.html |access-date=June 11, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=S9}}</ref> The U.S. Olympic team defeated the Canadian Olympic team 2–0 in the first game, while the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet national team]] defeated the U.S. national team 3–1 in the second game; 13,317 spectators were present for both games.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Reed |first=J. D. |date=February 12, 1979 |title=Coming of age in Seattle |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/02/12/coming-of-age-in-seattle-on-the-us-olympic-and-national-teams-the-accent-is-on-youth-the-olympians-zapped-both-canada-and-mexico-but-the-big-squad-got-bounced-by-the-ussr |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publisher=Time Inc. |pages=42, 44}}</ref>

The Kingdome was additionally considered in Seattle's bid to be a host city for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], but it was rejected in favor of Husky Stadium because of concerns over its indoor environment and its turf; the bid ultimately failed in part because of apprehension from the [[University of Washington]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=March 17, 2021 |title='Seattle deserves this': Inside their second bid to be a World Cup host city |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2455512/2021/03/17/2026-world-cup-seattle/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 23, 2021 |website=The Athletic}}</ref>

==Other events==
Upon its opening, the Kingdome served as one of the main [[convention center]]s in Seattle alongside the Seattle Center Coliseum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Herb |date=October 6, 1985 |title=Too many domes? |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB5317A0563899A |work=The Seattle Times |department=Editorial |page=A18 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> During preliminary studies for the then-proposed Washington State Convention Center (now the [[Seattle Convention Center]]) in the early 1980s, a proposal to build it on the stadium's northern parking lot was floated, but it was never seriously considered and ultimately rejected by the convention center board in favor of building it in the Downtown area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahoney |first=Sally Gene |date=February 3, 1983 |title=Designs for state convention center unveiled |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F3835C0FFBED2E%25402445369-12F3259BDB403EE6%254036-12F3259BDB403EE6%2540/hlterms%3A |work=The Seattle Times |page=C2 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schaefer |first=David |date=April 1, 1983 |title=Convention center to be at freeway site |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A127D718D1E33F961%2540EANX-NB-12F3DABE7A1D3901%25402445426-12F3849271263BDF%25400-12F3849271263BDF%2540/hlterms%3A |work=The Seattle Times |page=A1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

The largest crowd to attend a single event in the Kingdome came early, during an eight-day [[Billy Graham]] [[Revival meeting|crusade]] in 1976. The Friday night edition on May 14 drew 74,000 and featured singer [[Johnny Cash]]; 5,000 were turned away.<ref name="HLMacIntosh" /><ref name="FirstMatch-HL" /><ref name="gpemin">{{Cite news |date=May 15, 1976 |title=Graham packs 'em in |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zEJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5524%2C2523600 |work=Ellensburg Daily Record |page=6 |agency=UPI}}</ref><ref name="gcrdrew">{{Cite news |date=May 17, 1976 |title=Billy Graham crusade drew |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2kJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3799%2C2579254 |work=Ellensburg Daily Record |page=8 |agency=UPI}}</ref> The stadium was also part of Seattle's bid to host the [[1988 Republican National Convention]], but it ultimately failed because of a scheduling conflict with the Mariners.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balter |first=Joni |date=August 22, 1986 |title=Mariner schedule throws curve at GOP |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB531F8759C1EAD |work=The Seattle Times |page=C1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

Country singer [[CW McCall]] performed 8 shows during the 4-day Custom Van, Truck, 4-Wheel Drive and Motorcycle Show, March 17–20, 1977.
<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1977 |title=Advertisement |work=Seattle Times |page=C2}}</ref>

The Kingdome hosted a round of the [[AMA Supercross Championship]] from 1978 to 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Gary |date=January 29, 1999 |title=Supercross – Big bikes will run at Kingdome for last time |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990129&slug=2941211 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2015 AMA Supercross media guide |url=http://www.amasupercross.com/MediaGuide/SXMediaGuide_15_lores.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013092314/http://www.amasupercross.com/MediaGuide/SXMediaGuide_15_lores.pdf |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |access-date=June 20, 2015}}</ref>

