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Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington
The All-Star game at Metropolitan Stadium, 1965. Photograph: Gerald R. Brimacombe, Minneapolis Star & Tribune.
When local enthusiasts wanted to lure major league sports to Minnesota in the 1950s, they made plans to build an outdoor stadium in the cornfields of Bloomington. Metropolitan Stadium—"the Met"—hosted Minnesota's professional baseball, football, and soccer teams until the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome replaced it in 1981.
Minnesotans had enjoyed baseball since the mid-1800s. Minneapolis and St. Paul, natural rivals, each had American Association minor league teams that played at Nicollet Park and Lexington Park, respectively. Built in the 1890s, neither park met the standards for major league baseball.
Talk of a new stadium started in 1952. The next year, the state legislature approved the creation of Metropolitan Sports Area Commission (MSAC) to govern operations of the new stadium. A group called the "Minneapolis Minute Men" spearheaded a campaign to raise funds through bond sales. Aided by an investment house and Minneapolis businessmen, the fundraising campaign reached its $4.5 million goal in May 1955. A Major League Baseball committee appointed by the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce purchased 164 acres of farmland in Bloomington for $478,899. Dignitaries broke ground on June 20 for the new stadium.
Building the Met took less than a year, despite extreme winter weather and damage from two fires. The finished stadium could hold 30,000 people and had parking for 15,000 cars. Designed by the architectural and engineering firm of Thorshov & Cerny, Inc., the unique cantilevered construction offered fans a clear view of the field from every seat. The total cost came to $8.5 million, at no expense to taxpayers.
On opening day, April 24, 1956, 18,366 people watched the Minneapolis Millers take on the Wichita Braves. The Millers lost 5–3.
Major League baseball expansion in 1960 strengthened interest in bringing a major league team to Minnesota. The Washington Senators, owned by Calvin Griffith, moved to the state to become the Minnesota Twins. At the team's request, stadium capacity increased to 40,000 seats for the inaugural season. On April 21, 1961, with 24,606 fans in the stands, the Twins played the new Washington Senators in the first American League game at the Met. The Twins lost 5–3.
The Minnesota Vikings football team arrived in the fall of 1961. The Vikings played their first regular season home game on September 17, 1961, to a crowd of 32,236, beating the Chicago Bears 37–13. Removable bleacher seating for football games added in the mid-1960s increased the stadium's capacity to accommodate the team's growing following.
On July 13, 1965, the Met hosted baseball's All-Star Game. The American League team featured Twins players Earl Battey, Jim "Mudcat" Grant, Jimmie Hall, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, and Zoilo Versalles. More stadium highlights occurred when the Twins won the 1965 American League pennant and played in their first World Series, losing 2–0 on their home field to the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven.
The 1970s brought a new professional sport to the stadium. The Minnesota Kicks soccer team drew an estimated 20,000 fans to watch their first home game against the San Jose Earthquakes on May 9, 1976. The Kicks won 4–1.
The enthusiasm of Minnesotans for events inside the Met fueled the growing popularity of tailgating outside the stadium. In all weather, hardy fans packed a lunch, loaded up their barbecue grills, and joined the tradition of the pre-game parking lot party.
Metropolitan Stadium broadened its scope in the 1960s when it began to host music concerts. The Beatles played there on August 21, 1965, to 30,000 fans. A concert featuring the Eagles, Pablo Cruise, and the Steve Miller Band drew a stadium record crowd of more than 65,000 on August 1, 1978. The Met hosted Ella Fitzgerald, Arthur Fiedler, Andy Williams, the Beach Boys, and many others.
By the late 1970s, the sports teams were no longer happy playing in an aging outdoor facility and made plans for an indoor stadium, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The Twins played their final game at the Met on September 30, 1981. Following the final Vikings game on December 20, fans ravaged the stadium, taking everything from seats to pieces of the goal posts as souvenirs. Wrecking crews demolished the stadium on January 28, 1985, to make way for the Mall of America.

