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Metropolitan Sports Center/Met Center
The Metropolitan Sports Center was an indoor arena that
formerly stood in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of
Minneapolis, Minnesota. The arena was constructed in little
over a year at the cost of $6 Million dollars- which was
completed in 1967 in time for the North Stars first home
game held on October, 21st 1967 against the now defunct
California Golden Seals. Bill Goldsworthy scored the Stars
goaltender Charlie Hodge. The Met Center seated 14,400
for hockey to more than 17,000 for events which utilized the
rink-floor for seating. The Met was designed for many types of attractions and events including hockey as the main attraction, basketball, circuses, rodeos, trade shows, conventions, and concerts to name a few. The arena's main tennants were the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL from 1967-1993 and ABA's Minnesota Muskies. The Muskies played just one season, before moving to Miami. They were replaced by the Minnesota Pipers, who also played only one season. The MISL Minnesota Strikers played indoor soccer at the Met Center from 1984-1988. The Boys' High School Hockey Tournament was also held there from 1969-1975. For its first 15 years, it was known as the Metropolitan Sports Center until 1982 when the shorter name of Met Center was adopted.
The Center's south side was 880 feet north of the third base line of the Metropolitan Stadium-former home of the Minnesota Twins. The Center was
308 feet wide- from north to south, and 424 feet long- from east to west.
Outside height of the center was 48 feet at sidewalk level (10 feet above the
prking lot surface) to 64 feet at the peak of the roof. Inside the height was 59
feet from the middle ofthe rink-floor to the ceiling. The ice surface measured
at 200 x 85 feet. The building itself was a fireproof, steel framed building
covered with pre-cast concrete panels, seperated by pre-cast concrete
columns. Twelve canopy-covered entrances, each with metal framed doors
and glass inserts, admitted spectators to all four sides of the Center. Parking was available on three sides: east, west and south. A 16-foot sidewalk surrounded the entire center. The arena had three interior areas: floor level (actually below ground-location of the player locker-rooms), concourse level (main entrance level), and the upper level. Entrances to all seating areas were from the main concourse or main entrance level. All the seats in the met center were the same- upholstered, with arm rests. The concessions at the met were at one time among the finest in the country with such delicacies as German bratwurst, Mexican tacos, Italian pizza, Kentucky fried chicken, rare roast beef and usual staples of hot dogs, hamburgers, pop, beer, candy bars, peanuts and popcorn.
The Met was considered to be one of the finest arenas in the NHL for many
years, both for its sightlines, and its ice surface. Among NHL players, the Met
was known for fast ice, the best lighting, great locker rooms and training
facilities. Despite its wide array of concessions, the Met never boasted fancy
amenities, and by comparison to modern arenas it had cramped concourses,
no luxury suites, and very few frills.
Following the North Stars departure to Dallas becoming the Dallas Stars the
Met Center was sadly demolished on December 13, 1994 after Norm Green
moved the North Stars. Three attempts were made to undertake a controlled
implosion of the building, but none was sufficient to bring it down. As a
result, the arena had to be demolished using the usual wrecking ball. "This
is was a sad day for Minnesota Hockey fans"- former North Star defenseman
Tom Reid said while fighting back tears on Channel 5 live news following
the demolition.
For several years after the arena was demolished, the property served as
an overflow lot for the adjacent Mall of America which is built over the old Met Stadium. In 2004, an IKEA store opened on the west end of the property, and the new American Boulevard was rerouted through the east end of the property. The remainder of the site is planned long-term to become the site of Mall of America Phase II, of which the IKEA would be an anchor store. The only remaining remnants of the Met Center being there are the old parking lot signs that signified the South-East-West lots that surrounded the old Met Center in todays empty parking lot. Click here for a guided/tour of the Met on our video page.
Portions of this article from wikipedia.com
Met Center Construction with Met Stadium in background**
Met Center Implosion: December 13, 1994
Met Center High School Hockey Tournament 1974**
Met Center former location today- Overflow parking lot for Mall of American and Ikea store
Artists Rendering of the Met Center prior to construction
Met Center Game 1 ticket stub from October, 21 1967
Met Center NHL All-Star game program: January, 25 1972
Met Center crowd celebrating Mike Gartner's 500th Goal**
The "Arena of the Stars" that never was...
On the heels of the North Stars triumph over Chicago in the first round of the 1991 NHL playoffs, North Stars' owner Norman Green announced plans to "re-model Met Center into an arena-shopping center/restaurant complex that would be second to none" . The Minnesota North Stars revealed these future plans below, and architect drawings of the remodel of Met Center arena- that would have been renamed the "Arena of the Stars". As history shows the Met Center re-model, and the arena was never conducted as the Stars relocated to Dallas Texas for the 1993-1994 season. As the plans below indicated it called for a skyway to be erected between the adjacent Mall of America, with new hotels to be built as well. Sadly on December 13, 1994 the original Met Center was demolished making way for a parking lot, and Ikea store many years later.
