Wicked Wind Whips Deflated BC Place Roof

As BC Place officials were telling reporters during a tour inside the stadium why they were pulling 35 riggers off the roof for safety reasons, the wind howled down into the funnel created by the sagging, 250-tonne roof, and snapped the material, causing blasts that sounded like cannon-fire. All around the stadium, dust, water and bits of fabric blew into the air, obscuring much of the playing field in a haze. Loudspeakers suspended from heavy cables around the rim snapped wildly up and down, nearly smashing on the seats below. That's the reality that David Griffin, BC Place's director of operations, faces as he tries to effect repairs to the world's largest air-supported roof, and to get the stadium back in operation. "You can see what we have to deal with," he said. "I haven't slept much in the last three days." For the first time since employees deliberately deflated the roof Friday after one of four 45-metre-long triangular panels blew out, BC Place allowed reporters an inside look at the damage. They also explained what they are doing to get the building back in operation in time for a contractors show and landscaping expo scheduled for Jan. 23 and 24. Griffin told reporters rigging crews have cleared away the remains of the shredded panel. A temporary replacement panel is due to be delivered today and will be installed within days. A permanent panel is being manufactured by Birdair, the U.S. roof manufacturer, at its plant in Mexico. It will be installed at a later date. Three other tears in the roof are being heat-sealed, but one of them may also need to be replaced later. http://tinyurl.com/y8p648 [Note: Subscription required link :( ]

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