Judge clears way for $583,000 auction sale of Pontiac Silverdome to Canadian buyer

PONTIAC, Mich. - A judge cleared the way Monday for a Canadian company to pay $583,000 for the Pontiac Silverdome, built for $55.7 million in 1975 to house the NFL's Detroit Lions.

The Lions abandoned the 80,300-seat stadium in 2002, when they moved to Detroit's Ford Field. Pontiac has been spending $1.5 million a year to maintain the largely unused stadium.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Edward Sosnick refused to grant a preliminary injunction to Silver Stallion Corp., which made a $20 million offer for the Silverdome last year.

That deal fell through in a dispute over environmental cleanup costs.

Sosnick earlier issued a temporary restraining order blocking the sale to Triple Properties Inc. of Toronto.

The city said the Canadian company will take ownership in 45 days.