dallashistory

Date with Destruction
By Jim Ryan, WBAP 24/7 News

http://www.wbap.com/Article.asp?id=845482&spid=18042

DALLAS (WBAP) - Reunion Arena -- the former home of the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks and the site of countless big-name music concerts -- will go out with a whimper, not a bang. Instead of the dramatic implosion that some had envisioned, the 28-year-old venue is to be dismantled piece by piece over the next year, according to a plan to be presented to the Dallas City Council's economic development committee.

The blueprint calls for asbestos removal to begin in October, then the salvaging of metals for recycling. Tearing off the roof and leveling the site on the edge of downtown Dallas may take a year and could be complete in the spring of 2010.

The opening of American Airlines Arena and years of financial losses prompted the city to close Reunion Arena on July 1st. The final event, a Spanish-language Christian rally, was held in June.

Estimated cost of tearing down Reunion Arena: $6 million.

(Copyright 2008, WBAP News/Talk 820. All rights reserved.)