News article written by Hank Schaller noting the death of C. Don Davidson and some of his accomplishments; published front page in the 'Oakland Press' Newspaper - April 3, 1987
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The Man Behind the Plan Dies ©
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The Pontiac Times Newspaper Era ... 1972-1982 ©
Why another local newspaper?
"I sought out the opinion of fifteen experts. All of them agreed that it (starting a newspaper) couldn't be done. I decided that anything that certain left room for a unique answer."
"The people of Pontiac were left without a hometown paper. As the Oakland Press moved more toward regional news, they really couldn't remain a local paper, too." - C. Don Davidson - Times publisher
Davidson and his dedicated staff published a weekly newspaper for eleven years. It went defunct in 1982 due to advertising difficulties brought on by the early 1980's recession. Below is a copy of the one year anniversary of The Pontiac Times Newspaper dated Dec. 7, 1973.
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"I sought out the opinion of fifteen experts. All of them agreed that it (starting a newspaper) couldn't be done. I decided that anything that certain left room for a unique answer."
"The people of Pontiac were left without a hometown paper. As the Oakland Press moved more toward regional news, they really couldn't remain a local paper, too." - C. Don Davidson - Times publisher
Davidson and his dedicated staff published a weekly newspaper for eleven years. It went defunct in 1982 due to advertising difficulties brought on by the early 1980's recession. Below is a copy of the one year anniversary of The Pontiac Times Newspaper dated Dec. 7, 1973.
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North Carolina State University - Professional School of Design - 1957 ©
Davidson was among one percent of the 200 who started in the schools design and architecture program of which only 14 would graduate.
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Stories, Photos & Videos related to the Silverdome ©
Elvis Presley's New Years Eve Show - 1975
click here for history and photos
O.J. Simpson Makes a Pitch for the New Stadium
Under Construction - 1974
In 1976, the Buffalo Bills Running Back rushed for a then NFL-record 273 yards at the Silverdome. The Lions defeated Buffalo, 27-14. Click here to watch O.J. set the NFL record.
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| Football star O.J. Simpson with his first wife, making an appearance in Pontiac MI. on behalf of Buffalo Bills owner and local business owner, Ralph Wilson. - April 15, 1974 |
Billy Graham's 'Invitation' answered by thousands
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| Billy Graham - 1976 |
They begin streaming on the field even before Dr. Billy Graham finishes his invitation. Hundreds, then thousands descend the steps from their seats at the 80,000 seat Pontiac Stadium to answer the call.
It is the same scene repeated at each of the preceding nine evangelistic crusade services. The crowds had grown from an initial 35,000 or so until Sunday's 70,000 jammed their way into the parking lots and through the revolving doors.
Click on [Full Screen] at top of document to view the full article.
Click on [Full Screen] at top of document to view the full article.
Super Bowl XVI, Pontiac MI January 24, 1982
Game Highlights of the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals
Michael Jackson Victory Tour - 1984
WWF Wrestlemania III - 1987
Pope’s visit still etched in area’s memory
DETROIT — One of the biggest events in the life of the Catholic Church in southeast Michigan took place 25 years ago this month, when Bl. John Paul II made a pastoral visit to Detroit.
And despite the passage of a quarter-century, that papal visit of Sept. 18-19, 1987, still lives in the memories of those who participated in the preparations or just attended the various events.
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Silverdome Facts ©
IInception of Planning: ca.1968, at the University of Detroit by Dean of Architecture Bruno Leon and Professor C. Don Davidson
Construction
Architect: O'dell, Hewlett & Luckenbach
Building Contractor: Barton Malow
Cost: $55.7 Million
Construction completed on time (23 months) and on budget.
1.5 million cubic yards of earth moved for construction.
Architect: O'dell, Hewlett & Luckenbach
Building Contractor: Barton Malow
Cost: $55.7 Million
Construction completed on time (23 months) and on budget.
1.5 million cubic yards of earth moved for construction.
Materials Used: 52,000 cubic yards of concrete
1,700 tons of structural steel
10 acre Teflon-coated Fiberglas roof
18 large steel cables: vary 550 to 750 feet, weighing up to 15,000 lbs. each
10 - 75 hp fans and 15 - 100 hp fans
50 revolving doors
93 pressure balance doors
1,700 tons of structural steel
10 acre Teflon-coated Fiberglas roof
18 large steel cables: vary 550 to 750 feet, weighing up to 15,000 lbs. each
10 - 75 hp fans and 15 - 100 hp fans
50 revolving doors
93 pressure balance doors
Building Size: Overall- 770ft. x 600ft.
