New Roof Installation Begins, Will Cost $25 Million

The new roof being installed to the Metrodome is officially underway. The new roof is coming from the same firm that put in the original Metrodome roof 30 years ago. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission held a bid opening Thursday. The only bid received was from Birdair Inc. of New York.

Birdair’s bid was $18.3 million for the installation of the new roof with almost $700,000 in additional costs that included prior analysis of the roof to the decision being made that the entire roof would need replacing rather than just the five panels that tore away during the roof collapse in December.

The Metrodome Will Be Fixed

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission approved an $18.3 million roof replacement for the Metrodome last Thursday. The roof will be completed by the beginning of August, which is only weeks before the Minnesota Vikings preseason begins. The commission voted unanimously to approve the 10-acre Teflon-coated dome, deciding against repairing the torn roof. The Minnesota Vikings lease with the Metrodome expires in a year, and the team has been seeking a long-term plan with funding a new stadium. Either way, I'm glad that we know where they will be playing in the 2011 season (barring a lockout).