Bibliography
ESPN. 1965 MLB All-Star Game.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/allstargame/history/results/_/year/1965
I.442
Erickson, Gordon A. St. Paul, Minneapolis and Bloomington Aerial Photograph Collection [graphic], ca. 1958–1966
Photograph Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://search.mnhs.org/index.php?q=%22st.+paul,+minneapolis+and+bloomington+aerial+photograph+collection%22&brand=cms
Description: Aerial views of urban and suburban areas in the Twin Cities and surrounding metropolitan area including views of Metropolitan Stadium, Fort Snelling, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Mississippi River, and Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun).
Twinsbaseball.com Timeline.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/timeline.jsp
The Met. [Minnesota: n.p., 1981?].
Metropolitan Sports Area Stadium: Stadium Souvenir. [Minnesota: Metropolitan Sports Commission], 1956.
[Metropolitan Stadium]. Minneapolis: WCCO Radio and Television, 1956.
Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. 10, a Decade at the Met; Metropolitan Stadium, Home of the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. Minneapolis: Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, [1966].
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Resources on Minnesota issues: Baseball Stadiums.
https://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/issues?issue=baseball
Minnesota Vikings. History Timeline.
http://www.vikings.com/team/history/timeline.html
Remember When. . .: Metropolitan Stadium, 1956–1981. [MN]: Matt Blair's Celebrity Promotions, 1992.
Society for American Baseball Research. Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, 1956.
http://sabr.org/content/metropolitan-stadium-bloomington-1956
Soucheray, Joe. Once There Was a Ballpark: The Seasons of the Met, 1956–1981. Edina, MN: Dorn Books, 1981.
Thornley, Stew. Baseball in Minnesota: the Definitive History. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2006.
——— . "Metropolitan Stadium (MN)." Society for American Baseball Research.
http://sabr.org/bioproj/park/d3635696
Welter, Ben. "Dec. 21, 1981: Met Stadium's Violent Goodbye." Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 27, 2013.
http://www.startribune.com/dec-21-1981-met-stadium-s-violent-goodbye/237253121/
Related Resources
Primary
All Star Game, 1965: Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota: American League vs. National League: Official Program. [United States: n.p., 1965].
Brieré, Tom. "Twins Play Nats Today in Home Opener." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, April 21, 1961.
"Football Preview; Vikings, Big Ten and Other Colleges, Preps." St. Paul Sunday Pioneer Press, September 10, 1961.
Holbert, Allan. "Kicks Tranquilize Quakes 4–1 in Home Debut." Minneapolis Tribune, May 9, 1981.
Hurst, Russell. "'Play Ball!' to Ring Out at Bloomington for First Time Today." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, April 24, 1956.
"It's Big League Baseball Time! A Special Section on Minnesota Twins and American League." Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, April 16, 1961.
Johnson, Charles. "Let's Play Ball!" Minneapolis Sunday Tribune (special section), April 22, 1956.
Klobuchar, Jim. "Defiant Vikings Set Sail in NFL Today." Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, September 17, 1961.
McKenna, Charley. "Young Vikings Find Opportunities in Season's End." Minneapolis Tribune, December 20, 1981.
Published Records and Reports, 1954, 1974–1992
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission
State Archives Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gr00735.xml
Description: Published proposals, recommendations, evaluations, marketing studies, and reports covering such topics as stadium location, legislation, environmental impact, economic impact, finances, and marketing.
Subject Files, 1955–1994
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission
State Archives Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Correspondence, clippings, and other documents pertaining to Twin Cities sports venues. See especially "Minnesota Twins Souvenir Edition," St. Paul Sunday Pioneer Press, April 16, 1961.
M442
Minnesota Twins scrapbooks, 1937–1981
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Newspaper clippings documenting the history of the Minnesota Twins baseball team (1960-1981), and its predecessor franchise the Washington Senators (1953-1960).
Smith, Robert T. "Vikings Aren't Afraid of the Big Bad Bears." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, September 18, 1961.
"Weather Today Will Be Fine For Baseball." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, April 21, 1961.
Secondary
Diamond, Jeff. The First Fifteen Years: Vikings, 1961—1975. Minneapolis: Minnesota Vikings, 1976.
Johnson, Charles O. Midwest Federal Presents History of the Metropolitan Stadium and Sports Center. Minneapolis: Midwest Federal, 1970.
Stephens, Richard. [Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota.] [Minneapolis, MN?]: n.p., [2000–2014?].