===Concerts===
Numerous rock concerts were held in the venue, despite significant echo and sound delay problems attributable to the structure's cavernous size.<ref name="Concerts-Times">{{Cite news |date=March 26, 2000 |title=Kingdome looms large in Seattle's concert history |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20000326&slug=4011961 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! width=12% style="text-align:center;| Date
! width=10% style="text-align:center;| Artist
! width=10% style="text-align:center;| Opening act(s)
! width=16% style="text-align:center;| Tour / Concert name
! width=10% style="text-align:center;| Attendance
! width=10% style="text-align:center;| Revenue
! width=20% style="text-align:center;| Notes
|-
| June 10, 1976 || [[Wings (band)|Wings]] || – || [[Wings Over the World tour|Wings Over America Tour]] || 67,053 || $536,424 || The concert set the national indoor attendance record for a single act.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 11, 1976 |title=Helluva show, whatever you saw |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A127D718D1E33F961%40EANX-NB-12E116D50E10DE7E%402442941-12E110E1C0CCF223%4018-12E110E1C0CCF223%40 |url-access=registration |access-date=May 1, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=B3 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> It also marked the first time [[Paul McCartney]] had toured America since [[The Beatles]] stopped touring in 1966.<ref name="Memories-Times" /> The performance was filmed and included in the concert movie [[Rockshow]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Patrick |date=November 1, 2005 |title=Paul's always been fab to us |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/pauls-always-been-fab-to-us/ |access-date=March 31, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
|-
| August 6, 1976 || [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]] || [[Linda Ronstadt]]<br />[[JD Souther]] || – || 48,843 || $398,744 || <ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 21, 1976 |title=Top Boxoffice |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1976/Billboard%201976-08-21.pdf |access-date=August 6, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |page=27 |volume=88 |issue=34 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| September 3, 1976 || [[Aerosmith]] || [[Jeff Beck]]<br />[[Rick Derringer]] || Rocks Tour || 51,091 || $422,698 || <ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 18, 1976 |title=Boxscore |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1976/Billboard%201976-09-18.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |page=29 |volume=88 |issue=38 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| June 27, 1977 || [[Peter Frampton]] || [[Foghat]]<br />[[J. Geils Band]] <br />[[Blondie Chaplin]] || [[-]] || 39,549 || – || <ref>{{Cite news |last=Arthur |first=George |date=July 10, 1977 |title=Reflections on Frampton's Kingdome Extravaganza |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=G4}}</ref>
|-
| July 17, 1977 || [[Led Zeppelin]] || – || [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1977|North American Tour 1977]] || 68,954 || – || The performance is available on VOIO and ROIO.<ref name="Memories-Times" /><ref name="BigEvents-PI">{{Cite news |last=McNerthney |first=Casey |date=June 1, 2011 |title=The Kingdome's Biggest Events |url=https://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/06/01/seattle-history-the-kingdomes-biggest-events/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310134002/https://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/06/01/seattle-history-the-kingdomes-biggest-events/ |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |access-date=November 14, 2019 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>
|-
| October 14, 1981 || rowspan=2|[[The Rolling Stones]] || rowspan=2|[[Greg Kihn Band]]<br />[[J. Geils Band]] || rowspan=2|[[The Rolling Stones American Tour 1981|American Tour 1981]] || 69,132 || rowspan=2|– || <ref name="BigEvents-PI" /><ref name="gvfnsats">{{Cite news |last=Morlin |first=Bill |date=October 15, 1981 |title=Rolling Stone give fans 'satisfaction' |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2upWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7192%2C4366223 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=52}}</ref>
|-
| October 15, 1981 || 68,028 || Before the concert, a 16-year-old girl from [[Renton, Washington|Renton]] fell backward from a concrete guard rail at the outside 200-level ramp and plunged {{convert|50|ft|spell=in}} onto a loading area; she died at [[Harborview Medical Center]] despite medics immediately rushing her there.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eals |first=Clay |date=August 16, 2019 |title=The Stones roll from the covered Kingdome to the open air of CenturyLink Field |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/the-stones-roll-from-the-covered-kingdome-to-the-open-air-of-centurylink-field/ |access-date=March 31, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref name="gfmhp">{{Cite news |date=October 16, 1981 |title=Girl's fatal mishap mars Stones' second concert |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JR5IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5607%2C25090 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |page=6 |agency=UPI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 16, 1981 |title=A 16-year-old girl waiting to get into a Rolling... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/10/16/A-16-year-old-girl-waiting-to-get-into-a-Rolling/6413372052800/ |access-date=March 31, 2021 |publisher=United Press International}}</ref>
|-
| July 23, 1982 || [[Bryan Adams]]<br />[[Joan Jett|Joan Jett and the Blackhearts]]<br />[[Blue Öyster Cult]]<br />[[Loverboy]]<br />[[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]] || – || The Rock and Roll Grand Slam 1982 || 38,201 / 70,000 || $635,352 || <ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 7, 1982 |title=Boxscore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FiQEAAAAMBAJ&q=amusement&pg=PT36 |access-date=March 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |page=37 |via=Google Books |volume=94 |issue=31 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| October 20, 1982 || [[The Who]] || [[The Clash]]<br />[[T Bone Burnett]] || [[The Who Tour 1982]] || 55,217 || – || <ref name="Concerts-Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cartwright |first=Jane |date=October 21, 1982 |title=For Who the bell tolls: 55,000 fans say goodbye |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A127D718D1E33F961%40EANX-NB-12F3887C59B50041%402445264-12F37D521ADED322%4051-12F37D521ADED322%40 |url-access=registration |access-date=May 1, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>
|-
| May 22, 1983 || [[The Beach Boys]] || – || – || 37,807 || $320,000 || The concert followed a Mariners game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Finnigan |first=Bob |date=May 23, 1983 |title=Mariners cash in on Beach Boys |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A127D718D1E33F961%40EANX-NB-12F41D97E48DE9DA%402445478-12F3DDC8F51F7969%4041 |url-access=registration |access-date=May 1, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D3 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 18, 1983 |title=The Hits Don't Stop When The Game Is Over |url=http://bnt.stparchive.com/Archive/BNT/BNT05181983P11.php |access-date=March 31, 2021 |work=Ballard News-Tribune |page=11 |type=advertisement |via=SmallTownPapers}}</ref>
|-
| July 15, 1987 || [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] || [[Level 42]]<br />[[Bhundu Boys]]<br />[[Hue and Cry (band)|Hue and Cry]] || [[Who's That Girl World Tour]] || 30,000 || – || <ref name="Concerts-Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Patrick |date=July 16, 1987 |title=Live video - Madonna's Kingdome concert might as well have been on TV |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB53268ACCE5C60 |url-access=registration |access-date=April 5, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=D1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>
|-
| December 8, 1987 || [[Pink Floyd]] || – || [[A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour]] || 33,700 / 40,000 || $710,382 || <ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 9, 1988 |title=Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-01-09.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |page=25 |volume=100 |issue=2 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| July 27, 1988 || [[Van Halen]]<br />[[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] || [[Metallica]]<br />[[Dokken]]<br />[[Kingdom Come (German band)|Kingdom Come]] || [[Monsters of Rock Tour 1988|Monsters of Rock]] || 37,000 || – || While Scorpions was on stage, lead singer [[Klaus Meine]] was hit in the throat by a camera thrown out of the audience. He ranted for around five minutes about having respect for the bands, then did one more song with the band before they left the stage.<ref name="Memories-Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lacitis |first=Erik |date=July 28, 1988 |title=What's behind those skull-emblazoned t-shirts? You'd be surprised |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB532EF82FE3BB8 |url-access=registration |access-date=April 5, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>
|-
| March 29, 1990 || [[Paul McCartney]] || – || [[The Paul McCartney World Tour]] || 50,000 || – || <ref name="Concerts-Times" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Patrick |date=March 30, 1990 |title=Paul McCartney - 'Yesterday' is back and 50,000 fans enjoy a special intimacy with this dynamic performer |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB533E5D37BB8D8 |url-access=registration |access-date=April 5, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=E1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>
|-
| September 6, 1990 || [[New Kids on The Block]] || [[Perfect Gentlemen]]<br />Rick Wes || [[The Magic Summer Tour]] || 42,929 / 52,619 || $1,015,300 || <ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 6, 1990 |title=Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-10-06.pdf |access-date=March 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |page=33 |volume=102 |issue=40 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| October 6, 1992 || [[Guns N' Roses]]<br />[[Metallica]] || [[Motörhead]] || [[Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour]] || 37,226 / 40,000 || $1,023,715 || <ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 24, 1992 |title=Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2REEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 |access-date=March 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |page=22 |via=Google Books |volume=104 |issue=43 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| December 15, 1994 || [[The Rolling Stones]] || [[Spin Doctors]] || [[Voodoo Lounge Tour]] || 49,303 / 49,303 || $2,311,900 || <ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 7, 1995 |title=Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ugsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13 |access-date=March 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |page=13 |via=Google Books |volume=107 |issue=1 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| November 28, 1997 || [[The Rolling Stones]] || [[Third Eye Blind]] || [[Bridges to Babylon Tour]] || 42,258 / 42,258 || $2,411,261 || <ref name="1997Concerts-Billboard">{{Cite magazine |date=December 27, 1997 |title=Amusement Business Boxscore: Top 10 Concert Grosses |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24 |access-date=March 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |page=24 |via=Google Books |volume=109 |issue=52 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
|-
| December 12, 1997 || [[U2]] || [[Smash Mouth]] || [[PopMart Tour]] || 30,260 / 35,000 || $1,539,105 || <ref name="1997Concerts-Billboard" />
|}

