Tumbling Skydome Tiles Injure Seven Jays Spectators

Two 30-pound tiles fell from the upper deck of the SkyDome during a baseball game Thursday, injuring seven fans and sending other spectators scrambling for cover.

“It was bizarre,” said Debbie Webster, who was watching the Toronto Blue Jays play the Milwaukee Brewers when the wooden tiles tumbled down in the seventh inning. “Everything came crashing down.”

Two people were removed on stretchers after the panels fell 40-50 feet from the facing of the fifth deck to the crowd below.

Five people were treated for cuts at the SkyDome’s medical center and released, and an elderly man was given stitches. A teenage girl with head cuts was brought to Toronto Western Hospital.

“It hit me right in the head,” said Ron Davies, 45. “I have a headache and a stiff neck.”

The game wasn’t stopped, and many in the crowd of 43,490 weren’t immediately aware of what happened. But those seated near the injured fans were stunned when the acoustic tiles plunged.

“Everybody grabbed their heads and a couple of people grabbed their legs, too,” Kevin Archibald said.

“Nobody said anything; there was just a big gasp,” Brett Rogers said.”I was afraid because I saw what happened. The girl screamed when she was hit,” Joe MacKeil said.

Police used yellow tape to seal off the section where the tiles landed in the second deck.

Blue Jays spokesman Howard Starkman called it “an unfortunate accident.”

Starkman said the tiles were placed over concrete areas to help dampen echoes during concerts.

“We’re not sure why they fell,” Starkman said. “We’re examining the site to determine the fault.”

Last July 19 at Seattle’s Kingdome, four acoustic tiles fell into empty stands before an Orioles-Mariners game. The stadium was closed until Nov. 5 for repairs, forcing the Mariners to play the rest of their games on the road.