The five firms include a partnership with Burton and Katzman Development Co. of Bingham Farms and REDICO of Southfield; Etkin Equities of Southfield; a partnership of Schostak Brothers of Southfield and General Development Co.; Danou Enterprises of Trenton; and Housanna Development Co., a residential builder.

However, Housanna has been taken out of the running, said Silverdome Executive Director Eric Walker. "They didn't come up with any money," Walker told GlobeSt.com. Each company was required to provide a $100,000 good faith check with their proposal.

The plans themselves have not even been looked at by Walker, he said. Instead, they are being looked at by City attorneys before he will make any sort of comment. "I purposefully didn't look at them so I wouldn't be saying anything," Walker said.

He said he should be receiving the plans back by Oct. 8. "At that point, the City will review the plans to see which one best fits the criteria for moving forward," Walker said. "This process might take a couple months."

More than 25 interested developers paid $100 for informational packets on the renovation of Pontiac Silverdome. All plans for reuse of the building will be considered, Silverdome officials say.

The 127.5-acre site is surrounded by the cities of Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills, home of many automotive suppliers and the North American headquarters of DaimlerChrysler. Members of the Stadium Building Authority and Pontiac city officials will be involved in the proposal review process.

The Silverdome is owned and operated by its own building authority. The authority was incorporated in 1968 by the City to acquire property and to construct the large covered stadium, which cost $55 million to construct. The Ford Motor Co.-owned Detroit Lions is paying Pontiac more than $27 million to exit its contract. The team was supposed to stay at the Silverdome until 2006. However, Ford Field is also set to host Super Bowl XL in 2006.