Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium dome collapses

[Note: Photo updated with correct date, apologies for any misunderstanding ;-0]

Vancouver’s noble and venerable stadium BC Place - which opened in 1983 as one of the first self-supporting domes in the world - is the latest casualty of the wildest winter weather ever around here.

Early reports say a 40 foot rip caused the collapse under the wet heavy snow. Check out more with Derek Miller’s Penmachine and CBC and Vancouver Sun and Now Public. No injuries reported. See Derek’s snapshot of BC Place’s collapsed dome too.
I recall the inflating of the dome with a batch of 747 engines and seeing David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and The Tubes there in August 1983. But i digress …

The two venues BC Place (home to the CFL Lions plus hosts a variety of concerts, trade shows, exhibitions and concerts) and GM Place (home of the NHL Canucks plus concerts etc.) sit directly across False Creek from EP HQ and dominate the skyline from our perspective.

Oddly enough… in recent Olympic 2010 talk, there was discussion of removing the roof for a more ‘wintery’ experience in the opening and closing ceremonies. Wonder if the estimated $175 million (how did they come up with that number?) will encourage that decision.

Meanwhile, Vancouver’s beloved Stanley Park is still recovering from the loss of 3000+ trees during the recent hurricane-force winds (well technically typhoon-strength winds since we are a Pacific city, not Atlantic), not to mention the boil-water requirement, a few massive snow storms (by our standards) and the wettest November ever (which is really something).

Press conference is scheduled for 2:30.

Update: Here’s a great photo posted at Now Public of the giant rip in the BC Place stadium dome roof.

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