Fans troll Detroit Lions following failed Pontiac Silverdome implosion
PONTIAC, Mich. (UPI) — The implosion of the Pontiac Silverdome had the sounds of a blast but the concrete crumble didn’t follow. Insults from jaded fans, however, did detonate.
Some supporters of the local teams are saying the sequence adequately described the Detroit Lions‘ franchise.
The failed implosion began early Sunday morning. The upper ring on the former home of the Lions seeped smoke from the detonated charges. But the steel support beams did not fall from the blast.
“[The Silverdome was] “built a little too well,” officials told ABC 7 Detroit.
“We just have to wait and let gravity do its job. It’s going to collapse, we just don’t know when,” the official said.
“This is the most Lions-y thing ever. One last Silverdome fumble,” one fan tweeted. “#ThanksFord #Silverdome #Fail.”
The Lions’ first game at the Silverdome was in 1975. Detroit moved to Ford Field in 2002. The Lions played at Tiger Stadium before inhabiting the Silverdome.
Fans were quick to point out the franchise’s shortcomings after watching the stadium stay put, despite being lined with explosives.
“The Silverdome still stands after explosives went off. Most Detroit thing ever,” another Twitter user tweeted.
“Once again angry people leave the Silverdome after a disappointing ending,” another user tweeted.
Detroit had eight winning seasons from 1975 through 2001, losing six times in the Wild Card round, once in the divisional round and once in the NFC title game.
An executive from the demolition contractor told the Detroit Free Press that about 10 percent of the explosive charges failed to detonate due to a wiring issue. The executive added that the Columns can still be removed with excavators.
Hoards of locals attended the demolition of the 42-year-old facility, but didn’t get to see what they had hoped.
“This is a little unscripted,” Pontiac Mayor Diedre Waterman told the Free Press.
“We’re listening to the demolition contractors and I think people got excitement, got a chance to share their memories and their nostalgia a little bit longer than we expected.”
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