MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The Metrodome will be back in business this weekend and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission is hosting an open house to celebrate.

It’s hard to forget the video of the Metrodome roof collapsing under the weight of all the snow during last December’s blizzard.

The collapse forced the Vikings to play their final two home games away from the Dome. It also cost nearly a $500,000 to replace the roof.

On Saturday, it will reopen to the public for the first time since the collapse. People can get a look at the new roof, as well as a piece of the old one, because the first 3,000 people will get a souvenir of the old dome fabric.

“People didn’t notice what an impact this had across the state until it went down — so many high school, college, and civic events that had to be moved. It’s exciting to have this building back and we should have a real nice day tomorrow,” said Ted Mondale with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

It will also be a lot brighter inside than it was before. When crews replaced the roof, they used lighter panels in the middle which allows a lot more sunlight onto the field.

The roof is also designed to melt snow unlike the one before.

WCCO’s Dave Lee Interviews Metropolitan Sports Commission Executive Director Bill Lester

The Vikings will have all new turf this season too, but it was no small tab. Crews had to replace the field because of the damage caused during the collapse. The good news for taxpayers is that they won’t have to pay a dime for it.

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission just approved an agreement. The company that installed the new roof will pay a third of the cost and insurance will pick up the rest.

The new turf cost just about $500,000.