TACOMA, Washington (CelebrityAccess) — The venerable Tacoma Dome in Washington is planning to go dark this summer for a major overhaul of the facility.
The $30 million round of improvements are slated to begin in June 2018 and be completed by October 2018 and will be the first time that the dome has received a major refurbishment since it first opened its doors in 1983.
The final event before it closes for the summer will be a high school commencement ceremony on June 19.
Planned improvements for the Tacoma Dome include:
- State of the art telescopic seating, and the elimination of portable seating in exterior parking lots
- New restroom facilities and upgrades to the venue’s existing comfort facilities
- Upgrades to the venue’s loading docks.
- A refurb of the dome’s backstage offices and dressing rooms
Other planned upgrades include unspecified improvements to safety and security at the venue.
The planned refurb, which was originally approved by the Tacoma City Council in 2016 for $21.3 million, has expanded to an even $30 million, with an eye towards bringing a greater variety of events to the dome.
“We have some pretty archaic systems in the building that really need to be upgraded. They’re functional, but they obviously need to be improved and just brought up to 21st-century standard,” Kim Bedier, Director of Tacoma Venues and Events, told local ABC affiliate KOMO.
Since it opened in 1983, the Tacoma Dome has hosted concerts by some of the world’s most recognized artists, including AC/DC, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, U2, George Strait, Paul McCartney, Kenny Chesney, and Justin Timberlake. The dome is visited annually by more than 500,000 guests.
“The building is loved, and now it’s going to get some love so it can stand for another 30 years,” Bedier added.
