Pontiac Silverdome still standing after implosion attempt
PONTIAC, MI (RNN) – A scheduled implosion of the Pontiac Silverdome failed.
The controlled demolition was set for 8:30 a.m. Eastern on Sunday. The explosive charges went off all around the abandoned stadium, but the structure didn’t fall. The stadium’s roof had been removed prior to the scheduled implosion.
Within a couple of minutes of the explosions, a work crew could be seen entering the stadium to assess the problem.
Officials initally told WXYZ in Detroit that the explosive charges did their job and severed the steel support structure, but the stadium was “built a little too well.” They said the stadium would collapse as expected, but do not know when.
But about an hour after the implosion, they said the charges on the main support columns failed to detonate.
Pontiac officials are sending the crowd home. Explosives on the eight main columns didn’t go off.
No new timeline for the implosion.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 3, 2017
The Silverdome opened in 1975 and was the home stadium for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons.
Several athletes and dignitaries were expected to be on-hand for the demolition.
Predictably, jokes surfaced on Twitter immediately.
Had the implosion been scheduled for 1pm, the Silverdome would have gladly complied.
— Ross Jones (@rossjonesWXYZ) December 3, 2017
The Silverdome implosion didn’t work. If that doesn’t sum up the Lions, nothing does!
— George Hunter (@GeorgeHunter_DN) December 3, 2017
who knew the silverdome was this stable?
— v the villain (@uhitsveronica) December 3, 2017
It appears the Dynamite took a knee too… #Silverdome #dud
— Thomas J. Bush II (@tbush51goblue) December 3, 2017
Pontiac Silverdome showed more fight than a lot of the teams that played there! ????
— WHOsays (@BillOffer) December 3, 2017
The Silverdome implosion was almost as disappointing as the time the Lions spent there. Almost.
— Greg Draper (@gregdraper) December 3, 2017
This is the most Lions thing ever! Try to blow the place up and they can’t. Lol
— Jeff Riger (@riger1984) December 3, 2017
#silverdome implosion brought to you by the successful government of Detroit.
— John Carr (@UtleyYATM) December 3, 2017
So what happens first, the Silverdome implodes or the Lions win a playoff game???
— Rico Beard (@RicoBeard) December 3, 2017
Well, we can now say the #Silverdome isn’t part of the @Lions anymore as it refused to implode like the team has over the decades. ??
— Sparty On (@Spartan_4_Life) December 3, 2017
#Silverdome I love the Facebook Live video telling you to “stay tuned” as they log off and tell you it could be a day or two before gravity takes over
— Denis Brown (@onendenis) December 3, 2017
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