Corrosion threatens UCF football stadium

Spectrum Stadium had 'life safety concerns,' report shows

ORLANDO, Fla. – When the University of Central Florida's on-campus football stadium opened 10 years ago, it quickly earned the nickname "The Trampoline" because of the way the bleachers bounced when spectators jumped on them.

Although the university later reinforced the seating areas to minimize movement, UCF officials insisted the stadium was structurally safe.

But after a decade of exposure to Central Florida's humidity and other corrosive elements, parts of Spectrum Stadium are now beginning to crumble, according to a new report.

In a study commissioned by UCF over the summer, engineers determined that widespread corrosion on the structure's steel framing has caused significant and costly damage.

"Some of these areas presented immediate life safety concerns because of their degradation and/or location," the report stated.

UCF officials immediately began making repairs to the most severely damaged areas to protect spectators during the current football season. But additional work is necessary over the next few years to ensure the stadium's structural integrity, according to the study.

"The stadium is safe," said UCF spokesman Chad Binette. "Any urgent needs have been addressed. Engineers evaluated the stadium before the season, as takes place every year, and found it to be safe."

Last month, UCF's board of trustees filed a lawsuit against the stadium's architects and contractors, claiming the stadium suffers from construction defects.

University officials told News 6 the lawsuit is intended to help the university recoup the repair and remediation costs, which could exceed $14 million -- a quarter of the stadium's original $55 million price tag.

During their inspection of Spectrum Stadium, engineers documented more than 1,000 "hot spots" that exhibited significant levels of corrosion or failure of a protective coating on the steel beams.

The engineers hired by UCF indicated much of the corrosion problem may be the result of how the stadium was built.

"Widespread coating failure is a systemic issue that is primarily attributable to a marginally
protective coating system that was not properly installed," the report states.

The study also blamed design deficiencies, such as the lack of drain holes and caulking, that caused water to collect in the stadium.

The report, however, also suggested that improper maintenance of the facility contributed to the current problems.

"The reported use of bleach to periodically clean the stadium may have led to increased
corrosion activity to localized areas and has caused unnecessary damage to structure," the study found.


About the Author:

Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Mike DeForest has been covering Central Florida news for more than two decades.

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