Seattle Seahawks Last Game in Blue and Silver
Seattle Seahawks Stadiums over the Years: From Kingdome to CenturyLink Field
ELAINE THOMPSON/Associated Press
The Seattle Seahawks first took the field in 1976, and for the first quarter-century of their existence, played their home games at the King County Domed Stadium, better known as the Kingdome.
After the dome was imploded in March 2000, the Seahawks took up temporary residence at the University of Washington's venerable Husky Stadium, where they had played several preseason and regular-season games.
In 2002, the Seahawks moved into what was honestly known as Seahawks Stadium, which was built on the grave of the Kingdome (and with much of its recycled concrete). The facility has undergone some name changes, from Qwest Field to its current moniker of CenturyLink Field, but to the Seahawks, it's still home.
The Kingdome Is Built
BARRY SWEET/Associated Press
Construction on the Kingdome began in November of 1972. The individual roof sections of what would become the largest thin-shell concrete structure in the world were poured one at a time.
Work continued on the Kingdome until its completion in 1976. The project had been delayed by collapsed steel towers in 1973, and persistent worries if the innovative roof would hold.
Home Sweet Home
BILL CHEN/Associated Press
The Seahawks played almost all of their home games at the Kingdome from 1976 to 1999, and both opened and closed the facility with a loss.
The first was a 27-20 preseason setback to the San Francisco 49ers in August of 1976, while the final event ever at the Kingdome was a 20-17 playoff defeat to the Miami Dolphins in January 2000.
End of the Dome
ELAINE THOMPSON/Associated Press
After being hollowed out and stripped down for more than two months following its final event, the Kingdome was imploded on March 26, 2000 in a live broadcast on ESPN Classic.
Primacord and thousands of pounds of explosives detonated on cue, and the stadium collapsed upon itself like a souffle, with the American flag that had been perched on its roof still standing upright when it was all over.
Over its 24 years of existence, the Kingdome was also home to Mariners baseball, Sounders soccer, Supersonics basketball, the NCAA Final Four, the NFL Pro Bowl, and the MLB All-Star Game.
It also played host to major concerts, high school sports, rodeos, monster truck rallies, and automotive, religious and other events. Boeing used to even hold its Christmas parties there.
Husky Stadium
Elaine Thompson/Associated Press
The Seahawks played three games at Washington's Husky Stadium to start the 1994 NFL season after ceiling tiles collapsed at the Kingdome. It was their temporary home during both the 2000 and 2001 campaigns while their new facility was being built, and its cantilevered roof feature made its way into the design of the Seahawks' new, permanent nest.
It was also the last place the Seahawks wore their classic blue-and-green uniforms and silver helmets, in a home win over Kansas City in January 2002, a game that had been re-scheduled from its original date because of the tragedy of 9/11.
Husky Stadium itself is currently closed for massive renovations that should last until late 2013.
Seahawks Stadium (2002-2003)
Elaine Thompson/Associated Press
Construction on the new Seahawks Stadium itself began shortly after the Kingdome's demise. Work on the adjoining convention center had begun while the dome was being dismantled/imploded.
The new structure, which was built directly where the Kingdome once stood, would take just over two years to complete.
The Seahawks began play in the fall of 2002 at their new 67,000-seat facility which, unlike its predecessor, was open to the elements.
Coinciding with the move was a complete redesign of the Seahawks' uniforms and colors, from royal blue, kelly green and silver to navy blue, lime green and Seahawks blue.
Qwest Field (2004-2010)
Marcus R. Donner/Associated Press
The Seahawks enjoyed their greatest success to date for seven seasons at the renamed Qwest Field. That included a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2005, the NFC championship game, and Seattle's first-ever trip to the Super Bowl.
The Seattle Sounders, who were resurrected in 2007, now play professional soccer at the stadium as well. The field has also been host to Seattle-area high school sporting events.
CenturyLink Field
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
CenturyLink Field, the facility's new name introduced earlier this year, is located next to Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners' home since 1999. Where once there had been one multi-million dollar building called the Kingdome to house Seattle's two biggest pro sports franchises, there are now two.
CenturyLink Field will also serve as a temporary home to the University of Washington football team for the next few seasons while Husky Stadium is rebuilt.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/971467-nfl-seahawk-stadiums-over-the-years-kingdome-to-centurylink-field
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