OT: Flashback: Roof of the Hartford Civic Center Collapsed, January 19, 1978

[Mazhude]

47 years ago today, the roof of the Hartford Civic Center collapsed under the weight of heavy snow and ice on January 18, 1978 just hours after a sold-out UConn basketball game. Miraculously, no one was inside and no lives were lost. The disaster became a turning point in structural engineering and led to major changes in building design and safety standards nationwide. Anyone go to that game?

 

[LIUCHusky]

47 years ago today, the roof of the Hartford Civic Center collapsed under the weight of heavy snow and ice on January 18, 1978 just hours after a sold-out UConn basketball game. Miraculously, no one was inside and no lives were lost. The disaster became a turning point in structural engineering and led to major changes in building design and safety standards nationwide. Anyone go to that game?View attachment 116120

Yes, I was there. The attendance that night was in the neighborhood of 5500.

 

[superjohn]

47 years ago today, the roof of the Hartford Civic Center collapsed under the weight of heavy snow and ice on January 18, 1978 just hours after a sold-out UConn basketball game. Miraculously, no one was inside and no lives were lost. The disaster became a turning point in structural engineering and led to major changes in building design and safety standards nationwide. Anyone go to that game?View attachment 116120

It wasn't close to being sold out. Less than 5,000 fans watched UConn beat UMass.

 

[Waquoit]

View attachment 116120

I always thought it looked like a huge fist punched the roof.

 

[husky8273]

47 years ago today, the roof of the Hartford Civic Center collapsed under the weight of heavy snow and ice on January 18, 1978 just hours after a sold-out UConn basketball game. Miraculously, no one was inside and no lives were lost. The disaster became a turning point in structural engineering and led to major changes in building design and safety standards nationwide. Anyone go to that game?View attachment 116120

I was there

 

[BuffaloHusky]

Ironically, it made me a fan because as a kid I got to go see them play in the New Haven Coliseum.

 

[Punkbo]

Very sad day. We were season ticket holders for our beloved New England Whalers. We became members of the 91 Club and traveled to Springfield for the games while the Civic Center was being rebuilt. The Whalers were especially hospitable to members of the 91 Club. I have great memories of social events with all of the Whalers. Gordie Howe and Nick Fotiu remain idols as they were extremely generous with their time. Long live the Whalers!

 

[ucjoet]

I was at that game. My high school teammate Mark Noon was playing for the Hartford Hawks in the first game of a doubleheader. They played Amherst. UConn played UMass in the second game. I could be wrong but I don’t believe it was a sellout. May guess / recollection is the crowd was 7-8,000.

Woke up in the morning and my dad tells me the roof collapsed at the Civic Center. Unreal