Video: Cowboys practice facility collapses
posted at 10:45 am on May 3, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
At first, I thought this was more of a joke. The Metrodome here in Minneapolis has had the soft roof collapse on occasion, which created more of a headache than an emergency. This was more of a total collapse of the building, and a few Cowboys got injured badly enough to go to the hospital, including one broken back. The footage from the inside is pretty dramatic:
I can’t stand the Cowboys, but hopefully everyone recovers quickly and fully. The special-teams coach broke two vertebra in his back, and others suffered knee and head injuries, but it could have been worse. Electrical lines broke, and head coach Wade Phillips noted that it was almost a miracle no one got electrocuted with all of the water on the ground.
Someone has to explain how the team came to use a building that couldn’t stand up to a Texas storm, though, and why no one evacuated the air-bubble structure when the winds got high enough. Jerry Jones built it six years ago, so he’s the one who has to answer some questions.
Blowback
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Me, too.
Landry’s revenge?
jgapinoy on May 3, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Like Wade said, it’s lucky nobody was electrocuted. Ed, no structure can stand up to our storms unless it is underground.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 10:50 AM
I used to be a ‘Boys fan, until JJ bought the team. The way he fired Landry was inexcusable despicable.
jgapinoy on May 3, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Jerry Jones is a control freak. He is too involved in all areas of the team. That said the storms that rolled through here yesterday were awesome. Springtime in Texas, you have to expect some spectacular storms. I will keep those injured in my prayers.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 10:54 AM
I was born the year the team started. And have been a fan all my life. Yes, I was disappointed in the way Landry was treated. Tom was an icon and a good guy and deserves respect. But I won’t let my distaste for Jerry Jones make me dislike my team.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Storms like this one are why we should all have NOAA weather radios in our homes. I have one that is plugged in and one from LL Bean that is wind-up in case of electrical outage. We also had a tornado shelter installed last year. Below ground is the place to be.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Don’t be hating on muh ‘Boys Ed. My only question is why couldn’t it have collapsed when Jerry Jones was in it?
But seriously, I hope these guys come out ok. Football has enough problems with broken bones and messed up joints and backs WITHOUT falling down in a building. I pray they come out ok.
Bo on May 3, 2009 at 10:57 AM
I would expect nothing less from a Steelers freak!
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Nonsense. Rain can’t melt metal.
Inside job!
Shy Guy on May 3, 2009 at 10:57 AM
According to the Star-Telegram this morning the building was actually designed and built so that the Cowboys could practice during inclement weather.
modnar on May 3, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Jones’ ego is really getting out of control if it can’t fit inside a building.
lorien1973 on May 3, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Ditto
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Jones’ ego is really getting out of control if it can’t fit inside a building.
lorien1973 on May 3, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Jerry was actually at the Kentucky Derby yesterday and gave a statement from there. He should stay in Kentucky.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 11:00 AM
With a structure like that- and there are a lot of them around the league- it’s basically a glorified balloon. Makes it marginally easier to control the temperature in there, as I understand it. One way or another, the National Weather Service is describing the storm as a microburst- a small (less than 2.5 mi in diameter) but very powerful downdraft that results in a particularly strong wind divergence. They last anywhere from 5-15 minutes, and can easily create 100 mph winds.
Microbursts are a fairly common cause of wind damage to houses in severe thunderstorms, and as conservnut said, it’s kind of hard to build something that’ll stand up cleanly to such an event.
For scale- this burst was clocked at 70 mph, and the raw video from the ABC affiliate here showed about 30 seconds of everything shaking impressively before the dome came apart. 70 mph is just below the minimum sustained wind speed of a Category 1 hurricane, and sustained conditions (minus the obvious rotation) mimics nicely being in a small tornado.
JJ is a jerk, and I’m a Saints fan here in D/FW, but I don’t think there’s much blame to be assigned in this case. It’s just wonderful news that there weren’t more severe injuries or fatalities.
tmi3rd
tmi3rd on May 3, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Remember when Delta Flight 191 went down in the storm at DFW? I was a child, but I remember that distinctly.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 11:03 AM
The structure was built in 2003. Six years of Texas storms will eventually destroy anything, especially an inflated structure. Galveston still looks like ground zero after IKE. They are now just rebuilding but not with structures that will withstand a hurricane, they are building cheap structures that can be easily rebuilt.