==Final years==

The loss of the Sounders and Sonics in the mid-1980s caused financial constraints as the Kingdome was left with 59 unfilled days in their annual schedule.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gordon |first=Bill |date=October 23, 1983 |title=Million-dollar woes for Kingdome |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=A1}}</ref> By the 1990s, multi-purpose stadiums fell out of favor with the public, and the Kingdome's suitability as an NFL and MLB venue came into doubt as a result. Neither the Seahawks' nor the Mariners' respective ownership groups saw the shared stadium arrangement as economically feasible because the Kingdome was unable to meet the needs of both tenants; they also noted the lack of revenue-generating [[luxury suite]]s prominent in newer stadiums.<ref name=HLCrowley/><ref name="Safeco-HL" /> After several years of threats to relocate the Mariners because of poor attendance and revenue, then-owner [[Jeff Smulyan]] put the team up for sale on December 6, 1991; he subsequently received approval by MLB to sell the team to an ownership group led by [[Nintendo]] president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] on June 10, 1992.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farrey |first=Tom |last2=Balter |first2=Joni |date=June 9, 1992 |title=M's Sale Gets Go-Ahead -- Full Acceptance Of Offer Predicted For Tomorrow |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19920609&slug=1496316 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Almost immediately, the new ownership group began campaigning with local and state governments to secure public funding for a new baseball-only stadium. In March 1994, King County Executive [[Gary Locke]] appointed a task force to study the need for a baseball-only stadium.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Mike |date=February 16, 2001 |title=Taxpayers Off Hook For Safeco Field - Mariners Drop Attempt To Recoup Cost Overruns From The Public |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.access-proxy.sno-isle.org/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB04BEECFA35E92 |url-access=registration |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |page=B1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

