Pontiac Silverdome refuses to fall

A series of thunderous detonations rocked the Pontiac Silverdome early Sunday morning, sending up clouds of smoke and thrilling a spectator crowd of hundreds out to watch the start of the stadium’s demolition. But as the smoke cleared, a problem became apparent: The Silverdome was intact. Officials with the demolition contractor, Detroitbased Adamo Group, confirmed that the explosions failed to bring down the steel columns supporting the Silverdome’s upper level. The detonations — and anticipated collapse of the upper level — were to be the opening round for a yearlong demolition project, which will mostly be done with hydraulic excavators. Roughly 10% of the explosive charges did not detonate because of a wiring issue, said Rick Cuppetilli, executive vice president with Adamo. These charges were set up in eight key locations around the Silverdome. The precise cause of the wiring issue remained uncleared early Sunday afternoon. He said the demolition crew was unsure whether a Friday night trespassing incident on the property had any connection, whether accidentally or intentionally, to the failed detonations.