Web
Major League Baseball. This is Twins Territory: Ballparks: 1961–Present.
http://mlb.mlb.com/min/history/ballparks.jsp
Minnesota Twins. Metropolitan Stadium.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/min_ballpark_metropolitan_stadium.jsp
Thornley, Stew. "Minnesota Baseball History." Major League Baseball: This is Twins Territory.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/minnesota_baseball_history.jsp
Related Images

The All-Star Game at Metropolitan Stadium
The All-Star game at Metropolitan Stadium, 1965. Photograph: Gerald R. Brimacombe, Minneapolis Star & Tribune.
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Minneapolis Millers versus the Wichita Braves at Metropolitan Stadium
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Tailgaters, Metropolitan Stadium
Tailgaters, Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota. Photographer: Gillis, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1964.
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Metropolitan Stadium under construction
Metropolitan Stadium under construction. Photograph: Minneapolis Star Journal Tribune, 1955.
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Last game at Metropolitan Stadium, Vikings versus Kansas City Chiefs
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Metropolitan Stadium aerial, Bloomington
Metropolitan Stadium aerial, Bloomington, 1960. Photograph: Minneapolis Star Journal Tribune.
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The Beatles in concert at Metropolitan Stadium
The Beatles in concert at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, August 21, 1965. Photograph: Neale, St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press.
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Fans at the Beatles concert, Metropolitan Stadium
Fans at the Beatles concert, Metropolitan Stadium, 1965. Photograph: Sully, St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press.
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Calvin Griffith and Harmon Killebrew at Metropolitan Stadium
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Viking fans strip the scoreboard after the Vikings lose to Kansas City in the last game played at Met Stadium
Viking fans strip the scoreboard after the Vikings lose to Kansas City in the last game played at Met Stadium, 1981. Photograph: John Doman, St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press.
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Tailgaters at Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams game, Metropolitan Stadium
Tailgaters at Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams, National Football Conference title game, Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, 1974. Photograph: Spence, Minneapolis Star & Tribune.
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Paul Flatley catching a pass, Metropolitan Stadium
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Minnesota Kicks game at Metropolitan Stadium
New York Cosmos player Pele tangles with Minnesota Kicks player Alan Merrick but manages to pass the ball to teammate Giorgio Chinaglia at Metropolitan Stadium, 1976. Photograph: Steve Schluter, Minneapolis Star & Tribune.
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Aerial view of Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington
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Painting of Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington
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Metropolitan Stadium, Home of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings
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Minneapolis Millers uniform jersey
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Baseball used in the last Minnesota Twins game at Metropolitan Stadium
White leather baseball with red stitching used in the last Minnesota Twins game at Metropolitan Stadium on September 30, 1981. Stamped "Rawlings." The Twins played the Kansas City Royals and lost, 9 to 2.
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Minnesota Kicks playoff series ticket
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"Farewell to the Met" Minnesota Vikings pennant
"Farewell to the Met" Minnesota Vikings pennant, 1981.
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Ticket to football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs
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Related Articles
Turning Point
The Metropolitan Stadium goal of hosting Major League professional baseball becomes a reality on April 21, 1961, when the Minnesota Twins play their first home game against the Washington Senators.
Chronology
1954
June 20, 1955
February 26, 1956
April 24, 1956
October 26, 1960
April 21, 1961
May 21, 1961
September 17, 1961
July 13, 1965
August 21, 1965
October 14, 1965
May 9, 1976
August 1, 1978
September 30, 1981
December 20, 1981
Bibliography
ESPN. 1965 MLB All-Star Game.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/allstargame/history/results/_/year/1965
I.442
Erickson, Gordon A. St. Paul, Minneapolis and Bloomington Aerial Photograph Collection [graphic], ca. 1958–1966
Photograph Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://search.mnhs.org/index.php?q=%22st.+paul,+minneapolis+and+bloomington+aerial+photograph+collection%22&brand=cms
Description: Aerial views of urban and suburban areas in the Twin Cities and surrounding metropolitan area including views of Metropolitan Stadium, Fort Snelling, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Mississippi River, and Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun).
Twinsbaseball.com Timeline.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/timeline.jsp
The Met. [Minnesota: n.p., 1981?].
