This used to be our playground....

[Syracuse]

I'm moving this weekend, but I'll be there in spirit.
RIP, old lady.

[PhillyGirl]

Sus, I'm thinking of going.

[MURP]

i want to know where the perimeter is so i know if I could even really see it fall.

[PhillyGirl]

i want to know where the perimeter is so i know if I could even really see it fall.

There are a bunch of places we can go that I've read about...

[Susquehanna Birder]

Here's the last info I have, from the Inquirer:



There's talk that the cops might even extend the west side of the perimiter all the way to 20th.

[MURP]

wow, that is a lot bigger perimeter than than i thought!

thanks Sus.

[PhillyGirl]

I have a feeling a lot of people are going to park on the side of I-95 to watch...lol

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I have a feeling a lot of people are going to park on the side of I-95 to watch...lol

except that they'll be chased away by cops as 95 will be closed...  *I have nothing but sarcasm to contribute*

[BigEd76]

After the dust settles, there's a Soul game and Eagles cheerleader tryouts at the Linc a few hours after the implosion.  Should be interesting....  

[Susquehanna Birder]

I'm making the Soul game as part of the reason to drive 2 hours (and stay overnight) to see this.  

For some reason, it looks like the north side of Packer (kind of under I-76) will be closer to the action than I-95. At least until the cops chase everybody away.

Actually, I'm finding it hard to understand that there will be THAT many cops in the area to enforce a perimiter that large.

[Sgt PSN]

Actually, I'm finding it hard to understand that there will be THAT many cops in the area to enforce a perimiter that large.

There won't be.  A few dozen cops at the most.  Standing in for them though will be a perimeter of constantine wire and claymore mines.  

[PhillyGirl]

Precautions being made for big bang

By JIM NOLAN and PAUL VIGNA

nolanj@phillynews.com


It's going to sound like Fireworks Night.

It's going to feel like the Broad Street subway rumbling underfoot.

And then, in 62 seconds, Veterans Stadium will be gone - 33 years of memories reduced to a 50-foot-high pile of rubble at Broad and Pattison.

That's the forecast of officials charged with bringing down the South Philly landmark on Sunday at 7 a.m.

Officials say most parts of the stadium that could create a dust problem - such as dry wall and masonry wall - have been removed.

They said the blast is designed to cause the overwhelming majority of the concrete shell to fall within the building's footprint.

"We're rotating the stadium onto the playing field instead of telescoping it as in a conventional implosion," said Jeff Sizemore, of Demolition Dynamics, of Franklin, Tenn.

The wild card is the weather - expected to be windy and in the 40s, with gusts in excess of 30 mph.

To guard against airborne debris, officials say they have greatly expanded the normal 400-foot blast zone dust buffer.

Before 7 a.m., police will close sections of I-95, I-76, Broad Street and the Walt Whitman Bridge. The closures will last for up to 30 minutes.In addition, a 35-by-450-foot blast curtain will run behind Geary Street, the closest residential area located on northeast side of the stadium.

"We're just being conservative in nature," Sizemore said. "We don't want to take any chances."

A warning siren will sound 10 minutes, 2 minutes and a minute before the countdown to the implosion begins. Phillies officials hinted yesterday that a celebrity will be on hand to help push the blast button.

Following the implosion, an all-clear siren will be sounded when the area is deemed safe. Officials will monitor air quality to determine when they can reopen areas around the site.

Residents close by who aren't being evacuated have been asked to remain in their homes with windows closed during the event.

Officials expect the area to be open in time for events scheduled at the sports complex Sunday. The doors will open at 11 a.m. for a noon Soul game at the Wachovia Center, and the Eagles will hold cheerleader tryouts in the East Club Lounge of Lincoln Financial Field at 4:30 p.m

[Sgt PSN]

Phillies officials hinted yesterday that a celebrity will be on hand to help push the blast button.

Guesses anyone?

Mike Schmidt?  Steve Carlton?  Harry Kalas perhaps.  Maybe Tim McGraw.  Eh, it'll probably end up being someone gay like Bob Saget or Pat Sajak.  

[BigEd76]

On WIP, they hinted at the Phanatic, though I don't think he qualifies as a celebrity....  

[SD_Eagle5]

Phillies officials hinted yesterday that a celebrity will be on hand to help push the blast button.

Guesses anyone?

Mike Schmidt?  Steve Carlton?  Harry Kalas perhaps.  Maybe Tim McGraw.  Eh, it'll probably end up being someone gay like Bob Saget or Pat Sajak.  

T.O., maybe.