Hundreds of people gathered around the site of the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta to catch the once-in-a-lifetime sight of a 71,000-seater stadium being razed to the ground.
For those who wanted to watch the unique event from the comfort of their own home, the Weather Channel’s live stream provided a far less spectacular sight – the side of a city bus.
The broadcaster’s science editor, James Crugnale, had his stream set for 40 minutes before the first loud boom signalled the beginning of the end for the 25-year-old stadium. It was then, right at the most inopportune moment, a MARTA bus crossed the line of the shot, completely blocking the once-in-a-lifetime view of the implosion.
Someone can be heard shouting from behind the camera: “Go bus, get out of the way!” But their entreaties, peppered by some choice language, are all for naught as the building comes down behind the bus. The demolition took 4,800lbs of explosives, including about 4,500lbs of dynamite, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Georgia Dome has hosted the Olympics, two Super Bowls and three semi finals of the NCAA basketball tournament. It was replaced this summer by the nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is now home to the Atlanta Falcons NFL franchise and Atlanta United, the Major League Soccer club. The Falcons posted jaw-dropping footage of the implosion taken from inside the stadium to Twitter following the event Monday.