Playing Field- 94,000 sq. ft.
Lower Concourse- 25,000 sq. ft.
Playing Field- 94,000 sq. ft.
Lower Concourse- 25,000 sq. ft.
Financing
$15.9 million in General Obligation Notes issued by the City of Pontiac.
$25 million in Revenue Bonds sold by the Pontiac Stadium Building Authority.
$8 million interest on bond money prior to construction.
$7.76 million installment loan for addition of an air supported roof, to be paid for out of stadium revenues.
$15.9 million in General Obligation Notes issued by the City of Pontiac.
$25 million in Revenue Bonds sold by the Pontiac Stadium Building Authority.
$8 million interest on bond money prior to construction.
$7.76 million installment loan for addition of an air supported roof, to be paid for out of stadium revenues.
Current Owner: Andreas Apostolopoulos Family Triple Investment Group
Previous Owner: Pontiac Stadium Building Authority
Groundbreaking: September 19, 1973
Site: 132 total acres:100 acres - Parking Lot
20 acres - Silverdome
20 acres - Silverdome
Seating
Lower Level: 42,082
Bench Seats-(3,634)
Club Level-7,342
Upper Level-29,399
Private Suites-1,246
Wheelchair-256
Lower Level: 42,082
Bench Seats-(3,634)
Club Level-7,342
Upper Level-29,399
Private Suites-1,246
Wheelchair-256
Capacity
Football, Soccer, Supercross, Tractor Pull, Rodeos: 80,325
Political Rallies, Religious Crusades: 90,000
Concerts: 22,000 to 55,000
Football, Soccer, Supercross, Tractor Pull, Rodeos: 80,325
Political Rallies, Religious Crusades: 90,000
Concerts: 22,000 to 55,000
Parking
On-Site (100 acres, lighted, paved)
Automobile - 12,464
Handicap - (389)
On-Site (100 acres, lighted, paved)
Automobile - 12,464
Handicap - (389)
Home to- Detroit Lions 1975-2001, Detroit Pistons 1978-1988, Michigan Panthers (USFL) 1983-1984, Detroit Express (NASL) 1978-1980, NCAA Cherry Bowl (1984-1985, Super Bowl XVI, FIFA World Cup (1994), NCAA Motor City Bowl 1997-2001, Wrestlemania III (1987), NBA All Star Game (1979), and the NBA Finals (1988)
Notable audience attendance numbers
The largest crowd to ever gather at the Silverdome was on March 29, 1987 for WrestleMania III, with a reported attendance of 93,173. Another notable audience attendance record had earlier been broken on April 30, 1977, when the English rock band Led Zeppelin played in front of 76,229 fans at the Silverdome. This was, at the time, a new world record attendance for a solo indoor attraction, beating the 75,962 that The Who attracted there on December 6, 1975. The Detroit Pistons also set numerous NBA attendance records during their time at the Silverdome; Regular Season, 61,983 vs. Boston, January 29, 1988; Playoffs, 41,732, vs. L.A. Lakers, June 16, 1988. - (courtesy of Wikipedia)
Significant events
- August 23, 1975 - First Lions (Exhibition) Game played at Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium (Silverdome) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- December 6, 1975 (Opening Night) - The Who (attended by 75,962 fans)
- December 31, 1975 – Elvis Presley (his very first New Year's Eve show, attended by 62,500 fans)
- October 1976 – Billy Graham Crusade - Some 70,000+ attended the final service at the one year old Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium (Silverdome)
- April 30, 1977 - Led Zeppelin (attended by 76,229 fans)
- March 5, 1978 - Kenny Rogers & Dottie West hosted what was billed as the "World's Largest Indoor Country Music Show" with an attendance in excess of 60,000 fans.
- February 4, 1979 – NBA All-Star Game
- January 24, 1982 – Super Bowl XVI
- August 17-19, 1984 – Michael Jackson and the full entourage of The Jacksons performed three concerts at Pontiac Silverdome during their Victory Tour.
- September 4, 1985 - Bruce Springsteen performed to a record crowd during his "Born in the U.S.A." tour.
