Perry Stadium incident.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:21 pm

Our own “It’s the Journey” noted moments ago that one chunk of the north-east façade of DLP Stadium fell off either yesterday or late last week, and that they intend to remove the rest of them within days.

Could we see more significant and otherwise unplanned aesthetic changes made sooner rather than later due to this? Too soon to say I’m sure. But anybody can tell a lot of sections are starting to shore wear. You can spot rebar exposed in countless places. Up along the top where the main supports poke through the top terrace of the stands, you can pick chunks off for the taking. I personally wonder if we didn’t see the railings replaced because the contractor might have told BG that tearing them out might result in having to make much greater repairs to the stadium.

I’m not sure anything amounts to truly unsafe or irreparable damage, save for several hundred pounds of 40 year old concrete hitting your head or car. But questions are going to get asked. I’m not sure it would be fair of the University to lump the cost of repairs strictly on the Athletics department. Its an issue of public safety and basic pride.

BourbonFalcon · Post by **BourbonFalcon** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:42 pm

That is really scary! I sure am glad that there weren't any injuries. Does anyone know to what extent the financial damage of renovatiing portions of the stadium that aren't structurally sound? If this does fall on the athletic department alone, will it affect future plans for Doyt that we have all be waiting for? (Sebo Center)

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:10 pm

I think its way too early to know anything. I'm going out tomorrow to click some pictures.

I doubt there is anything unsound about the stadium proper. But some of those things hung on the sides may be at their limits 40 years after they were installed. Taking these things down shouldn't cost too much. I'm more curious what they sides will look like without them.

I think dealing with an aging football stadium is the last thing anybody wants to have to deal with, given so many other projects underway or in the offing. However for all the glitz of the scoreboard and Sebo, you would think they might want to do a few things to ensure the stadium itself doesn't look like a sore thumb. Strictly as an aside, doing something to tidy-up the CC/Track stands might be nice.

Money money money....

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:59 pm

Wow...a block of cement fell Thursday morning. No one got hurt. The stadium is still standing. It's not really that big of a deal.

Yes the stadium needs fixing but heck, the SEBO center doesn't even have enough money to be built yet. Until everyone that complains about these facilities starts chipping in, the facilities are just going to keep chipping away.

kdog27 · Post by **kdog27** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:35 pm

You can only give money to so many causes. I wish i could give more.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 7:37 pm

How big was this actual piece of concrete that fell? If its chipping away, that's one thing. If it was anything sizeable, I don't think I'd claim it as "no big deal". I'd rather have a bit of money go to patch that up AND start on the Sebo Center than have ALL the money go to rebuilding chunks of stands falling down and paying out insurance claims.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:09 pm

TG1996 wrote:How big was this actual piece of concrete that fell?

It's one of the smaller of the 2 types of ridges pieces along top the stadium. I'd say it's probably around 10x6 feet. Sure, it could have killed someone but it didn't. It can be fixed. I stand by my statement, it's no big deal.

04forheisman · Post by **04forheisman** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:22 pm

Metz wrote:
TG1996 wrote:How big was this actual piece of concrete that fell?
It's one of the smaller of the 2 types of ridges pieces along top the stadium. I'd say it's probably around 10x6 feet. Sure, it could have killed someone but it didn't. It can be fixed. I stand by my statement, it's no big deal.

No big deal? Are you serious? That may be one of the most moronic statements that I have ever heard. Our stadium is breaking apart and very large pieces of concrete are falling. This needs to be fixed ASAP. Knowing city and county building inspectors..they could come in and shut down the stadium until problem is fixed. So if there was a youth football camp at the stadium, would it be a big deal? Exactly

We are very lucky no one was injured. Bowling Green should have Structural Engineers at the stadium ASAP to inspect the overall structure. Maybe we shouldn't have ripped out those other bleachers so soon, because I have a feeling that the SEBO may be on hold until the Crumbling Stadium issue is resolved. We all knew a facelift was needed, but I think that the tmetable has just been pushed up due to safety issues.

MiamiBando · Post by **MiamiBando** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:26 pm

THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!

Oh, wait, that's just a piece of concrete. It's okay, go about your business.

Actually, that is pretty scary, imagine if that had been at a game, and someone, like a child had been standing below. The backlash from that would have lasted for years, and could have bankrupted the athletic department. That said, it didn't happen that way. I hope they fix it soon. I think that the Doyt is structurally sound, they have to have it inspected every few years or so. It might be every year, I don't know the time tables. If it weren't safe, they wouldn't let people in, and would tear it down.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:53 pm

Nobody will put the Sebo on hold because of this.

People will want and get some kind of inspection to confirm the stadium is safe. They'll manage and spin matters such that this doesn't overly detract attention from the Sebo center. Things will move on.

But the jokes will remain, and the genie is out of the bottle. People who had never paid attention to the amount of exposed rebar, crumbling railing sockets, bleacher mounts, etc, are sure going to become aware of it now. I'm very sure repairs and work on the stadium that is outside of the normal up-keep isn't what anybody expected or wants to deal with right now.

On balance I think the best approach is to spec out a series of projects which tidy up the crumbling cement all around the stadium and otherwise improve the appearance after chunks of facade are removed this summer. They had been spending on the seat replacement. They had allocated enough to replace the rails, which for whatever reason they choose only to paint. They had been spending on preventative cleaning and sealing of the lower bowl for years. The costs ought to be manageable if the team draws well this season, the University ought to see fit to open the purse strings a little.

But there is the rub, money.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 3:07 am

04forheisman wrote:No big deal? Are you serious? That may be one of the most moronic statements that I have ever heard. Our stadium is breaking apart and very large pieces of concrete are falling. This needs to be fixed ASAP. Knowing city and county building inspectors..they could come in and shut down the stadium until problem is fixed. So if there was a youth football camp at the stadium, would it be a big deal? Exactly

We are very lucky no one was injured.

Yes, I'm very serious. I know the stadium is falling apart and oh my gosh, it's being fixed, too

If there was a youth football camp there or someone got hit by it, yes, that would be a big deal. But thankfully no one was hurt. People are taking care of the situation and I'm sure they will inspect the other pieces just like it. Once again, it's not as big of a deal as everyone wants to make it. Just like 99% of everything else everyone gets all hyped up about.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 3:29 am

Doesn't the Athletic Department have a rainy day fund for issues like this?

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 7:50 am

BGDrew wrote:Doesn't the Athletic Department have a rainy day fund for issues like this?

Maybe we better play Oklahoma again.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:51 am

Without the facts, we are making wild-eyed accusations and assumptions.

The piece of cement could have been the size of a football for all we know. Serious? Perhaps, but until we know the facts of the matter, this discussion will continue to cascade out of control.

rollalongFF0304 · Post by **rollalongFF0304** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:05 pm

Rightupinthere wrote:The piece of cement could have been the size of a football for all we know.

Saw it yesterday...it's about as big as a mattress. Cause for concern? You bet...but cause for alarm? I'm not sure. Let's wait and see if there's a danger of other slabs falling. We've got more than two months to get this figured out.