You can bet JJ was over insured on this one. I love Tom Landry but Jerry/Stephen have moved the Cowboys into the 21st Century and have clear vision with regards to the NFL.
Obviously SJ is having some influence over papa with TO in buffalo.
lasertex on May 3, 2009 at 11:05 AM
I was wondering how far Galveston had come since Ike. Lots of people around here would rent homes down in Crystal Beach down on Bolivar. From what I have seen, it is pretty much gone.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 11:07 AM
We went down a few weekends ago. First time since Ike. Still has a long way to go but it is getting there.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 11:10 AM
My kids want to go to the beach this summer. We live in Athens, near Tyler. It would be about a 5 hour trip down there. There is always South Padre, I do not like Corpus.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 11:12 AM
How bout dem Cowboys.
lavell12 on May 3, 2009 at 11:15 AM
i always knew TO was a blowhard. but to blow the building down from so far away…
kelley in virginia on May 3, 2009 at 11:17 AM
I always root against the Cowboys, except for today. My wishes for speedy recovery go out to every Cowboy and others who got hurt.
Mr. Joe on May 3, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I arrived at DFW on a Delta L1011 from LAX, Landed 1.5 hr before and was at home when 191 crashed.
A microburst had pushed the plane down onto HWY114 that circles north of the airport and killed two motorists. I had driven past that spot on my way home.
lasertex on May 3, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Didn’t they just spend a billion dollars on a new stadium? Would it have hurt to spend a tiny fraction of that on shoring up the practice facility?
changer1701 on May 3, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Scary.
fossten on May 3, 2009 at 11:24 AM
How predictable for a Steelers fan to have throw in a little jab. Nice.
SouthernDem on May 3, 2009 at 11:30 AM
The stadium is in Arlington, the practice facility is in Irving (Las Colinas) different set of taxpayers. Jerry never uses his money for infrastructure expenses. No return.
lasertex on May 3, 2009 at 11:31 AM
It made quite an impact on me. One of the motorist was decapitated and the plane took out the water tower. That story and Baby Jessica in the well are two of the biggest news stories I remember when I was a kid.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 11:33 AM
As a Redskins fan, anything that slows down the progress of the Cowboys would normally be a good thing. I hope all the injuries are minor and recoveries or quick. Think of the storm as stimulus and a new roof project as shovel ready.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 11:33 AM
cindy: maybe the collapse was the work of the ghost of Jack Kent Cooke.
kelley in virginia on May 3, 2009 at 11:40 AM
NFC EAST IS THE BEAST. “WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER”. As a Cowboy fan I hate the Redskins but would pick them over the Steelers anyday.
lasertex on May 3, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Mmmm, interesting. It’s a fun rivalry.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Lifelong Steeler Nation here, but man, this is terrible. Broken backs and head injuries? Not good.
The bigger question is why Bush would intentionally bomb a Dallas Cowboys football facility? He must have stock in the Houston Texans.
Bishop on May 3, 2009 at 11:50 AM
The “bad weather” domes traditionally are more about keeping players out of the cold weather and snow, or out of standard rainstorms than surviving severe weather like you can get in Texas in the spring, even without a tornado forming. I was caught in a microburst about 10 years ago in West Texas, and it’s a scary thing to see coming at you (especially since in this case you literally could it coming at you due to all the dirt, rocks and other debris caught up in the wind).
The one I was in took out a couple of mobile homes and broken out dozens of car windows (including mine), so a fabric dome like the one at Valley Ranch would be a definite hazard in winds like that, and having the fabric tethered to the support columns would have put those in jeopardy due to the weight of the material once the dome was compromised.
jon1979 on May 3, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Just trying to keep his hand in the game.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 11:53 AM
I knew most of those firefighters and EMTs. My Dad, grandad and all of my uncles were on the Midland fire department. So I grew up with a lot of those guys. By the time baby Jessica fell in the well all of my family had retired but a lot of the old guys I knew were still on the department.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Those “babies in a well” stories are based on something that actually happened? Never would’ve imagined.
amkun on May 3, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I still love you Cindy, in spite of your poor taste. ;-)
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:01 PM
That being said, this incident could also been seen as a metaphor for the end of the Cowboys season last year: total collapse at the end which threw them from the playoff hunt.
