The old Amway Arena caved in with a series of explosions and a rumble that shook downtown Sunday morning, drawing cheers from hundreds of people who gathered to watch the demise of an Orlando icon.
The bulk of the $102 million building, which opened just 23 years ago, came down as scheduled at 7:30 a.m.
The implosion started with a quick series of small blasts that shattered 78 columns around the building's perimeter. While the ground rumbled nearby, spectators could see no immediate movement from the building at that point.
But seconds later, louder charges went off at the top corners of the building, severing the roof steel. Flashes of flame sprouted from the corners, the "Amway Arena" sign toppled, the sides of the building sagged and the roof fell in.
After the implosion, a huge plume of dust rose from the building, but light winds quickly dispersed it. When the dust cleared, a significant pile of rubble remained along with the four corners. It will take six to eight weeks to clear.
Click here to watch the video and read more about the implosion of the Amway Arena. BD+C