- March 29, 1987 – WrestleMania III
- August 7, 1987 – Madonna, who lived near the dome in her childhood, brought the Who's That Girl World Tour here with 56,000 people in the audience
- September 18, 1987 – Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass
- 1988 – NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
- 1988 – NBA Finals games 3 through 5
- 1991 – NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
- 1992 – Metallica and Guns N' Roses brought the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour to the dome on July 21, 1992, with Faith No More as their opening act.
- 1994 – Hosted World Cup games for the 1994 World Cup
- 1994 – Pink Floyd performed their classic album, The Dark Side of the Moon, in its entirety, on July 15, 1994 for the first time since 1975.
- 2000 – Metallica held New Year's Eve concert at the venue along with Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, and Sevendust
- January 6, 2002 – Final Detroit Lions game played, a 15-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
- April 17, 2010 – "Domination In The Dome" (Monster Trucks) Grand Re-Opening of the Silverdome
(courtesy of Wikipedia)
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Current Status of the Silverdome ©
After the Lions departure, the city of Pontiac began to experience dire financial problems. Due to the continued high maintenance costs of the structure, it made several unsuccessful attempts to sell the stadium. In early 2008, United Assurance Company Ltd. made the highest purchase offer to date, with a bid of $18 million to convert the Silverdome into a Hollywood-style entertainment complex, following an earlier bid of $12 million by an attorney. However, the city announced in October 2009 that the property would go to auction with no minimum bid, and that zoning regulations would be relaxed for any buyer in order to spark development. The city engaged the firm of Williams & Williams to conduct the auction in November 2009.
Silverdome sells for $583,000
After reading about the auction in a newspaper, Greek-born Canadian real estate developer Andreas Apostolopoulos, CEO of Toronto-based Triple Properties Inc., submitted a winning bid of US$550,000. Real estate fees of 6% raised the price to US$583,000. The sale of the Silverdome, completed in 1975 at a cost of $55.7 million (approx. $225 million in 2012 dollars), and sold in 2009 for $583,000 was viewed by many as a symbol of the collapse of real estate prices in the Detroit metropolitan area though many local leaders and residents claimed the sale was brought about due to the incompetence of city management and their not having a vision or future plans for the stadium and surrounding area.
Silverdome sells for $583,000
After reading about the auction in a newspaper, Greek-born Canadian real estate developer Andreas Apostolopoulos, CEO of Toronto-based Triple Properties Inc., submitted a winning bid of US$550,000. Real estate fees of 6% raised the price to US$583,000. The sale of the Silverdome, completed in 1975 at a cost of $55.7 million (approx. $225 million in 2012 dollars), and sold in 2009 for $583,000 was viewed by many as a symbol of the collapse of real estate prices in the Detroit metropolitan area though many local leaders and residents claimed the sale was brought about due to the incompetence of city management and their not having a vision or future plans for the stadium and surrounding area.
In the Detroit Free Press on March 11, 2010, Apostolopoulos vowed "to revive the stadium as a big-event venue by investing millions of dollars".
The roof was permanently deflated on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 as an energy saving measure during upcoming renovations. Plans call for a new, permanent, self-supporting roof to be installed topped with solar panels for energy production.
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Pontiac Silverdome owners plan facelift in bid to lure Major League Soccer
Click here to view a rendering of a renovated Pontiac Silverdome that will house a soccer specific stadium at the top level (without a roof), and a concert hall and a multi-purpose indoor sports facility at the ground level.
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The Early Years - Planning and Construction ©
In the beginning stages of planning, Detroit, Pontiac and
Walled Lake were the primary sites for a new stadium.
City to Push for Stadium
Walled Lake were the primary sites for a new stadium.
City to Push for Stadium
First mention of a proposed stadium, Pontiac Press - May 24, 1968
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| Envisioned and Designed by Professor C. Don Davidson of the University of Detroit and Dean of Architecture Bruno Leon, chairman of the design team. |
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| Original plans called for a dual stadium complex for both the Detroit Tigers baseball team and the Detroit Lions. Plans were scrapped due to the lack of a commitment by the Tigers organization. |
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| The site being proposed for consideration is a 130 acre parcel north of M-59 and west of Opdyke. |
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Model of proposed dual stadium complex with a sliding roof |
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The Man Behind the Stadium Project - Pontiac Silverdome ©
From the early 1960's until 1972, Pontiac's own, Don Davidson (1929-1987) worked as an urban planner/designer and architect while designing and coordinating many developments across the nation. He then worked as a professor of architecture and urban planning at the University of Detroit. He was best known for two local projects, the Pontiac Silverdome Stadium and the Pontiac Plan, - Pontiac Times, Dec. 7, 1973
During the initial phase of the stadium planning prior to 1968, Davidson and his University of Detroit architecture class along with Bruno Leon, Dean of Architecture conceived and designed the stadium as part of an overall urban renewal project for the city of Pontiac and surrounding area. Davidson ultimately was hired as Chief Project Designer by the architectural firm, O'dell, Hewlett & Luckenbach.
