Officials Ponder Silverdome Fate

PONTIAC, MI-The immediate future of the Pontiac Silverdome, the 80,000-seat former home of the Detroit Lions, is up in the air. The City of Pontiac’s Stadium Building Authority, which owns the facility, says it’s facing a $1.7-million budget shortfall for the Silverdome.

Stadium executive director Eric Walker says he wants to keep the stadium open at least until August 2005, when the city is expected to sell it to developers. The city is mulling several ideas to develop the stadium site as an office park or other proposals.

The dome used to be the home of the Detroit Lions, but the NFL team moved to a new stadium in Detroit last season. The Silverdome now holds special events and features a drive-in theater.

The city council is expected to vote in January on if it will make up the shortfall through other means or close the facility earlier than August 2005 in an effort to control costs.