Metropolitan Sports Area Stadium: Stadium Souvenir. [Minnesota: Metropolitan Sports Commission], 1956.
[Metropolitan Stadium]. Minneapolis: WCCO Radio and Television, 1956.
Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. 10, a Decade at the Met; Metropolitan Stadium, Home of the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. Minneapolis: Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, [1966].
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Resources on Minnesota issues: Baseball Stadiums.
https://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/issues?issue=baseball
Minnesota Vikings. History Timeline.
http://www.vikings.com/team/history/timeline.html
Remember When. . .: Metropolitan Stadium, 1956–1981. [MN]: Matt Blair's Celebrity Promotions, 1992.
Society for American Baseball Research. Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, 1956.
http://sabr.org/content/metropolitan-stadium-bloomington-1956
Soucheray, Joe. Once There Was a Ballpark: The Seasons of the Met, 1956–1981. Edina, MN: Dorn Books, 1981.
Thornley, Stew. Baseball in Minnesota: the Definitive History. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2006.
——— . "Metropolitan Stadium (MN)." Society for American Baseball Research.
http://sabr.org/bioproj/park/d3635696
Welter, Ben. "Dec. 21, 1981: Met Stadium's Violent Goodbye." Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 27, 2013.
http://www.startribune.com/dec-21-1981-met-stadium-s-violent-goodbye/237253121/
Related Resources
Primary
All Star Game, 1965: Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota: American League vs. National League: Official Program. [United States: n.p., 1965].
Brieré, Tom. "Twins Play Nats Today in Home Opener." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, April 21, 1961.
"Football Preview; Vikings, Big Ten and Other Colleges, Preps." St. Paul Sunday Pioneer Press, September 10, 1961.
Holbert, Allan. "Kicks Tranquilize Quakes 4–1 in Home Debut." Minneapolis Tribune, May 9, 1981.
Hurst, Russell. "'Play Ball!' to Ring Out at Bloomington for First Time Today." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, April 24, 1956.
"It's Big League Baseball Time! A Special Section on Minnesota Twins and American League." Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, April 16, 1961.
Johnson, Charles. "Let's Play Ball!" Minneapolis Sunday Tribune (special section), April 22, 1956.
Klobuchar, Jim. "Defiant Vikings Set Sail in NFL Today." Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, September 17, 1961.
McKenna, Charley. "Young Vikings Find Opportunities in Season's End." Minneapolis Tribune, December 20, 1981.
Published Records and Reports, 1954, 1974–1992
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission
State Archives Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/gr00735.xml
Description: Published proposals, recommendations, evaluations, marketing studies, and reports covering such topics as stadium location, legislation, environmental impact, economic impact, finances, and marketing.
Subject Files, 1955–1994
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission
State Archives Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Correspondence, clippings, and other documents pertaining to Twin Cities sports venues. See especially "Minnesota Twins Souvenir Edition," St. Paul Sunday Pioneer Press, April 16, 1961.
M442
Minnesota Twins scrapbooks, 1937–1981
Manuscript Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Newspaper clippings documenting the history of the Minnesota Twins baseball team (1960-1981), and its predecessor franchise the Washington Senators (1953-1960).
Smith, Robert T. "Vikings Aren't Afraid of the Big Bad Bears." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, September 18, 1961.
"Weather Today Will Be Fine For Baseball." Minneapolis Morning Tribune, April 21, 1961.
Secondary
Diamond, Jeff. The First Fifteen Years: Vikings, 1961—1975. Minneapolis: Minnesota Vikings, 1976.
Johnson, Charles O. Midwest Federal Presents History of the Metropolitan Stadium and Sports Center. Minneapolis: Midwest Federal, 1970.
Stephens, Richard. [Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota.] [Minneapolis, MN?]: n.p., [2000–2014?].
Web
Major League Baseball. This is Twins Territory: Ballparks: 1961–Present.
http://mlb.mlb.com/min/history/ballparks.jsp
Minnesota Twins. Metropolitan Stadium.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/min_ballpark_metropolitan_stadium.jsp
Thornley, Stew. "Minnesota Baseball History." Major League Baseball: This is Twins Territory.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/minnesota_baseball_history.jsp