Montreal Olympic Stadium Roof History

The original roof a rube goldberg contraption that was supposed to retract using a system of steel cables and pulleys hanging off a massive tower never worked.

Montreal olympic stadium roof history.

The stadium opened just barely in time for the olympics in july 1976 although its tower was finished and the roof installed only years later. Built in the mid 1970s as the main venue for the 1976 summer olympics it is nicknamed the big o a reference to both its name and to the doughnut shape of the permanent component of the stadium s roof. Quebec oks new roof for big o dismantling montreal s. The 200 000 sq ft 65 tonne kevlar roof at the olympic stadium in montreal was expected to last 25 years.

The retractable fabric roof that was to be suspended from the tower by cables also was not in place. Olympic stadium of montreal evolution of the olympic stadium of montreal from 1976 to present. Because of construction delays olympic stadium opened unfinished for the olympics. With the former home of the montreal expos expected to host 2026 world cup matches officials are pushing to replace olympic stadium s roof ahead of the event.

The origins and evolution of tallibert s architectural style. Stade olympique is a multi purpose stadium in montreal canada located at olympic park in the hochelaga maisonneuve district of the city. Shaun best reuters the stadium aside montreal did get some bang for its. The retractable roof was unfinished because a 522 foot hoisting tower next to the stadium was only a quarter of its planned height.

The new stadium was named olympic stadium and became the first to have a retractable roof. After announcing that montreal s olympic stadium will be getting a new 200 300 million dollar roof in time for the world renowned soccer tournament montrealers were having trouble justifying why anyone would pour even more money into a 42 year old stadium that never really worked and took the city 40 years to pay off. Radio canada télévision 18 novembre 1980. Le toit du stade 14 min 12 s.