# Minneapolis Metrodome roof collapses **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 12, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887 "2010-12-12T14:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/41 "2010-12-12T21:59:10Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Looking at Detroit weather, it’s not a guarantee the Giants’ plane can get in _there_ today either. > > Let 'em just take the damn bubble off the roof ientirely, let the snow and the cold in, and they’ll be fine. Let the Vikes get back to the days when teams were afraid to go there - they’d all huddle around the heaters for survival, while the Vikes just stood around in their short sleeves, icicles hanging from Bud Grant’s nose and chin … now THERE"s a home field advantage. They gave it away by moving indoors and haven’t been consistently a playoff team since. As someone who has sat in snowstorms outside to watch a game I love this post! The Purple People Eaters could’ve handled it. I suppose this will really be icing on the cake to push for yet another new stadium and we can really afford the expenditure for more entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/42 "2010-12-12T22:34:15Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > No, but the football gods have spoken that it’s a travesty that what would be one of the best places to play NFL games in the winter would fucking hide from the weather. Pussies. Forfeit the fucking game due to your domeitude. Hell yes! I have fond childhood memories of freezing my ass off watching the Cleveland Browns in Municipal Stadium. Football is a game meant to be played outdoors, in the snow and rain and fog, and on grass. That’s one of the reasons I am also a Packers fan, despite having no connection to Green Bay. I’m working like hell to see if I can find a way to blame this on Brett Farve. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/43 "2010-12-12T23:03:23Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > [there’s a wrestling tournament next week at a demolished arena?](http://www.silverdomeevents.com/events.html?events_view=details&eid=4) > 😛 I could have _sworn_ I heard that it was demolished. OK, I guess it still exists. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/44 "2010-12-12T23:11:01Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > The story said there have been 3 other roof collapses prior to this one. Maybe it’s time for, I don’t know, a new roof design? Is it a surprise that it snows heavily in Minnesota? We do get a lot of snow, just not usually a foot and a half at a time, like, say, Buffalo NY. And if the wind isn’t at blizzard levels, they have crew that can get up on the roof and keep the snow amounts down to what the fabric and air pressure can handle. As someone mentioned, yesterday had the lovely combination of heavy snowfall and dangerously high winds. I just gotta laugh. 30 years ago it was “All the cool kids have domes! Why can’t we have one?!” as they tear down Met Stadium. Now they’ve realized that losing the ability to play in the cold has severely hampered the team’s performance. Duh! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/45 "2010-12-12T23:18:39Z")
[The Pontiac Silverdome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Silverdome) was temporarily closed in '06 and reopened earlier this year under a new name – The Silverdome. So technically speaking, the _Pontiac_ Silverdome no longer exists (neither does Pontiac the automotive make, IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/46 "2010-12-12T23:43:22Z")
Ever since I’ve heard the news, I’ve been singing the Mayor Quimby campaign song all afternoon _Without our mayor Quimby this town would really stink we wouldn’t have a tire yard or a mid sized roller rink we wouldn’t have the gallows or a cushy bigfoot trap It’s not the mayor’s fault that the stadium collapsed!_ ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/47 "2010-12-12T23:52:28Z")
Super Bowl will be played outdoors in a few years in the Giants/Jets stadium ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/48 "2010-12-12T23:56:55Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Which makes me wonder why they designed a structure like this in Minnesota. It doesn’t take long visiting the Metrodome to question why it was designed and built the way it was at all, anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/49 "2010-12-13T00:01:03Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Obviously none of this matters to the Vikings, who of course suck this year. Well, we’d like to run our winning streak against you guys to 5. That’d be nice. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/50 "2010-12-13T00:04:01Z")
> [@The\_Scrivener](#): > > [The Pontiac Silverdome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Silverdome) was temporarily closed in '06 and reopened earlier this year under a new name – The Silverdome. So technically speaking, the _Pontiac_ Silverdome no longer exists (neither does Pontiac the automotive make, IIRC). The stadium is actually located in the municipality of Pontiac, hence the name. In fact, its original name was Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium. Why they made such a minor rebranding I can’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/51 "2010-12-13T00:08:52Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The stadium is actually located in the municipality of Pontiac, hence the name. In fact, its original name was Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium. Why they made such a minor rebranding I can’t say. Pontiac no longer owns it. The city sold it at auction last year for $550,000. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/52 "2010-12-13T01:41:34Z")