===1994 ceiling collapse===
The Kingdome's roof had been problematic from the beginning because of a design flaw. With the stadium's limited budget compared to its contemporaries, its architects had the roof's acoustic ceiling tiles serve a dual purpose as forms to pour concrete over for the roof sections. They were firmly placed via six metal clips on their edges, but the effectiveness of the clips was weakened as moisture from the [[polyurethane]] insulation accumulated in the tiles because it lacked proper [[water vapor]] management. As a result, leaks were discovered in the roof three months before the stadium opened, and several attempts at repairs made the situation worse or were quickly undone.<ref name="SeaTimes19940828">{{Cite news |last=Nalder |first=Eric |last2=Guillen, Tomas |date=August 28, 1994 |title=Years Of Fixes Turned Leaky Kingdome Roof Into Sodden Disaster |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940828/1927603/years-of-fixes-turned-leaky-kingdome-roof-into-sodden-disaster----flawed-from-the-start-structure-fell-prey-to-birds-bad-weather-bad-maintenance |access-date=April 8, 2010 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

In 1993, the county decided to strip off the outer roof coating and replace it with a special coating. [[Abrasive blasting|Sandblasting]] failed to strip the old roof material off, and the contractor changed its method to [[pressure washer|pressure washing]]. This pressure-washing resulted in water seepage through the roof, and on July 19, 1994, four {{convert|26|lb|kg|adj=on}}, waterlogged acoustic ceiling tiles fell into the seating area. The tiles fell while the Mariners were on the field preparing for a scheduled game against the [[1994 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]], a half-hour before the gates were to open for fans to enter the stadium. As a result, the Kingdome was closed for repairs.<ref name="SeaTimes19940828" /><ref name="SeaTimes20010719">{{Cite news |last=Condotta |first=Bob |date=July 19, 2004 |title=Ten years after the Kingdome tiles fell |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2001982925_tile19x.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206082222/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2001982925_tile19x.html |archive-date=December 6, 2004 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

The Mariners were forced to play the last 20 games of the 1994 season on the road after the [[Major League Baseball Players Association|players' union]] vetoed playing the "home" games at [[Cheney Stadium]] in [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], [[BC Place Stadium]] in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], or a neutral site because the union believed that its members should play only in major-league venues. The extended road trip could have lasted over two months, but it was shortened because of the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]], which began on August 12 and ended up canceling the remainder of the 1994 MLB season; the strike also resulted in a delay to the start of the 1995 season. The Seahawks had to play both their two preseason home games and their first three regular-season home games of the [[1994 Seattle Seahawks season|1994 season]] at nearby [[Husky Stadium]].<ref name="SeaTimes20010719" />

The Kingdome held a reopening ceremony the weekend of November 4–6, 1994, which culminated with the Seahawks returning to the stadium for a regular-season game against the [[1994 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref name="SeaTimes19941103">{{Cite news |last=Schaefer |first=David |date=November 3, 1994 |title=Dome To Reopen With Repair Budget In Red |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19941103/1939516/dome-to-reopen-with-repair-budget-in-red----work-on-time-but-overruns-keep-climbing |access-date=April 9, 2010 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Repairing the roof ultimately cost US$51 million, and two construction workers lost their lives in a crane accident on August 17 during the repair. The incident also motivated plans to replace the stadium.<ref name="SeaTimes20010719" />

===Replacement===
[[File:Kingdome implosion.jpg|thumb|The Kingdome imploding in March 2000]]
On September 19, 1995, King County voters defeated a ballot measure that would have funded the construction of a new baseball-only stadium for the Mariners. However, the following month, the Mariners made it to the MLB postseason for the first time and, on October 8, defeated the [[New York Yankees]] in the decisive fifth game of the [[1995 American League Division Series|1995 ALDS]] on the heels of a walk-off [[The Double (Seattle Mariners)|game-winning double]] hit by [[Edgar Martínez]]. The Mariners' postseason run demonstrated that there was a fan base in Seattle that wanted the team to stay in town, and as a result, the [[Washington State Legislature]] approved a separate funding package for a new stadium on October 14.<ref name="Safeco-HL">{{Cite web |last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |date=September 11, 2010 |title=Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners' long-sought stadium, opens on July 15, 1999. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/9565 |access-date=February 23, 2021 |publisher=HistoryLink}}</ref><ref name="MarinerMania-SI" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Postman |first=David |date=October 15, 1995 |title=Legislature OKs plan for stadium - but county must pass taxes; Dome repairs not covered |url=https://infoweb-newsbank-com.access-proxy.sno-isle.org/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=A2FB36B0D8714A7C9BA0382F4B401AE2&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB53822C1B68EC5 |url-access=registration |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |page=A1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