The storm was the Eagles, the building was the Cowboys, and the structural collapse was the 44-6 demolishing Philly handed to the ‘boys.
Sorry to rub it in, I like the state of Texas but football is forever. *gazes contentedly at six, yes I said SIX Terrible Towels which represent Steelers Super Bowl victories.
Bishop on May 3, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Go ahead, gloat while you can! The shoe will be on the other foot come January.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Sonny J best quarterback EVER.
Glad you posted, I have been letting everyone who replied to my post about The Won being American Idol came from a flaky website although since then Buy Danish showed me that NBC picked it up to. But it’s the wish of Mr. Cowell, not reality.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 11:58 AM
My whole family was glued to the TV and I cried when they brought that baby up out of the well. Now as a mother, I cannot imagine. The fact that she was singing Winnie the Pooh down there…I would be a nutcase.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I want the Cowboys to go 0-16, healthy.
rbj on May 3, 2009 at 12:07 PM
amkun on May 3, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The story is very real. Google Baby Jessica and you will find some stories on it.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Well thanks for the post anyway. It enlightened me about Mr Cowells politics. As if I didn’t already suspect. Now I can start my Deport Simon Cowell movement!
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Actually a blimp comparison would be closest. It’s essentially an aluminum structure covered on both sides with a canvas-like sheeting. There is positive air pressure applied inside to add support.
The latest info I saw last night on the local weather was that it was likely a “microburst” which can cause upwards of 100mph winds very quickly. While there was no tornado watch issued at the time, there was plenty of info out that high winds were expected. I don’t know what the expected max winds that this building was supposed to handle, but it seems like it wouldn’t be the best place to be during a strong storm.
gregbert on May 3, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Oh and by the way Cindy,
Best QB ever…..Rodger the Dodger baby hands down!!!!!
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Ya’ll are all just jealous because we are America’s Team. JK/I laugh when my husband is devasted at a Cowboy loss.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I knew the EMT that was the second to the last one down the hole. He came up crying because he could get a hand on her but couldn’t get her out yet. That job affected those guys for life.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I have no doubt. All emergency responders are greatly affected by incidents involving children. We all have an obligation to the weakest and most vulnerable around us. It is hard to see a child hurting or in danger and not have it break your heart. The older I get, the more jaded I get, but stories involving children always bring you back to what is important. I am pretty good in an emergency situation, when it is my kids or any child? I FREAK, my husband has to threaten me to get a grip.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Me too, I followed in the family footsteps as a volunteer firefighter and EMS responder in central texas for about 10 years. (yep, I was the blacksheep for doing it for free)
I got pretty callused over time (a self defense thing that most emergency workers get) but kids were tough. In fact it was a pretty bad call involving kids that made me give it up.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:21 PM
A close second.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I’m an Eagles fan, so if this sets the Cowgirls back, I’m all for it. Mother Nature did her work.
RWLA on May 3, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Spoken like a true eagles ingrate.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:32 PM
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:21 PM
The reason for my staunch conservatism is my children. My children are already growing up in a world that is so diametrically different from the one I grew up in. I want to raise my children in a world that is as sheltered as mine growing up. When we were kids it was okay to send your children out into the neighborhood to play. Today? No freaking way. That is why my children are being raised on a dead-in dirt road, 12 miles from town. My neighbors are my mom and dad down the road and an uncle across the road. The only thing I have to worry about here is keeping the kids away from the pond and teaching them to respect the south end of a north bound horse.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 12:32 PM
That structure collapsed almost as quickly as the 2008 Cowboys. Having gotten that jab in, I’m glad to see everyone survived.
I wish Joe DeCamillis a speedy recovery.
JammieWearingFool on May 3, 2009 at 12:34 PM
RWLA on May 3, 2009 at 12:29 PM
That is pretty disgusting.
TXMomof3 on May 3, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Just to clarify, none of the seriously injured were players. The person whose back was broken is a new special teams coach (from Jacksonville).
