By Douglas V. Gibbs
The long-time home of the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis is the Metrodome. The domed facility was designed to be able to withstand large amounts of snow, including the presence of the incredible weight of the white stuff on its roof. This weekend, with the massive blizzard that struck the Midwest, however, the roof was not able to handle the weight of snow, and the roof of the Metrodome has collapsed. The collapse, according to reports, occurred at five in the morning on football Sunday.
The numerous breaches in the roof include one in the middle that allowed an undetermined amount of snow and ice to spill down onto the playing field. Sunday afternoon's game against the Giants has been pushed to Monday, and possibly moving the game to Detroit or to the University of Minnesota's stadium (Which gives Brett Favre's aching ankle more time to heal before the game).
The cave-in of the roof was so severe that the roof, normally visible from ground level in the parking lot, is not visible at this time.
There was no reports of any injuries.
The inflatable roof is 10 acres of Teflon-coated fiberglass that is supported by 20 90-horsepower fans. It weighs roughly 580,000 pounds and has failed three times previously.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Metrodome Roof Collapses Due to Blizzard - The Weather Channel
Game moving to Detroit after damage to dome - Fox Sports
Blizzard Blankets Midwest In White - WISN ABC
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