In January 1996, Seahawks owner [[Ken Behring]] announced he was moving the team to Los Angeles and the team would play at [[Angel Stadium|Anaheim Stadium]], which had recently been vacated as a football venue when the [[Los Angeles Rams]] moved to [[St. Louis]] (at the same time, the [[Los Angeles Raiders]] returned to [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], after 13 years away). His rationale for the decision included unfounded safety concerns surrounding the seismic stability of the Kingdome. Behring went so far as to relocate team headquarters to [[Anaheim, California]], but his plans were defeated when lawyers found out that the Seahawks could not break their lease on the Kingdome until 2005. As a result, Behring tried to sell the team. He found a potential buyer in [[Microsoft]] co-founder [[Paul Allen]], who stipulated that a new publicly funded stadium had to be built as a condition of his purchase of the team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Bart |date=April 21, 1996 |title=Allen goes long to purchase Seahawks |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1996/04-21/345937_allen_goes_long_to_purchase_sea.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022073405/https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1996/04-21/345937_allen_goes_long_to_purchase_sea.html |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |access-date=February 23, 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun |publisher=Gannett}}</ref> Allen funded a special election held on June 17, 1997, that featured a measure that would allocate public funding for a new stadium for the Seahawks on the Kingdome site. The measure passed, Allen officially purchased the team, and the Kingdome's fate was sealed.<ref name="Election-HL">{{Cite web |last=Crowley |first=Walt |date=September 22, 2001 |title=Washington voters approve funding for new Seahawks Stadium on June 17, 1997. |url=https://historylink.org/File/3582 |access-date=February 23, 2021 |publisher=HistoryLink}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 19, 1997 |title=Paul Allen Ventures into Seattle Election |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/06/paul-allen-ventures-into-seattle-election/ |access-date=February 23, 2021 |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |language=en-us}}</ref>

Despite the intention of the Mariners to start playing at their new home at the beginning of the 1999 season, construction delays meant that installation of its retractable roof would not occur on time, leading to another sale threat by the team's owners.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 14, 1997 |title=Seattle Mariners may use Kingdome for an extra year |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19970214&id=2oEeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8coEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1650,2365727 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=Ellensburg Daily Record |page=11 |via=Google News |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> However, the team eventually agreed to play at the Kingdome from the start of the season until after the [[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], with construction on the new home starting on March 8, 1997.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cour |first=Jim |date=July 17, 1997 |title=Final piles driven for Mariners' new $414 million stadium |url=https://apnews.com/article/81d2fedb7ced9d1712daa89f20fce7bb |access-date=March 25, 2021 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 9, 1997 |title=Mariners Break Ground On Their Future |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/mar/09/mariners-break-ground-on-their-future/ |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=The Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Two years later, a sold-out crowd of 56,530 watched as the Mariners defeated the [[1999 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] 5–2 in their final game at the Kingdome on June 27, 1999; they played their first game at their new home, [[T-Mobile Park|Safeco Field]], nearly three weeks later on July 15.<ref name="Safeco-HL" /><ref name="MarinersLeave-LATimes">{{Cite news |last=Cour |first=Jim |date=June 27, 1999 |title=No Love Lost for Kingdome |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-27-sp-50611-story.html |access-date=March 25, 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Maebori |first=Jay |date=June 28, 1999 |title=END OF AN ERA: Griffey turns off Dome lights |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1999/06-28/0018_end_of_an_era__griffey_turns_off_.html |access-date=February 23, 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the Seahawks temporarily relocated to [[Husky Stadium]] for two seasons following the 1999 season.<ref name="MarinersLeave-LATimes" /> To make way for construction of their new stadium, the Kingdome was stripped down and prepared for demolition. During the process, a security incident occurred on February 21, 2000, when a [[skateboarder]] disguised himself as a [[construction worker]], climbed up onto the roof, and skated on it with two friends filming him on the nearby [[Alaskan Way Viaduct]]; demolition crews were unimpressed by the incident and implemented tighter security measures in response.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tov |first=Yom |date=October 9, 2006 |title=I did the Dome: Skateboarder tells all |url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/i-did-the-dome-skateboarder-tells-all/ |access-date=March 30, 2021 |work=Seattle Weekly |publisher=Sound Publishing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 25, 2000 |title=Dome pranksters may be charged |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20000225&slug=4006767 |access-date=March 30, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> On the morning of March 26, 2000 at 8:30 AM, the Kingdome was demolished by [[Controlled Demolition, Inc.]] via [[Building implosion|implosion]], just one day short of 24 years after the stadium's opening; it set a record recognized by [[Guinness World Records]] for the largest building, by volume, ever demolished by implosion.<ref name="implosion_record">{{Cite web |last=Satchell |first=Michael |date=June 22, 2003 |title=Bringing Down The House |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/030630/30unbuild.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523112000/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/030630/30unbuild.htm |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |website=U.S. News & World Report |quote=There's the Seattle Kingdome (largest structure by volume)...}}</ref> The Kingdome was the first large, domed stadium to be demolished in the United States; its demolition was also the first live event covered by [[ESPN Classic]].<ref name="first_demoed">{{Cite news |last=Reader |first=Bill |date=January 26, 2004 |title=Great moments in dome history |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2001843703_domechart26.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524130639/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2001843703_domechart26.html |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |work=The Seattle Times |quote=Seattle's very own Kingdome (1976) remains the only dome to be imploded.}}</ref><ref name="espn_demo">{{Cite news |date=March 20, 2000 |title=ESPN Classic to air Kingdome retrospective, implosion |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/junk.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100909022335/http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/junk.shtml |archive-date=September 9, 2010 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |quote=...ESPN's SportsCenter will cut in for live coverage of the actual implosion -- the first live event ever televised by ESPN Classic.}}</ref> The new stadium, [[Seahawks Stadium]], eventually opened on July 20, 2002, in time for the beginning of the [[2002 NFL season|NFL season]] that year.<ref name="Election-HL" />

