The 15 Craziest Natural Disasters in Sports History
On Dec. 12, 2010, the roof to the Metrodome collapsed under the weight of the snow that had collected on it over the weekend, forcing the Vikings vs. Giants game to be moved to Detroit.
This isn't the first, nor will it be the last, natural disaster to affect the world of sports.
From earthquakes to fires to hurricanes and precipitation, nature has a funny way of disturbing sporting events in a major way.
Here is a list of 15 of the craziest natural disasters in sports history.
No. 15 Massive Storm Takes Practice Time from Olympic Swimmers
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Before the U.S Olympic swimming trials in 2008, swimmers and coaches were working in the Qwest Center when a huge storm rolled through the Omaha area. Everyone in the facility was forced to take shelter in the interior of the building before the building was eventually evacuated for the night.
According to a report from USA Today, people in the building said it was chaos outside. Luckily the swimmers were able to resume their training the next day.
No. 14 Reliant Stadium Roof Damaged by Hurricane
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In September 2008, the roof of Reliant Stadium, home to the Houston Texans, was damaged by Hurricane Ike.
The retractable roof had large holes punched through it by the powerful storm, and it took about five months for the damage to be repaired, according to the Texans Grab Blog.
It also caused at least one of the Houston Texans’ games to be relocated in the aftermath of the storm.
No. 13 Cardinals’ Stadium Damaged in Storm
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This type of damage seems to be the most common form of damage on this list.
Earlier this year, the roof to the University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, was ripped through by a high intensity storm that tore through the Glendale area.
No. 12 Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark Destroyed by Tornado
4 of 15In June, this Montana sports arena was destroyed by a massive tornado that ripped through the area. The roof was torn apart and material from the building was sent flying high into the air.
Up until this time, the arena had been home to an indoor football league team called the Billings Outlaws and occasionally had hosted preseason NBA games.
No. 11 Violent Storm Delays Phillies Game
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Earlier this year, the Phillies were playing the Indians at home when a huge storm hit the area, causing the game to be delayed.
There was lighting, hail, rain and enough wind speed to drag a John Deer vehicle across the tarp covering the field, according to an article from Philly.com.
No. 10 2003 California Wild Fire Takes Away Sports Arenas
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Wildfires seem to be a common occurrence in California. But in October 2003, wildfires interrupted more than just the lives of the people in their path; they disrupted sports in the area as well.
According to Sports Illustrated, California wildfires forced the Chargers to play what were supposed to be home games away and forced the California Speedway to cancel the CART season finale race. While neither of the establishments were in danger of burning down, they were forced to open their doors as relief centers for people whose homes had been evacuated or destroyed by the fires.
No. 9 Storm Disrupts 2008 SEC Tournament
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With only a few minutes left on the clock in an intense game between Mississippi State and Alabama, the basketball game was stopped as severe weather rolled into the area. The intense storm that stopped this intense game ripped several roof panels off the Georgia Dome as it passed by.
While the storm didn’t last long and the game was soon resumed, that brief and intense storm moment disrupted the intense tournament game.
No. 8 Indiana University Turf Damaged by Wind and Rain
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According to a report from UPI.com, in 2008 the football field at Indiana University was severely damaged by high speed wind and rain. The damage even included a sinkhole in the south end zone of the stadium.
The estimated repair costs for this freak storm were around $1 million. That must be some expensive grass.
No. 7 Padres Vs. Blue Jays Game Interrupted by Earthquake
9 of 15This summer the Padres took on the Blue Jays at home in San Diego, but their loss wasn’t the only newsworthy event of the night.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Petco Park began to shake due to an earthquake. The funny thing was no one but the Padres announcers seemed to care about the earthquake, or the fact that the stadium was shaking.
No. 6 Hurricane Katrina Damages the Superdome
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One of the most unforgettable natural disasters to affect a sporting arena would be Hurricane Katrina.
The Louisiana Superdome, home of the Saints and Tulane University, was damaged in this powerful storm by intense wind and flooding. It was put into further disarray when it became a shelter for victims looking for refuge from the hurricane and its aftermath.
No. 5 Metrodome Roof Collapses
11 of 15Earlier this month the inflatable roof to the Minnesota Vikings Stadium, the Metrodome, was partially destroyed by heavy snow sitting on top of it after a winter storm.
According to a report from MSNBC, there are still more panels of the roof in danger of falling. It seems this natural disaster isn’t finished yet with this football stadium.
No. 4 Pontiac Silverdome Roof Collapses
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Before the collapse of the Metrodome roof, there was the collapse of the Pontiac Silverdome roof in Detroit.
In 1985, the Lions were practicing on the field when the roof gave way under the weight of the snow and ice that had collected on top of it.
This collapse affected both the Lions and Pistons, who shared the Silverdome at the time.
No. 3 LP Field Fills with Flood Water
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Earlier this year in May, LP Field, the home of the Tennessee Titans, filled with water as the area around it was flooded by the swelling of the Cumberland River after torrential down pours swept through the area.
Looking at this picture, it seems this stadium would be better suited as a swimming pool rather than a football field.
No. 2 1986 U.S Women’s Open Is Rained, Smoked and Shook Out
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This sporting event was plagued by not just one, but three natural disasters the week it took place in 1986.
While the first may not have began as a natural disaster, it turned into one quickly. During the practice rounds of the open, a nearby railroad tanker derailed and ruptured creating a noxious cloud of phosphorous in the air, forcing several players to switch hotels.
Then there was the small earthquake that rocked the Ohio area and several neighboring states in the early hours of the morning.
And on top of those two things, there was a massive thunder storm that caused the open to be delayed for several hours until it passed.
It seems nature didn’t want this golf open to happen that year.
No. 1 1989 San Francisco Earthquake
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On Oct. 17, 1989 a major earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area, delaying the third game in the World Series between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.
The two teams were just beginning to warm up when the earthquake struck the area, forcing the game to be delayed. Thankfully no one was hurt and the Series resumed play 11 days later.
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