ESPN - Metrodome roof collapses under snow

[HapHaszard]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/22840/metrodome-roof-collapses-under-snow

The inflatable Teflon roof of the Metrodome in Minneapolis has collapsed under the weight of snow after a heavy storm passed through Saturday.

Bill Lester, the executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, said Sunday morning that the stadium is unlikely to be ready in time for kickoff on Monday night.

click on the link

---------- Post added December-12th-2010 at 10:07 AM ----------

Now what happens? Giants and Minnie get a bye? or play somewhere else on Monday?

[dockeryfan]

It's a Christmas miracle for Favre's shoulder.

[LaRonDontLikeUgly]

Looks like the big man upstairs REALLY wants to see Farve get his 300th consecutive start....

Might as well play the game on Monday at FedEx seeing as how a real team hasn't played there since Nov. 15th.

[Boss_Hogg]

the game may get moved back to the Meadowlands...

The Giants will get a 9th home game like in 2005.

EDIT: check that, now they are saying U of Minnesota stadium

[dockeryfan]

the game may get moved back to the Meadowlands...

The Giants will get a 9th home game like in 2005.

lol, what a joke

[Hubbs]

the game may get moved back to the Meadowlands...

The Giants will get a 9th home game like in 2005.

EDIT: check that, now they are saying U of Minnesota stadium

Honestly, I think this will be one of the first real tests of the NFL's willingness to postpone a game due to cold. Not lightning, not stadium damage, but cold. Because if I heard a guy on the NFL Network correctly, the temperature at UofM's stadium is supposed to be -10 tomorrow night, combined with a wind chill of -25. You can't have players outside in that kind of extreme weather. You're legitimately risking the amputation of fingers and toes due to hypothermia. If those numbers are correct, the idea has to be a no-go.

[Tom [Giants fan]]

There has been some discussion about playing the game Tuesday. I do not like that idea with the Eagles coming up next Sunday for the Giants.

[DeMarco Murray 29]

Just happy nobody got trapped inside of it.

[ejay183]

Honestly, I think this will be one of the first real tests of the NFL's willingness to postpone a game due to cold. Not lightning, not stadium damage, but cold. Because if I heard a guy on the NFL Network correctly, the temperature at UofM's stadium is supposed to be -10 tomorrow night, combined with a wind chill of -25. You can't have players outside in that kind of extreme weather. You're legitimately risking the amputation of fingers and toes due to hypothermia. If those numbers are correct, the idea has to be a no-go.

Players were outside in that kind of weather all the time in Minnesota before the Metrodome was built.

[dockeryfan]

Tuesday game is bad for the Giants because of the Eagle matchup. Short week sucks

[Boss_Hogg]

just give them both a tie and move on...

[SonOfWashington]

Make them play outside! Ice Bowl II! :D

[Rdskn4Lyf21]

Honestly, I think this will be one of the first real tests of the NFL's willingness to postpone a game due to cold. Not lightning, not stadium damage, but cold. Because if I heard a guy on the NFL Network correctly, the temperature at UofM's stadium is supposed to be -10 tomorrow night, combined with a wind chill of -25. You can't have players outside in that kind of extreme weather. You're legitimately risking the amputation of fingers and toes due to hypothermia. If those numbers are correct, the idea has to be a no-go.

This isn't baseball.

Players have played in worse weather...

[ACW]

Ice Bowl: -13/-48
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezer_Bowl WC -37

[renaissance]

How would they deal with tickets if the game is played in a different stadium? If they did play it at the U here, do 15,000 season ticket holders just get the call that they can't go? haha

And if it's at Detroit or some other city, how do they know how many extra tickets they should sell to make up for non season ticket holders?

[RFKFedEx]

This could be a key turning point for a new outdoor football stadium for the Vikings. Maybe not now, but several years from now looking back on this game.

There are design proposals floating which call for a total renovation of the dome by tearing off the roof and adding suites around the top of the upper deck, thus making it a permanant outdoor facility.The dome will be fine in a week, I'm just sayin long term. Renovation is looking like a much more cost effective plan to keeping the Vikings in Minn.

[SonOfWashington]

How would they deal with tickets if the game is played in a different stadium? If they did play it at the U here, do 15,000 season ticket holders just get the call that they can't go? haha
Well consider the fact that if they do play at TCF Bank, a lot of people won't want to go, especially season ticket holders accustomed to dome football. The seating difference is about 13,300. How many season ticket holders do the Vikings have?

[ACW]

Okay, so :dunce: but what would happen if they were to play with the roof collapsed? Would the whole stadium implode or something?

[Tom [Giants fan]]

It looks like it is going to be played in Detroit.

Edited: In Detroit, tomorrow night at 7:20pm is what I'm hearing.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

;8029825']It looks like it is going to be played in Detroit.