> [@imthjckaz](#): > > Game moved to Detroit. What for? It’s just a little soggy…it’s still good, it’s still good… ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/53 "2010-12-13T04:53:18Z")
When I found a video of the Metrodome collapse on youtube this morning, I was recommended [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6XZcGacWOQ), which shows the effect of the air pressure differential that normally keeps the dome inflated. Also can’t believe that its someone’s job (or rather a crew of guys, no doubt) to keep snow off the roof of the dome (they had to bring the snow clearers down off the roof because of the super bad conditions)…paging Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs! ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/54 "2010-12-13T06:39:44Z")
> [@unwashed\_brain](#): > > Well, we’d like to run our winning streak against you guys to 5. That’d be nice. Touche. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/55 "2010-12-13T06:58:42Z")
There may be something to be said for the fact that both the Packers and Vikings may lose in the same building a day apart. Had the Bears game not gone the way it had I might have something wittier on the topic. When was the last time the Lions were the only Norris team to win in a week? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/56 "2010-12-13T09:06:48Z")
I read it (and still do for some reason) as metronome collapses. I figured, odd, how bad could something like that be. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/57 "2010-12-13T15:13:08Z")
Why move the game to Detroit? Weren’t the Giants stranded in Kansas City? Why not just move the game there? Were the Vikings insisting that it would need to be inside a dome to maximally approximate the home-field feel they’re supposed to have this week? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/58 "2010-12-13T15:44:11Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > …Were the Vikings insisting that it would need to be inside a dome to maximally approximate the home-field feel they’re supposed to have this week? The Vikings apparently wanted it outside, at the University of Minnesota. It was the Giants who wanted things inside, where it’s warm (they didn’t bring cold weather gear). ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/59 "2010-12-13T16:14:53Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I used to live next to the Pontiac Silverdome (since demolished) which had at least one similar collapse that I know about, which prompted me to do a little research. > > You see, one of the advantages of the inflatable dome roof approach to construction is that you can cover a really, really large area without needing a lot of support structure under the roof. And they can be more attractive than a crapload of steel girders (not that steel girders can’t be beautiful - I submit the Eiffel Tower as evidence, but let’s face it, most steel structures aren’t quite _that_ elegant) > > What holds up the roof? Air pressure. If something abruptly decreases the air pressure the roof collapses. In fact, such roofs can be safely deflated in a controlled manner that causes no damage, but it’s an _abrupt_ change that brings the roof down unexpectedly. Or, conversely, if the load of stuff on top of the roof imposes greater pressure than the air holding the panels up the roof also comes down. > > Now, that fabric they use is very tough stuff, but it’s not invulnerable. You get a little rip (for whatever reason) and one panel rips and deflates, then that imposes stresses on adjacent panels, which may or may not fail, and next thing you know sufficient panels have failed to bring the roof down. Some of the problem was snow load, which added stress to the roof, but there were also high winds which _also_ impose a load on the structure. So… _just_ the load of snow or _just_ the wind load might have been OK, but the two _combined_ might have been more than the roof could withstand. Winds can impose tons of force on a structure - think of the multi-ton sailing ships of the 19th Century, propelled solely by wind. Air can be a very strong force when it is in motion. > > Anyhow, from reports at least a few panels ripped clean through on the Metrodome. In addition to needing to inspect that damage and plan repairs, the upper walls where the roof is anchored also need to be inspected both for damage and for safety as a collapsing roof of that sort can tug pretty strongly on attached structures, even causing damage to masonry or steel structures. They also have to made sure that the fabric isn’t going to be caught by the wind and act as a sail or kite, imposing enormous loads on the structure and causing further damage. > > Hence the need to relocate the football game for safety reasons. When the Silverdome opened it leaked during a rain storm. I believe the first game was an preseason against Dallas.There was a steady rain and a leak that came down on one small section of seats. Mine was one of them. I paid for a seat and sat in the aisle. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887/60 "2010-12-13T16:23:21Z")
garygnu: > [@](#): > > It was the Giants who wanted things inside, where it’s warm (they didn’t bring cold weather gear). I suppose that makes enough sense, though in that case, I still wonder why Detroit and not a warm-weather neutral site like Houston or Dallas. What’s the weather like in Kansas City this time of year? I’ve only ever been there in June. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-collapses/563887.md?page=4)