I will always be a Cowboys fan, even though we have a tool of an owner.
txag92 on May 3, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Bless you, you have the right idea. We did the same thing and moved to the country with ours when he came along. Now that he has grown up we moved closer to town. (also to take care of dad since mom passed) But I think where he was raised had a lot to do with what a fine young man he has grown into.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:37 PM
No argument here.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:38 PM
I wonder if we will still play NFL games after Texas secession?
izoneguy on May 3, 2009 at 12:40 PM
I wonder if we will still play NFL games after Texas secession?
izoneguy on May 3, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Sure. Both the NHL and MLB have teams from outside the United States, the NFL can integrate “foreign” teams too.
Bishop on May 3, 2009 at 12:47 PM
What an asinine thing to say after they’re hurt, Ed.
If it’s Jerry Jones who disgusts you, join the choir.
maverick muse on May 3, 2009 at 12:48 PM
I don’t know if Austin will allow Eagles and Redskins to have visas to come into our country.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I’m a structural engineer here in TX.
Basic wind speed, so called, is 90 mph in Dallas. We can pretty safely assume that the winds either exceeded that, or that some buffeting effect was taking place (more likely, from the video.) If some topographic effect caused the wind to buffet the structure at the right frequency (i.e. near the harmonic frequency of the structure) you’d get resonance or close to it. Those tensile domes can’t have much of anything in the way of damping assoicated with them.
The swaying leads to the buffeting conclusion; the magnitude of the motion was likely greater than what the fabric could withstand and it ruptured, or the cycling caused another element to fail first.
At any rate, I’ll venture to guess that the structure did burst, or pop. The tension in those domes due to the pressurization of the dome is part a parcel of the stability. Once tension is gone, everything is on it’s way down. It did settle fairly slowly, a mercy. You can see that the mast like structures in the corner were either stabilized entirely by the tension in the dome, or they lacked the strength to hold up the dead weight of the fabric structure and were pulled down by it.
TexasDan on May 3, 2009 at 12:49 PM
He can’t help himself. He’s a ruster fan.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Given that the nation’s strongest winds DO blow through Texas’ tornado ally and Oklahoma as well as other states, it would be a fair question to ask if the structure built for the Cowboys met the highest standards.
But as per dealing with the sweltering weather, the air-bubble structure was a lot better on a daily basis than an open stadium.
Evacuation measures SHOULD be in place and executed. HOWEVER, these winds came up SUDDENLY by all accounts of everyone there.
maverick muse on May 3, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I second that.
myrenovations on May 3, 2009 at 12:52 PM
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 12:50 PM
For someone priding himself with being such a nice guy, he ought to practice better sportsmanship. With all of the hospitalizations, one man was in critical condition.
maverick muse on May 3, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Nonsense. Like he had some hand in designing or constructing it?
The engineers and contractors may have to answer some questions, if the winds were within code prescribed design loads.
If the wind that blew this thing over was greater than code forces, then the structure (and those involved in building/designing it) probably did their jobs just fine. You can’t design for infintely large loads. The only judgement in question then is whether those who decided to occupy the facility during that storm could or should have known that the winds were likely to be as strong as they were. That sounds like asking someone to read tea leaves to me, unless there were weather warnings that should have alerted them to the danger.
TexasDan on May 3, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Finally! An opportunity for me (as someone who does not follow football) to make a football-themed comment:
MondaySunday morning quarterbacking.Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 1:03 PM
That’s my vote to.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Shoot I was expecting a dissertation on wind and building and engineering. I understand your answer better than I would have any of that other stuff though.
Cindy Munford on May 3, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Am I insane if I can’t understand how people attach that apparent level of emotion to sports teams?
DarkCurrent on May 3, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Watching the news last night, seeing the crumpled structure and everyone talking about how the Cowboys ran back in to pull out their coaches and staff, I was proud of those players for representing Texan spirit.
There was GREAT sports news from the Kentucky Derby. I always root for the underdog. And watching footage of Mine That Bird reminded me of Sea Biscuit’s triumph. ALWAYS happy to see a creature do its best; and ever glad when a work horse gets to outshine the most expensive thoroughbreds on the track. Cheers, from Mexico!
maverick muse on May 3, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Wow, that was harrowing stuff. Hoping that all involved recover fully. Go Pack!
