Dome deflation changes skyline forever

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - For 24 years, the RCA Dome has been the pinpoint of the downtown Indianapolis sky. On Wednesday, after just 40 minutes the Dome was deflated and the skyline forever changed.

Former Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut, who was in office when the Dome was constructed flipped the switch at 10:50 a.m.

"So even though the Dome is going down today, it has a wonderful legacy, and I think will be part of the soul and the spirit and the heart of Indianapolis for generations to come. The Dome is dead, long live the Dome," said Hudnut.

Despite a lot of uncertainties about deflating 8 acres of two layers of fabric supported by cables and fans, everything went very smoothly.

Many Hoosiers gathered downtown to say goodbye to a familiar face and friend.

"Watching the demolition of the RCA Dome is a sentimental journey for me. Because I was part of Bill Hudnut's administration that buildt the Dome in the 1980s," said David Frick, Indiana Stadium Building Authority.

The Dome first opened in May of 1984 and was known as the Hoosier Dome, but renamed in 1994 when RCA paid $10 million for naming rights for 10 years.

A lot of what's inside and outside of the Dome will be salvaged and recycled. Once the roof is removed, demolition work will accelerate with an implosion of the Dome planned for December.