Metal Falls from AT&T Stadium Roof Before Dallas Cowboys Game
What Happened?
A large piece of metal fell from the roof of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before a Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday, October 2, 2022. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. CT, approximately two hours before the scheduled kickoff of the game against the Los Angeles Rams.
According to witnesses, the metal object, which was about the size of a small car, crashed through the roof and landed on the upper concourse level of the stadium. No one was injured in the incident, but the game was delayed for about 30 minutes while stadium officials inspected the damage.
Response from Officials
AT&T Stadium officials said that the metal object was part of a decorative panel on the roof of the stadium. They said that the panel had become loose due to strong winds and had fallen off. The stadium has been inspected and deemed safe for the game to proceed.
The Dallas Cowboys released a statement saying that they were aware of the incident and that they were working with stadium officials to investigate what happened. The team said that the safety of fans and players is their top priority.
Possible Causes
Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the metal panel to fall off the roof. However, strong winds are believed to be a contributing factor. The National Weather Service reported that winds were gusting up to 30 mph in the Arlington area at the time of the incident.
Another possible factor is that the metal panel may have been weakened by age or wear and tear. AT&T Stadium opened in 2009, so the roof is now over 10 years old.
Conclusion
The incident at AT&T Stadium is a reminder that even the most modern and well-maintained buildings can be vulnerable to damage from severe weather. Stadium officials are taking steps to investigate what happened and to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.