ESPN Classic
Today marks the 15th anniversary of ESPN Classic’s first live telecast, the implosion of the Seattle Kingdome. In the 24-year history of the stadium, more than 2 million people attended events ranging from NFL, MLB, NBA games and NCAA Final Fours to rock concerts and religious gatherings.
SportsCenter anchor and Kent, Wash. native Kenny Mayne was not only part of the Kingdome’s largest crowd for an event in its first year – 74,000 people attended a Billy Graham event in May 1976 – he was the host of ESPN’s coverage of the stadium’s demolition. Today, the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks’ CenturyLink Field sits atop the old Kingdome site, adjacent to the Seattle Mariners’ home, Safeco Field.
“To think it’s already been 15 years, the life of my oldest daughter, is rather strange,” Mayne says. “So time passing quickly is my first thought. The Seahawks and Mariners are now doing quite well in their new buildings. I’m glad it went the way it did.
“Just yesterday I had a meeting in Seattle on the 35th floor of an office building,” he said. “It has a perfect view so I took a cool picture [of the old Kingdome site, see photo below] with the Smith Tower in the foreground.”
Mayne shares plenty of memories and perspectives on the Kingdome. Visit Front Row’s Facebook page for more.