The Kingdome was demolished before the debt issued to finance its construction was fully paid, and as of September 2010, residents of King County were still responsible for more than $80 million in debt on the demolished stadium.<ref name="debtqa">{{Cite news |last=Brunner |first=Jim |last2=Young |first2=Bob |date=January 4, 2005 |title=Q&A: Stadium tax proposal |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002139916_qa_stadiumtax010405.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524065903/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002139916_qa_stadiumtax010405.html |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref name="debt">{{Cite news |last=Belson |first=Ken |date=September 7, 2010 |title=As Stadiums Vanish, Their Debt Lives On |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/sports/08stadium.html?ref=general&src=me&pagewanted=all |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618201514/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/sports/08stadium.html?_r=1&ref=general&src=me&pagewanted=all |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |work=The New York Times |page=A8 |df=mdy-all |quote=Residents of Seattle's King County owe more than $80 million for the Kingdome, which was razed in 2000.}}</ref>  The debt was retired in March 2015, nine months ahead of the original bond maturity and 15 years after the stadium's demolition. The 2% of the 15.6% hotel/motel tax earmarked for the Kingdome debt no longer needed went instead to the county's [[4Culture]] program for arts, heritage, and preservation.<ref name=debtretired/>

==Seating capacity==
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Baseball
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball primary style|Seattle Mariners}};"| Years
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball primary style|Seattle Mariners}};"| Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Seattle Mariners}};"|1976–1980
| 59,059<ref name="Green">{{Cite book |last=Lowry |first=Phil |url=https://archive.org/details/greencathedralsu0000lowr_u1c9 |title=Green Cathedrals: The Ultimate Celebrations of All 273 Major League and Negro League Ballparks Past and Present |publisher=Addison Wesley Publishing Company |year=2006 |isbn=0-201-62229-7 |location=New York City |url-access=registration}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Seattle Mariners}};"|1981–1987
| 59,438<ref name="Green" />
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Seattle Mariners}};"|1988–1990
| 58,850<ref name="Green" />
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Seattle Mariners}};"|1991–1993
| 57,748<ref name="Green" />
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Seattle Mariners}};"|1994–1999
| 59,166<ref name="Green" />
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Football
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks 76thru01}};"| Years
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks 76thru01}};"| Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks 76thru01}};"|1976–1979
| {{center|64,752}}
|- 
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks 76thru01}};"|1980–1983
| 64,759<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jim Cour |date=July 15, 1981 |title=Seattle Natives Aren't Restless About the Kingdome Anymore |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/658763162.html?dids=658763162:658763162&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+15%2C+1981&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Seattle+Natives+Aren%27t+Restless+About+the+Kingdome+Anymore&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104145405/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/658763162.html?dids=658763162:658763162&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+15,+1981&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Seattle+Natives+Aren't+Restless+About+the+Kingdome+Anymore&pqatl=google |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks 76thru01}};"|1984–1992
| 64,984<ref>{{Cite news |last=John Powers |date=December 16, 1984 |title=Ease On Down the Road. NFL Clubs Are Packing It in for New Cities and Sweetheart Deals |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/663123471.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+16%2C+1984&author=John+Powers%2C+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=EASE+ON+DOWN+THE+ROAD%3B+NFL+CLUBS+ARE+PACKING+IT+IN+FOR+NEW+CITIES+AND+SWEETHEART+DEALS&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209094226/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/663123471.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+16,+1984&author=John+Powers,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=EASE+ON+DOWN+THE+ROAD;+NFL+CLUBS+ARE+PACKING+IT+IN+FOR+NEW+CITIES+AND+SWEETHEART+DEALS&pqatl=google |archive-date=December 9, 2012 |work=Boston Globe}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Seattle Seahawks 76thru01}};"|1993–2000
| 66,400<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 27, 1993 |title=Elway's Super Year May Lead to Super Year |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=CSGB&d_place=CSGB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F34BB562018EAC0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=The Gazette (Colorado Springs)}}</ref>
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Basketball
|-
! style="{{NBA color cell|Seattle SuperSonics|border=2}}"|Capacity
|-
| 40,192<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hancock |first=Hec |date=October 19, 1980 |title=Thanks Be to Paul |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-thanks-be-to-paul/175315858/ |work=Tri-City Herald |page=35}}</ref>
|}
{{col-break}}{{col-end}}

