Reunion Arena Roof Demolition

[Survivor87]

Living in Indiana, I never visited Reunion, but knowing it's short lifespan, seeing it on TV, and it appearing to be a great arena, great atmosphere (i think 80's Mavericks, '86 Final Four)..it just seems a shame. I don't get that feel from the new place the Mavs play. But my opinion is not very valid since I'm been to neither.

[ntxguy]

Typical Dallas style, cannot hold on to anything old or historic, has to keep reinventing itself.

[mametz]

I saw thermite coming out of the towers.

[TheFashiongirl05]

oh the memories of reunion arena. why did they take it down?

[ENTERTAINMENT35]

i thought they were still using Reunion Arena for rodeo stuff recently?

[MilwaukeeWaveFan]

Why did they tear this place down again?

[mindeloman]

RA was a great venue. There wasn't a bad seat in the place. I saw dozens of concerts there. Hell, we even had our HS graduation there. It's a shame but there was no reason to keep it around with the AAC hosting everything. And the seating is not near as good as old Reunion.

[Mikdeelo]

Gene pool shorted

[lilyflorea]

man i saw tony hawk perform there

[RampinUp46]

I rode home on an Amtrack train from Chicago to Austin, and I was lucky enough to go right by the Reunion Arena's roof in it's last days.

[pacmanghostx]

Thank God the bulldozer operator got out of there. :P

Seriously, though, they should have planned that better.

No wonder the Reunion Arena is labeled as having a specific demolition date instead of being taken down over time. :D

[themavsfan1992]

I was 8 years old, and went to a Mavs game back in 2000 against the Knicks. R.I.P Reunion Arena 1980-2009

[1C7Z3H5X]

the reason so many people were watching and filming is because even average''non engineers'' could see that was a stupid way to take it down and a disaster waiting to happen.yes its sick but everyone there knew something bad was going to happen.its simply a miracle noone was killed given the reckless and foolish nature of the crew and foreman

[cspotrok]

This is very sad to me. I will never forget all the events that took place there: the Mavs games, concerts, the circus, the Disney on Ice shows. I even had my high school graduation there 6 years ago. Such memories! : )

[Saturn357]

It'll be weird passing on the bridge and not seeing this arena there. I mean, I wish they could've found another use for it.

But, it's all about the AAC now, and big bucks.

Still...such a waste. I've only been there once, but it was fun.

RIP Reunion Arena.

Texas Stadium...you're next.

[hoyle1911]

Seems like a really silly way to demo when personnel and equipment were that close to site. The way the beams splintered and flew everywhere would have made an interesting Darwin award for the guy just standing there down below.

[sdahl89]

@hoyle1911 they had to demolish it that way because of a low budget the city had, and explosives were to expensive to use. The guy that was just standing there was on lookout for the guy in the tractor to tell warn him in time to get out of there so the roof wouldn't collapse on him.

[underlinedbluetext]

@hoyle1911 don't you guys think that maybe they know what they're doing? it's not like they just started chipping away at it just to see what would happen. there are engineers who plan this kind of stuff out. the guy operating that thing didn't even come close to getting hurt. the roof imploded. job well done in my book.

[jeremiahjw]

I didn't realize they were tearing the building down until I passed it (after the demolition) on Thursday. I was disappointed that I missed it, but feel better now that I know they didn't "blow it up". Would have wanted to film it if they had done so.

[rappids]

wow over 20000 views i should have stayed on the bridge with you

[saleens3514me]

there is no way that was planned mhail pause it at 1:13 you see that man in the orange vest standing 15 feet from that concrete pillar, and when it starts to come down that man is haulin' ass outa there

[jrsaleen]

how do i get a job like this? i woukld love to tear things apart for a living

[mhail24]

We took many factors into consideration before this day ever came!!!! AED did an excellent job and it was alot of fun!!!!!! Thanks again to Eric and Steve for a job well done!!!! Can't wait for the next!!!

[kdixon7783B]

Gravity wins every time.

[mhail24]

I was one of the Superintendents on this job and the building came down like clockwork just as we anticipated it and just how we wanted it too!!!!!!Nobody was hurt and it was a blast!!!!!Cant wait for Texas Stadium which is coming up!!!

[aodarty]

Wow, if you were one of the Supers on this job you should be arrested or at least be facing a suit.

No way that this was planned to come down in this manner, Not unless Larry, Curly & Moe were the demo contractors...

[mhail24]

On what grounds smartone??????

[aodarty]

1. Criminal Negligence

2. Failure to follow approved safety practices

3. Disregard fro public safety

4. Disregard for employees

5. Ever heard of OSHA?

[L8nitedave]

I'm not a demo guy, but I've been watching this everyday for months and judging by the preparations in place, it looks like it came down exactly as they planned. There were also berms in place for quick working access to the other columns in case it didn't.

[ilovemywork32]

Larry & Curly as demo guys, gotta love it.

What's the demo company name Dewey, Killum & Howe? How did you guys not get someone hurt or killed?

I smell lawsuit!!! It smells just like money!!!

[abax84]

You guys are taking down Texas Stadium next?

[mhail24]

Thats right

[abax84]

a tear rundowns my face

[hookem31]

Saw the last three shows Van Halen ever played in North America, with David Lee Roth as their frontman. Saw the first KISS concert ever in Dallas there. And played in a high school basketball game there, before a Mavs game.

RIP Reunion

[Quickdraw1111]

The couple of times I was there was once for a Mavericks pre-season game and once for a single concert featuring The Judds, Reba McIntyre and Randy Travis.

Can anyone top that?

[68raindogs]

Sad. During the eighties I saw tons of shows there. Ozzy, Motley Crue, Van Halen when they still had DLR, AC/DC (front row floor), The Stones, ZZTop twice, Pink Floyd twice. It was a great arena. I must have seen thirty shows there as a teenager. RIP

[976blackpope]

im with arcata0 them damn hippies took down an icon of dallas. some of the greatest moments came from this building. kiss, rush, ac/dc, black sabbath, pantera, desperados, monster trucks, donated blood on sept. 11, 2001 there, volunteered for katrina victums. so much more i could go on, on how important this building was. now its gone. saddness sets in.

[bulldog08]

Man We going to miss this Arena last of Skyline Graduation was the class of 08

[nathonics]

It seems like such a waste to me. It was still in relatively good shape. RIP Reunion Arena. :(

[jordosthesexx]

IDK why they tore it down.

[75219A]

We can't even tear shit down the correct way in Dallas. Epic FAIL.

[mhail24]

It was tore down exactly as planned!!!!! I am one of the ones that did it!!!!!You have no clue!!!

[SamuelKaru]

That was intense. Hope no one was hurt. God bless.

[2whoacom]

Seems a bit dangerous to take it down like that!

The New Jersey Devils were the last Pro Sports team to win a Championship there. 2000 Stanley Cup.

[BlackholeX1]

I saw the greatness of RUSH in there at least 13 times since  1980. Sad to see this place go. I don't like AAC much.

[redriverman2006]

Do I hear the Great Gordo's voice in this?

[Quickdraw1111]

I thought I also heard his voice as I was watching the video. Maybe he happened to be passing by as he was following the Trail of Tears.

[Arcata0]

I blame the hippies.

[goodwilldrums]

what a sad day...

[Hectorson3]

Yup

[rappids]

thats a big 5 stats on that one

[dlouden]

Holy crap, that was awesome.