Mr. D on May 3, 2009 at 2:02 PM
OMG: Chris Wallace just asked Sebilius and Napolitano if Biden is a crackpot. The balls on this guy.
Aristotle on May 3, 2009 at 2:14 PM
“I can’t stand the Cowboys” That lacked class Ed.
GoodBoy on May 3, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Yes, I noticed this as well. However, the thought that I had as I saw this was how these humble rookies were acting as opposed the the attitude many “all about me” veterans would display. I can imagine the only thing we would have seen from T.0. is the blur of his #81 as he sprinted away from the incident, probably knocking down asst. coaches, etc. along the way. Of course had he been there, everyone would have been safe, since the structure would have remained supported with the aid of his overblown ego.
Also, why did King Barry allow this to happen?? And why didn’t the Fed gov’t come to the rescue immediately? Is it because there were black players? Hmmm…conspiracy?? TheOne should have been able to use his super-powers to foresee this event, but yet, he still allowed it to happen.
gregbert on May 3, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Let’s be honest, we know this wasn’t the weather.
It was Terrell Owens. He knocked the building over cause they didn’t get him the ball enough.
Vegi on May 3, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Keep something in mind, having it stand for the last 6 years, this isnt the first time severe weather come through this area.
I used to live about 2 miles north of it across a levy and could see it out the back window of my apt complex.
Trust me, we have had plenty of severe storms with stronger winds and rain come through there.
Seems to be one of those wrong place wrong time things.
psv on May 3, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Let’s be honest, we know this wasn’t the weather.
It was Terrell Owens. He knocked the building over cause they didn’t get him the ball enough.
Vegi on May 3, 2009 at 2:18 PM
TO had to GO!!!!!
txag92 on May 3, 2009 at 2:29 PM
You think Jones could build a decent facility with the kind of money he makes.
therightwinger on May 3, 2009 at 2:34 PM
You forgot to mention that the storm was caused by global warming.
Buy Danish on May 3, 2009 at 2:40 PM
You guys know the Cowboys released T.O. right?
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Yeah I noticed our old linebacker Dat Nguyen who is a coach now hollering “come on” to those rookies and charging into the mess.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 2:57 PM
There will be an investigation by a structural engineer to see if the structure was designed to sustain the wind loads per code. If it met code requirements, then it will be considered an extreme weather event and no one should get litigated. Of course this is America, so all bets are off. Remember the litigants in the miracle Hudson plane landing?
I have been a Cowboys fan my entire life; not one of the obnoxious fans though.
carbon_footprint on May 3, 2009 at 3:08 PM
And it was long overdue. Jerry Jones needs to recruit players with character. You can have all the talent in the world and still lose; they have proved that lately. There must be discipline or the Cowboys will just be a group of talented players with no team.
carbon_footprint on May 3, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Wonder if that’s a metaphor for their next season…
Big John on May 3, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Full agreement here. I will not miss him and suspect that he was the real source of most of the teams problems. Not Jessica Simpson for gods sake!
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 3:14 PM
More likely for their last. I hope so anyway.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Am I the only one who knows the truth? Where is getalife, she would be able to tell you that this was BUSH’S FAULT!
fumpbump on May 3, 2009 at 3:19 PM
“…Hail To The Redskins, hail victory, braves on the warpath, fight for ol’ D.C. ……”
BobUSMC on May 3, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Somehow this is Bush’s fault.
johnnyU on May 3, 2009 at 3:28 PM
You know of course that you now must write a check to the Cowboy organization. They own the rights to that song.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 3:34 PM
A neat bit of trivia about the Hail to the Redskins song.
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 3:37 PM
When I first read the headlines I thought it was a rodeo facility, and real cowboys got hurt. I hope they’re all ok though.
4shoes on May 3, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Capt’n…How can anyone love God without loving His team?
oggy on May 3, 2009 at 3:41 PM
+1000
conservnut on May 3, 2009 at 3:46 PM
i hate the Eagles, Redskins, Giants, 49ers, and Steelers.
Hilts on May 3, 2009 at 4:07 PM
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