No Timetable Set On Dome Repairs; Events Canceled
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- While TCF Bank Stadium was getting ready for Monday's Vikings game against the Chicago Bears, crews on cranes spent the day at the Metrodome where the roof will have to be repaired before anything can go on under the now-collapsed white roof.
And crews need to get it done even though the Vikings last home game won't be there.
The Metrodome is hosting several other events that don't involve football. There are a lot of events scheduled in the next few weeks including a Hmong American New Year's celebration, which has already been canceled.
On Wednesday, the Dome was crawling with engineers and experts from around the country who were trying to get an idea what needs to be done to fix the roof.
A total of 106 panels makeup the fabric of the Metrodome's roof. At least three will have to be replaced before the roof can be put back up.
Before that can happen, crews will have to clear ice chunks as deep as four feet.
"They're going through the process of relieving the stress of getting rid of some of that ice. At the same time they're trying to make a temporary patch so that we can get climate control and melt the existing snow," said Bill Lester with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.
And then engineering experts will assess the stress of the collapse on the remaining panels.
In the meantime, across the street from the Metrodome, a long-time owner of a souvenir shop is worried about how much business he will lose with the relocation of two Viking games.
"When this happened, this really hurt us," said Ray Crump, owner of Domes Souvenir's Plus.
He had hoped to make a lot of Christmas sales during those games at the Dome. Crump now hopes Vikings fans will stop by to buy some team clothing and gear to keep warm in the chilly outdoor stadium.
"We didn't plan on selling a lot of (cold weather clothing) but we have got it to sell," said Crump.
Meanwhile no timetable has been set yet on when repairs are expected to be done and Metrodome will be back in business.
WCCO-TV's Caroline Lowe Reports
