OT: Have you ever seen the Civic Arena with the roof open?
- Thread starter HOF Coach
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Attended the Arena Bowl as a kid when the Gladiators played there and it was open.
I saw it open once as a kid, after a concert. All I remember is seeing smoke come billowing out of it like a smoke stack.
Back when the Roundball Classic was THE national high school all-star game, they would open the roof for pregame introductions.
Kansas and Cheap Trick in the early 80s. I don't think they were planning on opening it, but it was about 90 degrees and the air conditioning wasn't working right, so they opened up one or two sections.
Or was it to allow the smoky haze to escape?
Or was it to allow the smoky haze to escape?
Well there was that too!
By the way, speaking of smoking at concerts, Bun E Carlos was the drummer for Cheap Trick. At the time Pittsburgh had an ordinance, I don't remember exactly what it said, but basically the upshot was that you were not allowed to smoke on stage at a concert. And Carlos was a chain smoker. In fact if you look him up on Google there are several pictures of him behind the drum kit with a cigarette hanging from his lips. Carlos wanted, nay, NEEDED to smoke during the show. So they came to a compromise. They allowed Carlos to smoke, but Cheap Trick had to hire someone from the fire department to sit right behind him at his drum kit with a fire extinguisher, in case he accidentally started a fire. We had pretty good seats close to the stage about three or four rows up from the floor and it was funny to see that guy sitting there for the whole set just in case something happened.
Me too. I remember when they opened it in the early 2000's for maintenance and then couldn't close it for a day or so because of a mechanical issue. That was the last time it opened. They shut it down for good after that.
No. I forget when the last expansion/refurbishment of the arena and seating, but I think that made it impossible to open the roof ever again.
Jump to 2:50 to see the roof open, sadly I was only 5 when they filmed this and missed out on being there.
I was present for the filming of that scene. There was a big push to fill the Arena that night (a couple of radio stations were involved in promotions). Unforgettable party scene.
Doobie Brothers concert in 1989. One of the concerts for that summer called the "Skyline Series". Floor was set up with tables and a Chef with an open grill.
Then it’s not much of an indoor soccer game, now is it?
Heather should look at that movie for some ideas on how to get the fans involved next season!
I was involved in the DD Roundball Classic for the very first four years. I was the student manager for the US All Stars. For at least those years, I don't recall that they ever opened the roof. Maybe years later they did that.
I went to an Easter sunrise service there once. Massed choirs, lots of music. They rolled the dome open at sunrise for big dramatic effect - and sheet music / programs / hats / hairpieces / you name it - blew up and around like a freaking tornado. Oops.
Stole my answer! And I couldn't remember the team name! Probably around 1992 or 1993. I think I saw a deck hockey team play there, too.
1982 reo speedwagon. the roof pulled back as the opening chords of time for me to fly rang into the summer air....it blew back my feathered hair and shook my all white pony high tops....i stood there in my yellow/orange #82 ocean city mock jersey t-shirt, thinking man I need to air brush a wolf on the side of my van.
I walked past it,1979 or 80 and it was at max open. It was the day of, or the day after Rush played there. It's maximum opening would be about 75% open with the roof leaves under the support arm. It was crazy looking to me since it drastically changed the appearance of the arena. You could see the orange upper seats from outside.
They opened it partway during "God Bless America" before an Arena Football (Pittsburgh Gladiators) playoff game. They had the lights off for the song and when they started opening it, the setting summer sun came blasting in and pretty blinded everyone on the opposite side of the arena.
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