Kingdome.org – An Internet Tribute to the Former Kingdome

Guestbook Memories

From 2006 to 2009, visitors to Kingdome.org signed the guestbook and shared their memories of the Kingdome: first games, concerts, the 1995 Mariners and the implosion on March 26, 2000. The guestbook is now closed; these 44 entries are preserved as they were written.

  1. ericHenderson, NV, USA

    Went to a Sonics game Dec 23 1983. I'll never forget the game or the date. I even remember the player of the game. Downtown Freddie Brown. I'm a huge Mariners fan. Since day one. Do you know where I can find some seats from the Kingdome. I read an article that a salvage company took them out. But that's it. Any help would be appreciated.

  2. Tom SomersFairfield, IA, USA

    I worked at the Kingdome from 1980 to 1988 in the Department of Stadium Administration for King County. I did PR and helped organize and supervise all the events. A dream job.

    Seahawks, Sounders, Mariners and Sonics. Final Four. Rolling Stones, The Who, Madonna.

  3. Larkin RyalOklahoma City, OK, Oklahoma

    I played in the Kingdome on December 10, 1977. The second year it was open. It was an NAIA National Championship game. I wanted to cry when I heard they were imploding. Managed to make it back for a M"S game in 1991. Does anybody know how or where I can get a momento of the stadium. Maybe a seat, piece of turf, piece of mortar? Anything that is authentic.

  4. KingSeattle, WA, USA

    Ah the Kingdome. This place is still missed. I remember the foul ball blocking speakers and the empty orange outfield bleachers... the pan pizzas when they were actually good, the cow chip cookies... It'd be great to go to one more game in that awesome place...oh well, at least Griffey is back!

  5. Bob PetersYale, MI, USA

    I attended the very first Mariner's game. opening day vs. the California Angels. I still have my ticket stub from the game. It was exciting to be downtown that afternoon, everyone was in a festive mood. The Central Tavern was my favorite spot to grab an ice cold Rainier before the game. I'm so glad I got to be there at the first game. Back then i thought the Kingdome would be around for a long, long time, not knowing it would have such a short lifespan....Bob Peters, Yale, Michigan

  6. JerrySt George, UT, USA

    I watched the Kingdome being built. Went to the very first event.. I had never seen more people in one place in my life. I was in High school when it opened.

    Went to Mariner Games, and Sonics game. Yes a sonics game.

    Baseball was the best in the Dome.

    I always wanted to take my son to a Mariners game there but never got the chance. We watched the emplosion on Northwest Cable News. I was living just out of Spokane in Idaho.

    But like everyone else has said, great memories.

  7. OneHawkFanEverett, Washington, USA

    I remember way back (in the 80's) when I invented the 12th man, it was right after I started the Wave-tm.

  8. RonSouth Bend, IN, USA

    Great site. I remember a couple of great Ms games there. I think my favorite was one in late June with Randy Johnson pitching when Jose Cruz jr. hit a game winning home run to win the game.

    Check out this utube "tribute" to the kingdome

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9sjbX9B08

  9. mateoFremont, CA, USA

    Visited Kingdome on a road trip with some buddies in 97. Following the A's we were fortunate to see Mac's blast of Randy Johnson. RJ had 19 strikeouts in that game. We drank beer, yelled at the Moose and told Buhner that he looked uglier than he hit. The Mariner fans just laughed at us- and with us. It was an awesome night and the Dome was terrific. It was definitely different- but had a ton of character and some fantastic fans.

  10. burnsGoleta, CA, USA

    I worked on the rigging crew that put up the safety gear for the roofers in '94. I still have the jacket - you know, standard black and yellow union type jacket - with the "Monumental Makeover - Kingdome 1994" logo on the back. It's still new - I wore it once or twice but never on the job. If anyone's interested, I'll probably put it on ebay or something. Or, if this site allows it, just respond here and we can figure how to talk off ist.

  11. jSeattle, WA, USA

    i started the 12th man with my friends in the 90's when nobody cared about the hawks, miss the dome terribly great site

  12. Catch23Puyallup, WA, USA

    If the city put 1/8 of the money towards the Kingdome, My God...the Kingdome would have new life...Like putting a new engine with a turbo on an old car....I will never forgive GARY LOCKE for ruining my visits to Watch the Mariners or Seahawks.

  13. Catch23Puyallup, WA, USA

    Now being 20 ...I ponder ...."WHY"? Why would they implode this stadium? I remember the fixes the city did a year or two before when that poor man died...just to find out..we were gonna blow it up a year later?

