From Tacoma Weekly
On April 21, 1983, the Tacoma Dome officially opened as a premiere events center in the Pacific Northwest and remains the largest indoor venue in the state. That means the Dome’s 40th birthday happens this month, and Tacoma Venues & Events invites the community to take part in marking the occasion.
On April 28 and 29, “T-Town: Play. Explore. Learn. – City Services Expo” will take over the Dome for a 
free, family-friendly event offering a unique, hands-on experience for the community to engage with City of Tacoma departments, celebrate the Tacoma Dome’s birthday, and learn about career and trade opportunities with the new “Work” element added to this year’s “T-Town.”
Departments from the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities will provide interactive experiences including an opportunity to Touch A Truck with vehicles from Environmental Services, Tacoma Police Department, Tacoma Fire Department, Public Works, Tacoma Water, Rail and Power, and many more. Activities include backstage tours, live demonstrations, job and opportunities, and Tacoma Rainiers’ mascot Rhubarb the Reindeer will make a special appearance on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Fan favorite concession food and beverage, along with entertainment, will be provided as part of the Dome’s 40thanniversary celebration. On Saturday, the entertainment stage will feature music from throughout the Dome’s history with bands Radio 80, Night Fever, and Sin City. Backstage tours will take guests through the history of the Dome, one decade at a time. Guests will also receive a free clear bag courtesy of Pepsi, and other giveaways.
Tacoma Public Schools (TPS), in partnership with Korsmo Construction, enhance 2023’s T-Town with the Tacoma Public Schools and Korsmo Construction Trades & Hiring Fair. Up to 2,000 students from TPS will visit the Trades & Hiring Fair. With over 100 booths, there is something for everyone in the family – career exploration for high school students, summer job opportunities with higher paying careers in the trades for 16-18-year-olds, and job opportunities for adults considering a new career.
The Trades & Hiring Fair will have representation from maritime, transportation, logistics, and construction, to name a few. Trades-related companies, local educational and apprentice-related exhibitors will be present.
The Dome has an illustrious history from its construction to the international superstars who entertained audiences over the years. One of the largest wood domed structures in the world, it was built 152 feet high using 1.6 million board feet of lumber and enough concrete to build a sidewalk 70 miles long. The construction cost then was just $44 million, which pales in comparison to what it would cost today.
The dome portion of the building was created through a framework of 288 prefabricated triangular units each weighing approximately 5,000 pounds. The entire Tacoma Dome is 530 feet in diameter with more than 275 support points, and its grid includes an estimated 2.5 miles of welding.
Seating in the Dome’s arena can accommodate up to 21,000 people and it has met that number in its day thanks to world-class concerts and events. Its first sporting event was the World’s Toughest Rodeo held one week after its grand opening and the first music event welcomed David Bowie that summer. The Dome quickly turned Tacoma into the music capital of the Northwest with stars such as Dolly Parton, Prince, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, and Elton John who played there first in 1995, then again in 2019, then he returned in 2022 for what he says was his last tour, aptly named the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” tour.
After a COVID closure and completed renovations inside and out, today the Dome remains a one-of-a-kind venue for community events, state and regional high school sports, and world-renowned entertainment.
