Failed implosion attempt of the Detroit Silverdome

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
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LOL. Bad planning or bad charges? And what sort of liability is there with essentially an imploded building still standing there? That seems like all sort of bad things waiting to happen.
 
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Jan 25, 2011
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LOL. Bad planning or bad charges? And what sort of liability is there with essentially an imploded building still standing there? That seems like all sort of bad things waiting to happen.
They said it was “built really well”. So poor planning and execution.
 

Puffnstuff

Lifer
Mar 9, 2005
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They said it was “built really well”. So poor planning and execution.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the poor planning and execution. I expected to see an inner row of charges go off once the outside completed but that was all they planted. Now it might be too dangerous to enter the structure to plant more so that will add to the cost as they'll have to use machines to place anything else inside it.
 

Darwin333

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Dec 11, 2006
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I think you hit the nail on the head with the poor planning and execution. I expected to see an inner row of charges go off once the outside completed but that was all they planted. Now it might be too dangerous to enter the structure to plant more so that will add to the cost as they'll have to use machines to place anything else inside it.

With the delicate work of placing and wiring demolition charges and the sheer number that are required I doubt there is a machine in existence that could get that done in anything resembling a reasonable timeline. I'd call in the military to use some sort of ordinance to at least give one side of it the heave-ho and then they can potentially get heavy machinery in there to help with the rest.

I very seriously doubt that anyone gives the go ahead to "safely" put personnel back in there even if it sat for weeks. The demo company either absurdly screwed the pooch on this one or they were given very very bad structural drawings that they weren't able to reasonably verify on the ground.
 

nickqt

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Jan 15, 2015
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Spoiler: nothing interesting happens after the 0:05 mark.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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Detroit is so ruined, that even when you try to destroy something you can't tell the difference... :colbert:
 

VirtualLarry

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Aug 25, 2001
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Why did they need to destroy it? Couldn't they "loan" it out to the homeless? Bathrooms, shelter, hey, maybe the homeless would start doing theater in their spare time...
 

outriding

Diamond Member
Feb 20, 2002
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They just tried it again and it was a success

I was about 5 miles away and was able to hear it when it fall.
 

Puffnstuff

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Mar 9, 2005
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I don't know how they can call that successful as 80% of the structure is still standing.

 

HomerJS

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Feb 6, 2002
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Wouldn't want to be the guy who goes back to plant the second round of charges.
 
Jan 25, 2011
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Why did they call it the Silverdome when there was no dome?
Uhh.. they took it off? :D

636453290342290110-Silverdome.jpg
 
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zinfamous

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Jul 12, 2006
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Wouldn't want to be the guy who goes back to plant the second round of charges.

was thinking the same. Assumed that no one would be able to enter that structure after it has been compromised by the first failed attempt. Also...are those parking lots filled with cars? I wonder what those people think about their cars being coated with exploded building dust.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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That's in jest right?
Not really. I was kind of imagining a "tent city" on the field. Of course the upkeep, the water bill, and the property tax issues would have to be taken care of, but I think turning sports arenas into homeless shelters would be a wonderful thing. (What with the NFL imploding and whatnot.)

(Better use of them, than just demolishing them. How much did it cost to build? How old was it?)