Posted on 04/02/2010 1:35:34 PM PDT by smokingfrog
The clock is ticking as Irving officials finalize plans to implode the former home of the Dallas Cowboys on April 11.
The holes for the dynamite are being drilled, columns are being wrapped in fabric, and any spot inside or outside the stadium gives a clear view through the now-hollow structure.
In a matter of days the stadium will be closed off to outsiders, and police will begin round-the-clock patrols.
But Tuesday, city officials gave North Texas media one last look inside before the structure comes down at dawn April 11.
Contractors worked Tuesday to finalize all preparations for the blast, including weakening the structure's support. Workers covered support columns and tresses with fabric, which will minimize the debris the implosion will send flying. They also continued removing as much steel as possible so there's little left inside after the building comes down.
Column cores: It will take more than 2,700 pounds of explosives to bring the stadium down, officials say. Dynamite will be stuck in the columns throughout the stadium and the tresses that hold up the roof. Workers have been drilling about 2,800 holes in the structural supports to stick the dynamite for the blast. That's left scores of cylindrical pieces of concrete that the city is using as souvenirs in giveaways and contests.
Come rain or shine: Irving officials said the stadium will come down April 11, even if the weather doesn't play nice. They said if there's a major lightning storm that threatens the event, they'll hold off until it passes. But overcast skies or rain won't stand in the way of toppling Texas Stadium. Doug Janeway, Irving's assistant real estate services director, said: "We will implode the stadium on Sunday."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Bada Bing, Bada Boom Boom!
Because all of our cities are so flush with cash that they can continue to build billion dollar playgrounds for connected business partners.
My wife and I had some great times there back in the Danny White days.
government healthcare, government GM. and now this.
the end is near.
blessings for Easter. Christ is risen!
End of an era.
Spent many Sundays there with my dad from ‘71 to ‘82. Used to sit by an old F8 test pilot named “Duke” Windsor and a guy who liked to yell “Get ‘em Lilly!” a lot.
Fond memories.
7AM CST
No Danny, no! -- Tom Landry
I actually had my High School prom at the end zone club there back in the 80’s
If I were a Cowboy fan, this might sadden me but, since I’m not, farewell to the “Aggie Astrodome”.
The hole at the top was for God to watch the games. Yeah, right. More like He wanted to do #2.
The hole in the roof was so they could grow grass. Found out the hard way with the Astrodome that trying to grow grass indoors doesn’t work very well. I don’t remember if Texas Stadium originally had a natural grass playing field or not.
My uncles company was the steel erector, his son, my cousin, now owns the same company and they did the Cowboy Stadium.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.