Storm Rips Georgia Dome Delays Southeastern Conference Tournament

Atlanta, GA (AHN) - A severe storm hit Atlanta damaging the roof of the Georgia Dome during the Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament Friday, causing a delay for more than an hour of Mississippi State's overtime win over Alabama, 69-67 while postponing the game between Georgia and Kentucky.

The girders near the dome's roof started to swing after a loud blast was heard inside the dome, as the north part of the roof was ripped open with debris that included nuts and bolts started falling from the ceiling. Mississippi State was ahead that time 64-61 with 2:11 remaining in overtime period.

Stadium officials started evacuating fans in the upper reaches of the stadium while players and coaches from the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide were sent to their locker rooms along with their families. The game resumed after a 63-minute delay.

Outside, on the exterior of the north side of the dome, large chunks of insulation and long metal panels littered the lawns and parking lots Friday night. Full-grown trees lay uprooted and 30-foot traffic signs along the stadium's parking lot were turned over. Security personnel conducted an inspection of the high seating area of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta late Friday night.

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said that SEC officials were determining Friday whether games can be played in the Georgia Dome after the damage caused by the storm as bad weather is expected to hit the Atlanta area early Saturday morning. The delay would have an effect on the selection, seeding and bracketing process of the tournament. The tournament bracket for the CBS selection show has to be done by 6p.m. Sunday night.

Tentatively, the remaining quarterfinal with Kentucky was set for noon on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta, a Georgia athletics official reportedly told ESPN.com late Friday. The winner of that match will face Mississippi State at 9 p.m., while the game between Tennessee and Arkansas is set for 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

There were no reports of injuries inside the stadium, said Bloom. The crowd was estimated at around 18,000 at that time.