Edited: In Detroit, tomorrow night at 7:20pm is what I'm hearing.

Yup, that's what I'm hearing too.

Praise the Lord this didn't happen with a packed Metrodome later today.

Hail.

[Unforgiven]

Wow, the video on Fox pregame was pretty crazy to see it collapse from inside.

[renaissance]

Well consider the fact that if they do play at TCF Bank, a lot of people won't want to go, especially season ticket holders accustomed to dome football. The seating difference is about 13,300. How many season ticket holders do the Vikings have?

I dunno how many season ticket holders they have, but I'd assume it's more than 50k. I was just curious as to what the process would be.

I disagree about a lot of people not wanting to go to an outside game though.

[ACW]

Okay, so :dunce: but what would happen if they were to play with the roof collapsed? Would the whole stadium implode or something?

---------- Post added December-12th-2010 at 12:54 PM ----------

Holy crap, the game at Ford Field's gonna be free. Ticketholders of today's game get preferred 50-yd line seating,

[renaissance]

I don't understand your question. Are you asking what would happen if they just left the hole in the roof and played?

[ACW]

I don't understand your question. Are you asking what would happen if they just left the hole in the roof and played?I need to see some images of the roof.

[renaissance]

go to the Vikings website and there is a shot from inside the stadium

[ACW]

Oh snap, I just saw it. Yeah, they couldn't play there :ols:

---------- Post added December-12th-2010 at 01:35 PM ----------

They just showed a security camera video :yikes:

[PokerPacker]

I said it in the other thread... Divine Intervention.

[ACW]

http://msn.foxsports.com/video/shows/nfl-on-fox?vid=ca15cffb-3b66-49a0-84ca-20ed0a175567

[ejay183]

---------- Post added December-12th-2010 at 12:54 PM ----------

Holy crap, the game at Ford Field's gonna be free. Ticketholders of today's game get preferred 50-yd line seating,

Free admission to a NFL game? Wow, that stadium will be full

[Veretax]

Free admission to a NFL game? Wow, that stadium will be full

You are forgetting this is the lions home stadium LOL. Oh wait, they've not had a real team there in so long LOL.

[ejay183]

You are forgetting this is the lions home stadium LOL. Oh wait, they've not had a real team there in so long LOL.

Free is the magic word. You give free admission to anything and everyone will show up, just cause it is free.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Hell I would go if I lived near Detroit.

Thankfully I don't.

:ols:

[Reic]

So if you had a ticket to the game in minny you can drive 700 miles to get 50 yard line seats in detroit!

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Did you all notice the cop on horseback in there? Like I said in the Game Day thread, I just noticed it now when NBC showed the video of it at halftime. Right when it starts collapsing, he takes off at full speed and gets out just in the nick of time.

[renaissance]

Did you all notice the cop on horseback in there? Like I said in the Game Day thread, I just noticed it now when NBC showed the video of it at halftime. Right when it starts collapsing, he takes off at full speed and gets out just in the nick of time.

I thought I saw something moving/running away on the far sideline!!

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

I thought I saw something moving/running away on the far sideline!!

Yup. It's hard to make him out. He's like on the 50 yard line on the far sideline. You can see him absolutely FLYING down the sideline on the horse toward the tunnel.

[BlueinBuf]

Yup. It's hard to make him out. He's like on the 50 yard line on the far sideline. You can see him absolutely FLYING down the sideline on the horse toward the tunnel.

I thought that looked like it was time elapsed or something. I don't think he was really moving that fast as much as they were speeding up the video, the way the roof is sagging and snow is falling just doesn't look right.

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Did you all notice the cop on horseback in there? Like I said in the Game Day thread, I just noticed it now when NBC showed the video of it at halftime. Right when it starts collapsing, he takes off at full speed and gets out just in the nick of time.

What in the world is a cop on horseback doing INSIDE that stadium?

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

I thought that looked like it was time elapsed or something. I don't think he was really moving that fast as much as they were speeding up the video, the way the roof is sagging and snow is falling just doesn't look right.

I think it's real speed. Maybe the distance of the shot makes it look a little funny? I mean you can barely see the guy. Could be wrong though.

[Veretax]

Someone I talked too thought it might have been one of those sideline cameras on a cart.

[pjfootballer]

They have another home game next Monday against Chicago. Wonder where they'll play?

[renaissance]

Word on the local radio is that people are being called in to de-winterize TCF Bank stadium at the University. There are several logistical challenges to hosting a Vikes game there though -

The stadium was never meant to be used this late (this cold) in the season - for example the pipes are all currently filled with anti-freeze which has to be flushed out before they could even be used
Parking/transportation would be a nightmare bc the stadium is on campus (though it would be during finals)
The Bank only holds 50,000 people
They don't have an alcohol license (and didn't get a special one for a U2 concert there this summer)