According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, approximately 100 of the 106 panels that will comprise the Metrodome's new roof have already been installed, and the roof will be set for inflation sometime this coming week. The Vikings' first home exhibition game is scheduled for August 27 against the Dallas Cowboys (lockout pending, of course).
The roof is expected to be completely installed by August 1. No problems, injuries, or fatalities have been reported in the roof's replacement, which is no doubt disappointing to those that thought the collapse of the roof last season was so wonderful, great, and "deserved."
A couple of interesting things from the article. . .even though the Metrodome has no debt remaining on it (since it has been paid off for a very long time), the facility can't operate financially without the Vikings. It costs about $11 to $12 million a year to operate the Metrodome, and with the Vikings being the lone remaining client, if the Vikings leave it would basically spell the end of the Dome.
Also, the team would likely be playing in the Dome in the event of the Arden Hills stadium bill getting passed. If the bill passes the legislature in a special session this year, construction wouldn't start until 2012, meaning that it wouldn't be ready for use until 2015. The team would still end up using the Metrodome in the meantime, as opposed to trying to wedge themselves into TCF Bank Stadium.
Lastly, the turf isn't going to have to be replaced, as had been speculated.