==In popular culture==
Because of its versatility and its prominent position in the Seattle skyline for close to a quarter-century, the Kingdome was featured in numerous forms of media during and after its existence. On television, it served as the backdrop for a rescue in the 1978 TV movie "Most Deadly Passage" of [[NBC]]'s ''[[Emergency!]]'' series, which featured the work of [[Seattle Fire Department|Seattle Medic One]] paramedics.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yokley |first=Richard C. |title=Emergency!: Behind the Scene |last2=Sutherland |first2=Rozane |date=2008 |publisher=Jones and Bartlett Publishers |isbn=9780763748968 |location=Sudbury, Massachusetts |pages=270–272 |chapter=Chapter 14: The Emergency! Movies |access-date=March 24, 2021 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cixPyu5pCaUC&pg=PA270}}</ref> It was also mentioned in 1992 with the airing of "Crushed", the sixteenth episode of the [[Full House (season 5)|fifth season]] of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Full House]]''; in the episode, guest star [[Tommy Page]] boasted to [[Jesse Katsopolis]] about playing there.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crushed |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR5QXwRjajI |series=Full House |series-link=Full House |network=ABC |date=January 14, 1992 |season=5 |number=16 |transcript=Full House Scripts - Season 5: Episode 110 * Crushed |transcript-url=http://www.full-house.org/episodes/episodes_script_110.php |quote='''Jesse:''' My pleasure. Thank you. You know, I dabble in music myself there, Tom. You may have heard of my band, Jesse and the Rippers? '''Tommy:''' Yeah, didn't you play in Seattle this summer? '''Jesse:''' Yes, we did. We played a little club near the university over there, yeah. '''Tommy:''' Cool. I was playing at the Kingdome. '''Jesse:''' That's nice if you're into big stadiums and a lot of money. I prefer small intimate places where I can split a pizza with my audience. |access-date=March 24, 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> The Kingdome was mentioned again in 1998 during the [[Frasier (season 6)|sixth season]] of NBC sitcom ''[[Frasier]]'', which was set in Seattle.  In the sixth episode, "Secret Admirer", Martin describes Daphne's frustrating driving that repeatedly takes them right into various traffic delays, ending with them encountering traffic from the Kingdome.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Secret Admirer |series=Frasier |series-link=Frasier |network=NBC |date=November 5, 1998 |season=6 |number=6 |transcript=Transcript of Frasier Season 6 Episode 6 |transcript-url=http://www.kacl780.net/frasier/transcripts/season_6/episode_6/secret_admirer.html |quote=So then Daphne takes a left on Madison.  Bumper to bumper all the way to Pike.  Then a right on Pike.  And what do you know?  King Dome [sic] traffic!}}</ref> Furthermore, the Kingdome's demolition was featured on [[The History Channel]]'s ''[[Modern Marvels]]'' series with their "[[Concrete]]" episode that first aired on May 31, 2000.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Concrete |series=Modern Marvels |series-link=Modern Marvels |network=The History Channel |date=May 31, 2000 |season=6 |number=16 |minutes=1}}</ref>

The Kingdome was not limited to just television mentions; numerous songs mentioned it in their lyrics. While playing with the Mariners, [[Lenny Randle]] recorded a song titled "Kingdome" with some of his teammates and family members in order to raise money to buy a [[speech synthesizer]] for a young fan with [[cerebral palsy]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patrin |first=Nate |date=22 May 2015 |title=Straight Off The Dome: Lenny Randle's Hip-Hop Crusade Against Mariners Malaise |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/straight-off-the-dome-lenny-randles-hip-hop-crusade-against-mariners-malaise/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205005405/https://www.vice.com/en/article/straight-off-the-dome-lenny-randles-hip-hop-crusade-against-mariners-malaise/ |archive-date=5 February 2025 |access-date=5 February 2025 |website=[[Vice (magazine)|VICE]] |language=en |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Dan |title=Bloop Hits: Lenny Randle Gets Down |url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/musical-stylings-of-lenny-randle-021215 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215013352/http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/musical-stylings-of-lenny-randle-021215 |archive-date=15 February 2015 |access-date=5 February 2025 |website=[[FOX Sports]] |language=en |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Rock band [[Foo Fighters]] mentioned the stadium in the refrain of "New Way Home", which was featured on their 1997 album, ''[[The Colour and the Shape]]''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IipJAYA1p4I |title=New Way Home |date=January 25, 2017 |last=Foo Fighters |publisher=Roswell Records |time=1:31 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/IipJAYA1p4I |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live |quote=I pass boats and the Kingdome |via=YouTube |orig-year=1997}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Rapper [[Macklemore]] also mentioned the Kingdome in "My Oh My", a 2011 song that paid tribute to [[Dave Niehaus]], the longtime play-by-play announcer of the Mariners who had recently died; in it, he talks about growing up in Seattle and going to the Kingdome. The song mentions [[The Double (Seattle Mariners)|the Double]] in the Mariners–Yankees [[1995 ALDS]], and its accompanying [[music video]] also contains footage of the Kingdome's demolition.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Matson |first=Andrew |date=January 4, 2011 |title=Thinking about Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' rap tribute to Dave Niehaus, "My Oh My" |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/thinking-about-macklemore-and-ryan-lewis-rap-tribute-to-dave-niehaus-my-oh-my/ |access-date=February 23, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McGarvey |first=Sean |date=April 28, 2011 |title=Seattle Mariners: My Oh My; Seattle Rapper's Tribute to Dave Niehaus |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/681567-seattle-mariners-my-oh-my-seattle-rappers-tribute-to-dave-niehaus |access-date=February 23, 2021 |work=Bleacher Report |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvNQWQSwmow |title=Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - My Oh My (Official Video) |date=2011-01-12 |last=Macklemore LLC |author-link=Macklemore |type=Music video |publisher=YouTube |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/hvNQWQSwmow |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

