The Tacoma Dome has been etched into the Tacoma skyline for decades, and the stories on the inside are endless
"Thousands of people have graduated on the stage here, people have met their spouse here, people have shot their first basketball at a state championship here. There are years and years of great memories, "said Kim Bedier, Director of Tacoma Venue and Events.
Those stories will remain intact while the landmark undergoes its next phase.
"Shortly after the last graduation about the third week of June the Dome will be closed for the summer and a number of projects will take place," said Bedier.
New seating will be one of the first projects.
"Much more comfortable top to bottom with individual leg room so that will certainly be the most visible aspect of the renovation," said Bedier.
The seating is also expected to make it easier to transition between events.
"Whereas now we have these big seating sections that we lug in and out with big equipment and it takes us literally a couple of days, we'll be able to do that overnight. That's freeing up a lot of bookable days on the calendar with more events," said Bedier.
Next on the list will be a 300 percent increase in restrooms according to Bedier.
"We've literally have had to bring in portable facilities to have to accommodate people's need and we won't have to do that anymore. There will actually be a real nice modern restroom they can do into instead," said Bedier.
There are pieces of history tucked away in almost every inch of the Tacoma Dome story.
"The reason the acoustics are so good and you hear a buzzing is the shape of the roof for sure. And there's also wood in the roof and the wood is actually formed from downed trees from the Mount St. Helens disaster," said Bedier.
The Tacoma Dome is a major display of Tacoma pride.
Kim Davenport with the Tacoma Historical Society says they've been collecting and preserving all things Tacoma Dome for years including the original architectural model.
"Its unique because it was really the desire of Tacoma citizens to build a 'Dome of their Own' is a slogan I remember reading about it the newspaper."
As new parts move in and old parts move out it will continue to be Tacoma's own as it moves into the next 30 years.