    Seriously...how much did it cost to 1. Implode/clean up the kingdome 2. build safeco 3. build qwest field...

  14. Catch23Puyallup, WA, USA

    You know,

    I must be the biggest 1995 Mariner fan ever...I was 7 at the time and not one season has been more impressionable on a kid than that season was to me. I can't count the number of times I've watched "My oh my"! And .....I dont know why, but just remembering going to the mariner games and finally walking up the little walkway to finally see the bright green astroturf was like heaven for a 7 year old...

  15. BDes Moines, WA, USA

    We have some Kingdome seats 2 (2 seat sections) for sale if anyone is interested. [email removed]

  16. Neal VonadaSeattle, WA, USA

    The first event held in the Kingdome was the Billy Graham Crusade. The RV and Mobilehome Show Corporation agreed to give up the first event position it acquired ten years before the opening, to give the stadium a bigger opening day. ~ Neal Vonada

  17. Neal VonadaSeattle, WA, USA

    In 1966, ex world's fair President Joseph Gandy urged voters to approval building the Kingdome stadium. I sent a telegram asking to be the first event. Gandy called a press conference and announced the Mobilehome and RV Show would be the first event. It took another ten years. The Mobilehome and RV Show stayed longer than the life of the stadium. It's mentioned in a documentary.

  18. SantoKirkland, WA, USA

    The kingdome is where I saw the Rolling Stones and where I saw my first baseball game. The day she went down is a huge dust ball I was watching close by with my camera in hand...36 images and it was all over. People would always make fun of her because she was not pretty like the new ball parks around. Who cares! I know have a piece of the dome in my backyard with some flowers around it. She will never die in my families eyes.

  19. OliviaMukilteo, WA, USA

    I went to my first seahawks game there with my Dad. I was pregnant and going morning sickness at home on my couch when it was imploded. Of course my husband now ex-husband got to go see it.

  20. MikeKent, Washington, USA

    Wow, I remember sneaking wine coolers into the Kingdome at a Monster truck show. Then we listened to George Strait when he was first starting out! Great Night! I saw my first big league baseball game in the Kingdome. I got to the bridge on 12th Avenue South and I-90 at 2 a.m. when they took er down. But, we have our seats that we bought and our souvenir concrete that they gave away that I had to stand in line for!! We still remember Kingdome!!!!

  21. pamMt Pleasant, NC, USA

    wow i remember this it was so cool i was there in 1976 when the seahawks first played wow i was arguing with some GI's about jim zorn it was so cool they won it was the game zorn and largent

    they a team made in heaven and i will miss seeing ole jimmy good luck with the redskins

  22. Stephen AndersonBelfair, WA, USA

    I seen many concerts in the Kingdome from Led Zeppelin in 1977 and the stones in 1981 and pink floyd in 1987 also many football games 1st game Elway played in and sonics games and two regional NCAA basketball tournaments lots of mariners games too many events to list here. Miss it , Definatly

  23. BeccaBremerton, Washington, USA

    I went to my first concert there- when I was like, 3.

    It was Barney Live, and I don't remember it at all, but it was probably sweeeeet!

  24. Cordy McAvoyGlenmoore, PA, USA

    I remember a seahawks game in 1993 when rick mirer had a big game vs the browns in week 11 wow if tom flores wasnt fired then rick mirer wouldnt be considered a draft bust

  25. Ron PerezRedlands, CA, USA

    I remember the King Dome, my new wife and I went there to see Paul McCartney and Wings "Wings Across America". I forgot the year, but I remember the Dome.

  26. JacquelineTacoma, Washington, USA

    Remember seeing the Rolling Stones---

  27. RuthRedmond, WA, USA

    I remember going to a Seahawk game in 1977 with my dad.

    I took my son to a Seahawk game when he was 4 months old. It was too loud for him, so we spent most of the time walking around.

    I took him to the KCPQ Kids Fair when he was 2 (?), and I have a photo of the Dome from the top of the ferris wheel they had inside!

    Mariners, high school football, seen it all!

    Best times ever, but it was time for it to go...

  28. TomBoise, ID, USA

    I remember, and still have my program from the very first Seahawks game played in the Kingdome.

    I remember attending a Mariners Game, (believe against the Indians), when we had an Earthquake. My friends and I looked at each other and just thought it was a good wave going around the dome. But the best part was when they inspected it, there was no damage to the Kingdome which proved Ken Bering wrong.