With the rise of [[3D computer graphics]], video games started to depict the Kingdome as well. The [[Gran Turismo (series)|''Gran Turismo'']] series of [[racing game]]s on the [[PlayStation]] line of consoles featured the Kingdome in the Seattle Circuit race track, a street circuit based on the roads of Seattle.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 9, 1999 |title=All Tracks Gran Turismo 2 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/10/all-tracks-gran-turismo-2 |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=IGN |language=en}}</ref> Seattle Circuit is featured in [[Gran Turismo 2]], ''[[Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec]]'', ''[[Gran Turismo 4]]'', ''[[Tourist Trophy (video game)|Tourist Trophy]]'', and ''[[Gran Turismo PSP]]''. Despite the Kingdome's demolition occurring before the game was released, ''Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec'' still featured it in the track.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |date=May 11, 2000 |title=E3 2000: Gran Turismo 2000 Impressions |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/12/e3-2000-gran-turismo-2000-impressions |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=IGN |language=en}}</ref> The Kingdome also made an appearance in the 2007 [[RTS game]] ''[[World in Conflict]]'', in which it was destroyed by Soviet artillery during a Soviet invasion of Seattle in an [[alternate timeline]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howarth |first=Robert |date=April 11, 2007 |title=World in Conflict Single Player Previews |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/12/world-in-conflict-single-player-previews |access-date=March 24, 2021 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Delta Dome]]
* [[Thin-shell structure]]
* [[List of thin shell structures]]

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Mullins |first=William H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zv6OacnUs_cC&pg=PA38 |title=Becoming Big League: Seattle, the Pilots, and Stadium Politics |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-295-99425-3 |location=Seattle |access-date=March 26, 2021 |via=Google Books}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Kingdome}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991022031156/http://www.metrokc.gov/stadium/ |date=October 22, 1999 |title=Official website }}
* [https://www.controlled-demolition.com/explosives-demolition/projects/the-seattle-kingdome/ The Story behind the implosion of The Seattle Kingdome]
* [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=2164 Kingdome: The Controversial Birth of a Seattle Icon (1959–1976)]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn0qqc3EWhE Video of Kingdome implosion] via [[KING-TV]]
{{S-start-collapsible|header={{S-sta|et}}}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Seattle Seahawks]]
 | years = 1976 &ndash; 1999
 | before = first stadium
 | after = [[Husky Stadium]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Seattle Mariners]]
 | years = 1977 &ndash; 1999
 | before = first ballpark
 | after = [[T-Mobile Park]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Seattle SuperSonics]]
 | years = 1978 &ndash; 1985
 | before = [[Seattle Center Coliseum]]
 | after = [[Seattle Center Coliseum]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = [[NCAA]] [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Men's Division I]]<br />[[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Basketball tournament]]<br />Finals Venue
 | years = [[1984 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1984]]<br />[[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989]]<br />[[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995]]
 | before = <br /><br />[[The Pit (arena)|The Pit]]<br />[[Kemper Arena]]<br />[[Charlotte Coliseum]]
 | after = <br /><br />[[Rupp Arena]]<br />[[McNichols Sports Arena]]<br />[[Continental Airlines Arena]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Host of the [[Pro Bowl|NFL Pro Bowl]]
 | years = 1977
 | before = [[Louisiana Superdome]]
 | after = [[Tampa Stadium]]
}}
{{Succession box|
 | title = Host of the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star Game]]
 | years = 1979
 | before = [[San Diego Stadium]]
 | after = [[Dodger Stadium]]
}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Host of the<br /> [[NBA All-Star Game]]
 | years = 1987
 | before = [[Reunion Arena]]
 | after = [[Chicago Stadium]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the [[NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|College Cup]]
 | years = 1984–1985
 | before = [[Lockhart Stadium]]
 | after = [[Tacoma Dome]]
}}
{{end}}

{{Seattle Seahawks}}
{{Seattle Mariners}}
{{Oklahoma City Thunder}}
{{Washington Huskies baseball navbox}}
{{AMA Supercross venues}}
{{NFL indoor venues}}
{{Defunct MLB Ballparks}}
{{Former NBA arenas}}
{{Defunct NFL stadiums}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Covered stadiums in the United States|Kingdome King County Domed Stadium (demolished 2000)]]
[[Category:2000 disestablishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished by controlled implosion]]
[[Category:Defunct college baseball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct college football venues]]
[[Category:Defunct college soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct Major League Baseball venues]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL venues]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct indoor soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct American football venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct baseball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct multi-purpose stadiums in the United States]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Seattle Mariners stadiums]]
[[Category:Seattle Seahawks stadiums]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics]]
[[Category:Seattle Sounders (1974–1983)]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:American football venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in Seattle]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States]]
[[Category:Former NBA venues]]
[[Category:Architecture in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Concrete shell structures]]
[[Category:Modernist architecture in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Seattle]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1976]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2000]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor venues]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Washington Huskies baseball]]
[[Category:Defunct covered stadiums]]