STATE OF THE STADIUM: THE PONTIAC SILVERDOME

     The Detroit Lions have long sought a more user friendly
lease at the Pontiac Silverdome.  The team does not receive any
revenues from parking, advertising or concessions -- one of the
few NFL teams with that contract.  The city of Pontiac enjoys the
lease situation, as in 1993 they made approximately $1 million in
profit. Today, THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY examines the Pontiac Silverdome.



  
 
    
STADIUM:
    
Pontiac 
      Silverdome, Pontiac, MI
  
  
 
    
AGE:
    
Completed in 1973.
  
  
 
    
CAPACITY:
    
80,311
  
  
 
    
OWNERSHIP:
    
Owned by 
      the City of Pontiac.
  
  
 
    
MANAGEMENT:
    
Managed by city employees 
      and governed by PontiacStadium

      Building Authority.
  
  
 
    
RENT:
    
$2.66 million.
  
  
 
    
LUXURY

      BOXES:
    
102 — owned and 
      operated by the Stadium Building

      Authority.
  
  
 
    
COST:
    
Total cost was $55.7 
      million, including $15.9M in general

      obligation notes and $25 in revenue bonds.
  
  
 
    
PARKING:
    
12,637 parking spots 
      on site. $7 a car, all revenue goes to the

      Stadium Authority.
  
  
 
    
ADVERTISING:
    
All advertising handled 
      by the Stadium. Lions get no percentage

      of advertising revenue.
  
  
 
    
CONCESSIONS:
    
Elias Brothers Restaurant. 
      Stadium Authority gets 30% of the

      split. Lions do not share in the revenue.
  
  
 
    
LEASE:
    
Lions lease expires 
      in 2004.
  
  
 
    
RENOVATION:
    
Ongoing -- with playing 
      field resurfaced in '93.
  
  
 
    
PUBLIC 
      $:
    
Zero. There is approximately 
      $35 million debt with the stadium.
  

 

(Sources: Joe Tsao, Stadium Building Authority, rent and public
 subsidy from Florida Times-Union article on July 24, 1994.)