Implosions in the Sky: One Last Great Memory from Texas Stadium

By Patrick Michels Sun., Apr. 11 2010 at 7:26 AM

Categories: Sports

Patrick Michels

The first blasts shot up at 7 this morning, setting off car alarms and cheers and waking up Sunday sleepers for miles -- and those were just the pre-implosion fireworks. Minutes later the real show began, as a series of dynamite blasts horseshoed around Texas Stadium, throwing up a monster dust cloud and bringing the roof down in pieces.

~~We'll have more from Irving shortly. For now though, here's a look at Texas Stadium as it stood, for the last time, minutes ago.~~

Update: As demolition crews predicted, it all came down in a hurry once the blasting began. Before that, though, gawkers in surrounding parking lots faced a long morning in the dark -- plenty of time for grilling, drinking and hanging out with the Kraft "Demolicious" dinosaur mascot.

Under the main viewing tent, Jerry Jones worked the room and Chris Berman was on hand to deliver the benediction. Irving Mayor Herbert Gears invited former mayors Don Patkin and Robert Power to the stage, and presented each with plaques from the stadium's 1971 dedication. It cost $35 million to build back then, and the City of Irving says Texas Stadium took $6 million to bring down today. In its place, the Irving is left with what Power called "the most valuable piece of property in the southwestern United States."

A few parents were still racing with their kids to reach the viewing area as the first round of fireworks went up, followed shortly by a 10-second countdown with another round of fireworks. That was the cue for 11-year-old Casey Rogers, contest winner and friend of the homeless cue to hit the ceremonial remote trigger and light up the dynamite.

Here's our slide show from the event. Jump for video of the implosion from web editor Nick Rallo.