Facelift Sought For Tacoma

A citizens committee in Tacoma, Wash., is pushing for a proposition on the city’s September election ballot, seeking a $45 million bond to improve the 22-year-old Tacoma Dome.

The proposition would renew the property-tax bonds that funded construction of the 22,500-capacity arena in 1983. According to the “Renew Our Tacoma Dome Committee,” 75 percent of those surveyed support the move to generate the renovation funds.

“Capital improvements are necessary for the Tacoma Dome to remain competitive in the marketplace and to satisfy the needs of patrons, artists and teams,” the committee said in a statement.

If voters pass Proposition 1 September 20th, design work would begin immediately, with phased construction ending in 2008 for the Dome’s 25th anniversary. Exterior improvements would include an LED marquee and glass canopies for the main entrances and box office windows.

Interior upgrades would include a new permanent seating bowl with wider seats (fewer per row), retractable seating in the lower bowl, and chairs in the upper deck to replace the aluminum benches. A performers’ area would be added near the stage, as well as dressing rooms, restrooms and green rooms.

The concourse would double in width to more than 20 feet and the number of restroom facilities would double. Four elevators would be added, concession points of sale would increase about 30 percent and there would be new sound and lighting among other improvements.