The State of Hawai‘i announced yesterday that it will completely cover Aloha Stadium with a white translucent synthetic fabric, and will use wind technology to keep the dome inflated. The state feels that the dome will preserve the 35-year-old steel structure into the 22nd Century. When completed, it will be re-named the Aloha Dome.
The stadium has been closed since February to facilitate the construction project. Because of our location in the middle of the Pacific, the salt air has continually attacked the steel, and caused an on-going issue of spending the money to fight corrosion. The dome must be completed before the middle of August, when the high school football season kicks off. Initially, the plan was to just cover the top of the stadium, but metallurgists with a structural engineering company suggested the entire stadium be covered. The Department of Accounting & General Services, which runs Aloha Stadium, and the Stadium Authority did not announce the cost of the project. Both repairing of the steel structure and the dome installation is happening at the same time.
It should be quite interesting when we return in August, to see how it affects our video broadcasts during the day. Night games shouldn't change much.
Today's photo shows the first phase of wrap that will form the new Aloha Dome.
April Fool! :-D
It's a covering for some of the repair work.
