Minn. Metrodome collapses in Midwest blizzard

Minn. Metrodome collapses in Midwest blizzard

Patrick Condon
Associated Press
Dec. 12, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS — A storm that spanned parts of eight states continued to dump heavy snow in the upper Midwest on Sunday, collapsing the Metrodome in Minneapolis and forcing numerous road closures.

The storm was moving eastward a day after it dumped 20 inches of snow in some places. A Sunday NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings had already been pushed to Monday because the Giants couldn't get to Minneapolis to play when the inflatable Metrodome collapsed Sunday. It's uncertain when that game will now be played.

A blizzard warning was in effect Sunday for Chicago and much of northern Illinois, all of Iowa, large sections of southern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and smaller areas in North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri and Michigan, according to the National Weather Service. Most of the rest of the region was under a winter storm warning or a hard freeze watch.

Wisconsin authorities issued a statewide no-travel advisory Saturday, citing blizzard and winter storm warnings in nearly every county.

The weather was an unexpected burden for one Minnesota man who had pledged to camp out on the roof of a coffee shop to help his daughter's school raise money.

Hospital executive Robert Stevens donned four layers of long underwear, heavy boots and a down coat before embarking on his quest Friday night. He vowed not to come down until he had raised $100,000, but after reaching the halfway mark Saturday morning, he said he hoped the rest of the money would come fast. He didn't look forward to spending another night out in the blizzard.

"I think I've crossed the line into insanity," he said.

Stevens slept inside a tent surrounded by hay bales, swaddled in a double-insulated sleeping bag as he listened to the winds whip off Lake Minnetonka a block away.

There was a bustling lunch crowd Saturday in the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis. Collette Dennis, a baker there, was back inside after she and co-workers spent 20 futile minutes trying to free her parked car from a snowdrift. Dennis still hoped to figure out a way to get home to the suburb of Roseville, about 12 miles away - but she also was prepared to stay put.

The cafe had no cots, Dennis said, "but we have multiple bags of flour I could sleep on. And I guess at least I won't go hungry."

The sinking temperatures were considered even more treacherous than the snow in some places. North Dakota experienced wind chills of 20 degrees below zero Saturday, and the arctic air was expected to drop temperatures below zero by Sunday night throughout the Dakotas and in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Eastern Minnesota's Oakdale area got 20 inches of snow Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The storm was moving eastward, where it dumped about a foot of snow in Chippewa County in northwestern Wisconsin and was expected to drop 20 to 24 inches by Sunday morning in the Eau Claire area.

Lisa McGrath was shoveling her front walk in southeast Minneapolis, but knew she'd likely have to do it again in a few hours.

"It's good exercise - the only exercise I'm going to get today," McGrath said as she hoisted the shovel.

The State Patrol said there were 76 crashes reported statewide, but none with fatalities or serious injuries, and 319 reports of vehicles sliding off roads.

"The areas that were hardest hit are virtually impassable," said Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske. "So we don't expect those numbers to go up a whole lot."

The weather also postponed to Monday an NFL football game that had been set for Sunday between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. The Giants were stuck Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo., after their flight was diverted there with the Twin Cities airport closed because of the snowstorm.

No roof!

So how much snow did you get where you are Tex?

Only about 6 inches or so. My dad had about 18 inches. He's in St. Paul.

Inside......

What it normally looks like....

Wow! That sucks. And it doesn't look like it's going to be cheap to fix.

Too bad.

Here's what it looks like outside my front door as of a couple of minutes ago... and it's still snowing, and expect to snow even more heavily later tonight...

TexasBlue wrote:Only about 6 inches or so. My dad had about 18 inches. He's in St. Paul.

Ah... so you dodged a bullet there... outstanding.

Here's another pic outside here... you can clearly see the snow coming down in this one... and it has really started coming down harder in the last few minutes...

That's a dusting compared to what I have here.

TexasBlue wrote:That's a dusting compared to what I have here.

Oh I know it's a dusting... for now. We're not supposed to get the same storm you just dealt with until later tonight.

Real time video from inside the dome as the roof fell.

From a local Minneapolis TV station.....

Monday's Vikings-Bears game will be played at U's stadium; Dome won't be ready

Minneapolis Star Tribune
December 14, 2010

The Metrodome's torn roof won't be repaired in time for the Vikings' Monday night game with Chicago, stadium officials said Tuesday as the team prepared to use Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium as a backup.

Engineers and workers who inspected the Metrodome's collapsed roof on Tuesday found damage from the weekend's blizzard was worse than initially thought, according to the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

Officials said they hoped in the next few days to have a better idea about just how long repairs will take.

"Our first priority is the safety and well-being of the Vikings fans and players, the hundreds of youth sports, community and other groups that use the Metrodome throughout the year and our employees," commission president Roy Terwilliger said in announcing that Mall of America field won't be ready for Monday night.

Workers at the university, meanwhile, began the daunting task of removing snow from the outdoor TCF Bank Stadium, which was buried after the weekend snowstorm dumped more than 17 inches in Minneapolis and caused the Metrodome's Teflon roof to collapse early Sunday.

"We're going to do the best we can to get as prepared as we can for Monday night's game," said Scott Ellison, assistant athletic director for facilities at the University of Minnesota.

The Vikings said in a statement that the team is working with the university and NFL to get the school's stadium ready.

"The Vikings are committed to ensuring a home game in Minnesota for our fans," the team said.

Ellison said the Vikings agreed to pick up all the prelimary expenses, including plowing, as well as all expenses that would be involved in holding a game there. Ellison didn't know how much it would cost to remove the snow, but said he thought it would be considerable. The normal game day budget at the stadium is $250,000, he said.

The snow removal plan is to have groups of 100 workers, working four-hour shifts, for 16 hours a day. Right now, most of those workers are coming from temp agencies.

Officials also have to get the building ready, including the concessions, which are only designed to withstand mid-November temperatures. Ellison said officials would have to put Plexiglass covers over concession stands to trap heat inside.

It could also be a challenging experience for the players, because the field ground is not heated. But Ellison said he said he thinks it will be an exciting experience for the fans.

"I think they'll love outdoor football in Minnesota. I think it'll be a great experience for the fans," Ellison said.

TCF Bank Stadium has a seating capacity of about 50,000 — about 13,000 fewer seats than are available at the Metrodome for football games.