DETROIT, MI -- The Pontiac Silverdome is the place where the Detroit Lions won their last playoff game.

They drubbed the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 behind Eric Kramer's 341 passing yards and Willie Green's eight catches for 115 yards and two TDs.

Before Jan. 5, 1992, this franchise's last postseason win was the 1957 title game against the Cleveland Browns.

That should be noted as the Lions and Cowboys prepare for a rematch 4:40 p.m. Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.



Years of postseason futility have certainly been frustrating for fans and haven't helped make the team's transition from the Silverdome to Ford Field in Detroit in 2002 any easier.

Neither has the poor condition of the Lions' former home. Want proof?

Check out photos above of the Silverdome's current condition; you might wince in pain at how bad the place looks.

The images were taken by 24-year-old Cleveland resident Johnny Joo, who took images inside the place last month for his Architectural Afterlife website.

"I always knew there was an abandoned stadium over there," Joo said of the dome. "And I always thought it was pretty cool.

Joo said he spent "about five or six" hours inside the Silverdome, a venue sitting on 127 acres of land, so he could get the full scope of the structure.

The venue reportedly cost $55.7 million to build in 1975 — the equivalent of $244 million in 2014 dollars.

Joo said he realized quickly more time would be needed to take photos, especially after he saw the condition of a former upper level restaurant inside the venue called The Main Event.

"There was definitely lots of stuff left over," Joo said. "All the ticket sales for Led Zeppelin and other acts like that ... there were documents.

"It was fun to look through all the things. There were tickets to see The Who and tickets to see Peter Frampton ... stuff like that."

Joo described the Silverdome as a fairly safe place to walk through last month because the teflon roof was completely torn down.

"You always got to be careful about certain things like nails," Joo said. "But I'd say it's pretty structurally sound."

For more on the dome, check out the video below that Joo created.

It's unclear what the future holds for the SIlverdome.

An ownership group representative behind the 2009 purchase of the Silverdome for a mere $583,000 claims "new news" is "coming soon."



What that "news" is and when it will be made public seems like anyone's guess, based on the years of uncertainty, broken promises and flat out frustration from various parties that have wanted to see action at 1200 Featherstone Rd.

Steve Apostolopoulos, whose father, Andreas, bought the Silverdome, wrote in October on Twitter news is coming that is something "we are pretty excited about."

Attempts to reach Steve Apostolopoulos to elaborate on his tweet have been unsuccessul ever since, as were attempts to reach Andreas.

Winter storms over the past couple of years tore the Silverdome's roof to shreds, and the extensive damage hasn't appeared to inspire owners to make repairs.

The Oakland Press reported on Aug. 8, 2013 the Silverdome's owners filed a $23 million lawsuit against their insurance company after the company allegedly denied the owners repair coverage.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson told MLive.com on June 17 the Silverdome had to be bulldozed because he believes there is simply no use for the existing structure and the 127 acres it sits on.

"It's got to be just deteriorating from the ice and snow from the past winter," Patterson said. "It's a mess. And the site is like 80-some acres, right by two expressways. It was sold for $550,000. The land itself is probably worth at least that much."

Despite the Silverdome being an eyesore, Patterson claims it has generated interest from foreign investors who might be willing to take it off Andreas Apostolopoulos' hands.

"We have people calling us all the time, some from China and other parts around the world," Patterson said. "They say 'I need this' or 'I need that.' And we'll say 'OK, we got a couple of pieces we want you to look at the next time you're in town.'

"So we're the intercept point. People look at things like 80 acres here or 40 acres over there. Sometimes we get really serious interest."

Patterson hasn't lost faith in redevelopment of the Silverdome, but admitted in June he's extremely impatient.

"It would be yesterday if I had my druthers," said Patterson when asked of a timetable. "And we came close a couple of times. We have a Canadian industrialist who has been sitting on it."

Patterson was referring to Andreas Apostolopoulos and his Toronto-based Triple Investment Properties, which reportedly made about $500,000 in an auction of equipment and fixtures over nine days last June

Turf that still featured the Lions' logo was sold for $1,600 for each end zone.

Copper wiring was the hottest item, attracting 44 bidders and selling for $77,500.

Amps and electrical switches were sold for at least $42,500.

Signs for seating and scoreboards were sold for about $5,300.

A boxing ring was purchased for $350 and soccer posts were bought for $700.

And stadium seats from the Silverdome were sold for prices ranging from $100 to $385.

What are your fondest memories of the Silverdome? What do you think should be done with the property? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.