Sunday when 72,000 fans get to experience the Carolina Panthers playing the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, they’ll also be treated to the Texas sky above them, weather permitting. After Aerosmith rocks the house, two roof panels-each 240 feet long and 385 feet wide-will pull back from both end zones to expose the open air above Houston’s Reliant Stadium. Here’s a quick look at how it will work:
HOW THE ROOF WORKS
The Texans are the first NFL team to play under a retractable roof. Open, it allows a grass playing field, but the roof can be closed because of rain or heat.
– Size: Each of the two roof panels is 240 feet by 385 feet. The pair cover four acres.
– Total weight: 3,000 tons.
– Speed: At 35 feet per minute, it takes seven minutes to open or close.
– Roof covering: Teflon-coated fiberglass. Its translucency allows natural light to filter in when the roof is closed.
– Sound: Covering has better acoustic properties than a hard shell roof.
RELIANT FUN FACTS
Reliant Stadium provides an additional 10,000 seats for the rodeo and spectators anywhere from 75 to 100 feet closer to the action.
There is a four-cell mini-jail located in the lower level of the stadium — for fans who forget to let the action take place on the field.
“Mosquitoes must have a ticket to get in,” says Senior Vice President Steve Patterson. Team officials say the open-air roof is too high off the ground (about 240 feet) for skeeters to get in.
The roof is engineered to withstand hurricane loads, including winds of more than 100 m.p.h.
No need to worry about leaks. When the roof panels come together, it activates a system of inflatable seals, powered by a system of six to eight 15-horsepower air blowers, to keep fans protected from the elements.
The roof can close in seven minutes, as opposed to 12 minutes for the one-way system at the Astros’ Minute Maid Park.
One reason Houston was able to buy its way back into pro football was the promise that fans and players would deal with real sun and real heat inside a stadium that provides both protection from the elements, when necessary, and the feel of outdoor football.