    Sad day when I watched from up on the hill the implosion of the Great Kingdome.

  29. PRYORAuburn, Washington, USA

    Out with the old and in with the new. The kingdome was great. Our new field is better.

  30. Mark SainsberyMelbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Greetings from ' Downunder'!! Came across this website and thought I'd leave a message. Was lucky enough to go to the Kingdome to watch the Sonics play in 1979 when I toured the west coast of the USA with an Australian Under 18 basketball team. I remember that it was a magnificent stadium and something that we did not have back home at the time. Anyway, all the best. Cheers...

  31. BrandonSalisbury, MD, USA

    I wish I got to go, but I live all the way out here. The kingdome sounds great, despite what people said. I don't know why they had to tear it down, though. They could have easily remodeled it.

  32. MichaelEdmonds, WA, USA

    See my Kingdome tribute picture at www.mdbphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/1101085#51326976-L-LB

    I remember the first time I went inside for a game in the mid 70's - I was astounded to think that the population of my hometown in Wyoming wouldn't fill a single section. I was there on 3/26/00 - she went out with a bang...

  33. steven johnsonAberdeen, S. Dak, USA

    I remember going to a Rolling Stones concert, the summer after my 7th grade year. It was great! Does anyone remember that concert or may have been there? It was for 1 day but ended up selling out 3 days. One of the highlights of my youth.....Lumin De Lumine.....gurusteve

  34. Marcos Falcao LinsOttawa, Ontario, Canada

    I went to the Kingdome just once, to watch a U2 concert - Dec 12th 1997. It was a blast! Loved the venue. Saddly, it was demolished 2 years later.

    RIP King Dome!

  35. CameronOlympia, Washington, USA

    Oh, I remember countless hours of fun there.

    I went there for years. RIP Kingdome!

  36. John HollowayTacoma, Washington, USA

    I was there when the Hawks played the last game in the Kingdome, and the Dolphins beat the Hawks. I was about 5 or 6 when the M's won the '95 American League West Divison Title. Edgar Martinez hit a double down the right field line that would score the game winning run in Ken Griffery Jr. The stands would be rocking. Those would be my all time favorites.

  37. Char BameSnohomish, WA, USA

    My favorite memory is walking on the 50 yard line with all the bands (HS marching band competition), lining up and hearing the 'boom' from the bass drums. The echo was tremendous. We watched Jim Zorn and the Seahawks practice; sat in every section 300 on down; and loved every minute of it. I love Safeco Field and Qwest Field; the Seahawks, Mariners, Huskies, and Sonics. But there will never be another Kingdome, and it's memory will always hold a special place in my heart.

  38. DaniRenton, WA, USA

    My fondest memory:

    It was my second baseball game there, and we had seats on the 200 level. That was the game that Dan Wilson hit the inside-the-grand-slam. It was AMAZING!!!

    A few years later my best friend was sleeping over at my house and my mom woke us up that morning because they were imploding the Kingdome. She and I just cried while we watched.

  39. BobblebumPhiladelphia, PA, USA

    Huge Seahawk fan on the east coast who never made it to the Kingdome

  40. JenKansas city, MO, USA

    i remember growing up in Seattle, seeing the kingdome all the time. i remember the first baseball game i saw there in 1989 the sound of the cannon fireing. it wasn't the prettiest building but my inner child really misses seeing it.

  41. Brian KadyKennewick, Washington, USA

    I attended five Seahawks games, one Mariners game, and one Promise Keepers event in the Kingdome. I was sad to see it go, but the memories will live with me forever.

  42. DavidBaton Rouge, LA, USA

    I remember my first M's game. It was in 94', I was lucky enough to see Griffey hit a home run on Turn Back the Clock Night. Alot of people thought the Kingdome was bland...I thought that all the nastiness to it gave it character.

  43. JenniferSeattle, WA, USA

    I saw the Rolling Stones at the Kingdome the first time in 1981, I was 11 years old my mom said I should go because "these guys won't be around much longer". In 1997 I saw them again I took my mom. Concerts will never be the same for me.

  44. Lee HutchinsonIvoryton, CT, USA

    I remember most of my time as a child spent there watching the Seahawks, Mariners and even the Sonics while they still played there. As an athlete, I had the honor of playing on the floor during the 1987 High School Football Championships as my high school, Tumwater High School defeated a previously undefeated West Valley Yakima 21 to 14 for the State AA Title. It was definately a building that was taken before its time was up.

Email addresses have been removed from the archived entries.