After the completion of the stadium project, Davidson was pleased to know that a major part of his life long dream for the city of Pontiac had become a reality with the construction of an 80,000 seat 'state of the art' sports complex that, in his own words, "has a symmetrical layout fashioned after the ancient Roman Colosseum."
- Pontiac High School Star Athlete - U.S. Marine (Korea)
- North Carolina State University Graduate - Professional School of Design - 1957
- U. of D. College Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning
- Visionary, Creator/Designer of the Pontiac MI. Urban Renewal Plan, Phoenix Center, 66-79
- Visionary and Designer of the Pontiac Silverdome
- Pontiac Times Newspaper Owner and Publisher
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| Artist Rendering of the Pontiac Stadium / Silverdome - Pontiac Times Newspaper Photo, 1974 |
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The Who - Silverdome, 1975
December 6, 1975 Opening Night - (attended by 75,962 fans)
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Elvis at the Silverdome
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Silverdome Sold - Roof Deflated
Silverdome sells for $583,000
After reading about the auction in a newspaper, Greek-born Canadian real estate developer Andreas Apostolopoulos, CEO of Toronto-based Triple Properties Inc., submitted a winning bid of US$550,000. Real estate fees of 6% raised the price to US$583,000. The sale of the Silverdome, completed in 1975 at a cost of $55.7 million (approx. $225 million in 2012 dollars), and sold in 2009 for $583,000 was viewed by many as a symbol of the collapse of real estate prices in the Detroit metropolitan area though many local leaders and residents claimed the sale was brought about due to the incompetence of city management and their not having a vision or future plans for the stadium and surrounding area.
Will the Silverdome become known as the Silverdoom?
After the Lions departure, the city of Pontiac began to experience dire financial problems. Due to continued high costs to maintain the stadium, the city made several unsuccessful attempts to sell the stadium. In early 2008, United Assurance Company Ltd. made the highest purchase offer to date, with a bid of $18 million to convert the Silverdome into a Hollywood-style entertainment complex, following an earlier bid of $12 million by an attorney. However, the city announced in October 2009 that the property would go to auction with no minimum bid, and that zoning regulations would be relaxed for any buyer in order to spark development. The city engaged the firm of Williams & Williams to conduct the auction in November 2009.
Contrary to Wikipedia, the vacant Silverdome is no longer a domed stadium.
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The roof was permanently deflated on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 as an energy saving measure during upcoming renovations. Plans call for a new, permanent, self-supporting roof to be installed topped with solar panels for energy production.
After reading about the auction in a newspaper, Greek-born Canadian real estate developer Andreas Apostolopoulos, CEO of Toronto-based Triple Properties Inc., submitted a winning bid of US$550,000. Real estate fees of 6% raised the price to US$583,000. The sale of the Silverdome, completed in 1975 at a cost of $55.7 million (approx. $225 million in 2012 dollars), and sold in 2009 for $583,000 was viewed by many as a symbol of the collapse of real estate prices in the Detroit metropolitan area though many local leaders and residents claimed the sale was brought about due to the incompetence of city management and their not having a vision or future plans for the stadium and surrounding area.
Will the Silverdome become known as the Silverdoom?
After the Lions departure, the city of Pontiac began to experience dire financial problems. Due to continued high costs to maintain the stadium, the city made several unsuccessful attempts to sell the stadium. In early 2008, United Assurance Company Ltd. made the highest purchase offer to date, with a bid of $18 million to convert the Silverdome into a Hollywood-style entertainment complex, following an earlier bid of $12 million by an attorney. However, the city announced in October 2009 that the property would go to auction with no minimum bid, and that zoning regulations would be relaxed for any buyer in order to spark development. The city engaged the firm of Williams & Williams to conduct the auction in November 2009.
