ATLANTA (AP) -A severe storm ripped away two panels in the side of the Georgia Dome during the Southeastern Conference tournament, sending debris falling from the ceiling, halting the Alabama-Mississippi State game and prompting fans to flee for the exits.
The teams were sent to the locker rooms, while those who remained at their seats looked anxiously toward the roof. The game was stopped with Mississippi State leading 64-61 with 2:11 left in overtime.
It wasn’t immediately known if a tornado struck the 16-year-old building, though a roaring noise was heard inside as the storm moved through downtown Atlanta.
“I thought it was a tornado or a terrorist attack,” said Mississippi State guard Ben Hansbrough, who was guarding Alabama’s Mykal Riley when a rumbling noise was heard from above.
Both teams stopped and looked toward the Teflon-coated Fiberglas fabric roof, which is designed to flex slightly during high wind, but was rippling heavily in the storm, much like waves rolling toward the shore.
National Weather Service officials were unsure if a tornado caused the damage, but wind was clocked at up to 60 mph as the storm moved through the city.
Thousands of fans were downtown for two sporting events. An NBA game between the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers was going on at next door at Philips Arena.
Several fans and at least one reporter on press row said metal bolts and washers fell from the ceiling, though there were no immediate reports of injuries. A pipe ripped a hole in the roof.
Add A Comment