Team mascot the Philly Phanatic and former Philadelphia Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski, left, join onlookers as Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium is imploded Sunday, March 21, 2004. Luzinski, a member of the 1980 World Series team, and the Phanatic pushed the ceremonial red plunger and the explosions began on schedule at 7 a.m.
Rubble from demolished Veterans Stadium frames Philadelphia's skyline after the Vet's implosion early Sunday morning.
STORY:
PHILADELPHIA - Veterans Stadium was reduced to a pile of rubble in just more than a minute on Sunday, as two honorary imploders pushed a symbolic plunger.
About 3,000 pounds of explosives took down the old concrete home of the Philadelphia Phillies (news) and Eagles, section by section in a clockwise direction as loud booms rang out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you just witnessed history," team announcer Dan Baker told the cheering crowd of several hundred people.
A large area around the sports complex in South Philadelphia was closed off, and airspace above the stadium was restricted to a 1,500-foot elevation for a quarter-mile radius during the implosion.
Once the dust settles, workers will begin breaking down the concrete pieces, which will amount to 70,000 cubic yards of material. Contractors will be recycling debris on the site until July, and the spot will eventually serve as a 5,500-space parking lot.
The Phillies plan to paint an outline of the Vet's playing field across the new parking lot, and place granite markers at the former home plate, pitching mound and base locations.
New baseball-only and football-only stadiums have been built nearby to replace the Vet. The Eagles began playing in their new home, Lincoln Financial Field, last year. The Phillies played their last game at the Vet in September; their season opener in Citizens Bank Park is April 12.
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