The roof was permanently deflated on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 as an energy saving measure during upcoming renovations. Plans call for a new, permanent, self-supporting roof to be installed topped with solar panels for energy production.
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Pope John Paul II visit to Pontiac, MI Silverdome
Pope’s Visit Still Etched in Area’s Memory
A stellar highlight of Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka’s time as Archbishop of Detroit
And despite the passage of a quarter-century, that papal visit of Sept. 18-19, 1987, still lives in the memories of those who participated in the preparations or just attended the various events.
The visit was not only a stellar highlight of Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka’s time as archbishop of Detroit, but was only made possible by the cardinal’s wouldn’t-take-no-for-an-answer persistence in lobbying for the Motor City’s inclusion in the pope’s itinerary.
“It wasn’t easy,” Cardinal Szoka said of the process that brought the first Polish pope to the Archdiocese of Detroit
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Why Pontiac?
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Where's Alex?
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Pontiac Silverdome owners announce design competition to redevelop former Detroit Lions stadium site
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A Fabric Roof for the Pontiac Silverdome Stadium - Pontiac Times, 1974
click on photo to enlarge
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Notable People Who Advocated for a Stadium in Pontiac
Harold Cousins
The first chairman of the Pontiac Stadium Authority. He is credited with helping to convince Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford to move the team to Pontiac.
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Robert F. Jackson, Mayor of Pontiac, 1969-73
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| Pontiac Times Newspaper - February 1974 |
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Bruno Kearns
Bruno Kearns was a native of western Pennsylvania and a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II, Kearns, had worked some 28 years at the Pontiac Press (now The Oakland Press) until 1980.
Kearns was regarded by many as the single most effective catalyst in getting a stadium built in Pontiac. "He was sports editor when I came to the paper in 1971," said Neil Munro, former Oakland Press editor. "The Silverdome at that point was a dream in Bruno's eye, because it had not been approved."
But editorially, Kearns continued to pound away at getting the Silverdome constructed and Pontiac citizens finally approved it by vote.
He was a good friend of Don Davidson, the stadium's visionary and designer and together they pushed for the stadium's reality. Kearns even wrote an article about Davidson and his formative years growing up in Pontiac. Kearns, along with Davidson also organized the prestigious 250 member Pontiac Quarterback Club.
"Nobody was happier than Bruno," Munro said. "He wrote as much about the Silverdome as he did sports. It was a labor of love for him.
"When it was completed, the Lions had put a brass plaque (engraved with his name) on the table in the press box and it was for Bruno. It was where he sat. Not many sportswriters ever got a plaque from the team. And Bruno was as critical of the Lions as a team as anybody. (But) he was a good guy to get along with and he worked hard."
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Bruno Leon
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Carl Luckenbach
Architect for the stadium
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Robert Rummel
Former finance director for the city of Pontiac and the first executive director of the Pontiac Stadium Authority
Click here
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Richard R. Wilcox
A founding member of the Pontiac Stadium Authority, which built and governed the Pontiac Stadium.
Nobody pushed harder than Bruno Kearns to get the Super Bowl to come to Pontiac.
_________________________________________________Bruno Leon
University Honors
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| L-R, Davidson, Reuther, Leon, Skelton |
Carl Luckenbach
Architect for the stadium
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| Pontiac Times Newspaper - 1974 |
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Robert Rummel
Former finance director for the city of Pontiac and the first executive director of the Pontiac Stadium Authority
Click here
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Richard R. Wilcox
A founding member of the Pontiac Stadium Authority, which built and governed the Pontiac Stadium.
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Led Zeppelin Rocks the Dome
The attendance at Led Zeppelin's Silverdome concert on April 30, 1977 shattered the band's own previous attendance record, a number unmatched by any other group in the past four years prior.
The audience of 77,229 was the largest audience for a single-act concert.
The previous record was 56,800 set in May 1973 at a Zeppelin show in Tampa Bay.
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Article 12
O.J. Simpson Makes a Pitch for the New Stadium Under Construction - 1974
On April 15, 1974, football star O.J. Simpson along with his first wife Marguerite, made an appearance in Pontiac MI. on behalf of Buffalo Bills owner, resident and local business owner, Ralph Wilson. (see below)
In 1976, the Buffalo Bills Running Back rushed for a then NFL-record 273 yards at the Silverdome. The Lions defeated Buffalo, 27-14.
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Silverdome Concerts and Music Performances with Featured Artists
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