Emerging Reports indicate that a large tear has developed in the roof of the cloth domed BC Place Stadium in Vancouver (home of the BC Lions Football Team and several annual expos and events). No injuries have been reported.

Here is a photo of the stadium on a normal day and in better health. I wonder if they will have it fixed before the boatshow! (Feb 7-11 2007). Hundreds of vendors will be waiting to hear if this will postpone or cancel the show and this is the second time in three years theshow has been threatned. A labour strile two years ago almost scuttled the 2005 show.

The CBC Website Reports:

The domed roof of B.C. Place Stadium collapsed with a loud bang on Friday afternoon and is completely flat.

Two City of Vancouver workers told CBC News that there appeared to have been a hole in the roof.

They said they heard some flapping, followed by what sounded like an explosion.

They said they believe the whole internal roof support structure may be gone.

Former CBC journalist Kathryn Gretsinger said the deflated dome was the “strangest sight ever” as she travelled into downtown Vancouver over the Cambie Bridge.

She said there was only a circular rim of concrete visible when looking up from outside.

Here is a more dramatic shot of the flacid facility: