Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome

From SoSH

Contents 1 Stadium History 2 Field Dimensions 3 Wall Height 4 Ground Rules 5 Trivia 6 External Links

Stadium History

The Metrodome is covered by more than 10 acres of Teflon-coated fiberglass. It is the only air-supported dome in the major leagues, and fans enter the park through revolving doors that prevent release of the air that keeps the dome upright. The roof requires 250,000 cubic feet of air pressure per minute to remain inflated, and on at least three occasions slight tears caused by heavy snows have caused the roof to deflate. The right-field wall is 23 feet tall and covered with plastic. Called "the Big Blue Baggy" and "Hefty Bag" by players, the plastic-coated fence hides 7,600 retractable seats that are used when the stadium is in its football configuration.

Field Dimensions

Left Field	Left Center	Center Field	Right Center	Right Field
343'	385'	408'	367'	327'

Wall Height

Left Field	Center Field	Right Field
7’	7’	23’

Ground Rules

In addition to adhering to the Universal Ground Rules, the Metrodome also employs the following ground rules:

OUTFIELD AREA

• Batted ball in flight striking right field wall and goes out of play in foul territory: Two bases.

• Batted ball in flight striking right field wall and goes out of play in fair territory: Home Run.

BULLPEN AREA

• Ball lodging on, under or in the bullpen seating area: Out of Play.

• Ball enters the bullpen seating area and rebounds out of the seating area: In Play.

ROOF AND SPEAKERS

• Batted ball strikes roof or speakers over fair territory:

• • Ball to be judged fair or foul in relation to where it strikes the ground or is touched by a fielder.
  • If caught by fielder, batter is out and runners advance at own risk.
  • Batted ball strikes roof or speakers over foul territory: DEAD BALL

In addition to this, please see rules governing Retractable Roofs

Trivia

• Similar to the domed stadiums in Seattle, Pontiac (Michigan), and Vancouver. All four were built by the same engineering firm.
• Sections 107 to 113 are football seats that in baseball season are tilted up and back to create a 40-foot wall behind the right-field fence.
• The white, air-supported Teflon fabric roof makes it difficult to see the ball when hit high in the air.
• The roof collapsed on April 14, 1983, from the weight of heavy snow.
• On May 4, 1984, in the top of the fourth inning, Oakland A’s batter Dave Kingman hit a ball through the roof. It should have been a homer, but Kingman was only credited with a double.
• 1987 Playoffs and World Series set new decibel records for sound in the "Thunderdome."
• Hosted the 1985 All-Star game.

External Links

• Update