A few hours ago, the Columbus Dispatch reported that a major 16-inch water main broke in the Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio flooding the facility. The venue is known to the bodybuilding faithful as the home of the annual Arnold Fitness Weekend and Arnold Expo. Columbus Fire Divsion officials arriving at the scene reported that water was pouring out the doors of the Convention Center, that the concrete slab floors were buckling, and drywall was peeling off the walls. An employee at the Convention Center triggered concern that the Convention Center might collapse after noting that structural support beams had been moved out of the ground by the water pressure.
About an hour ago, structural engineers reported that the Columbus Convention Center was structurally sound and not at risk of collapse and would not need to be demolished. However, initial estimates suggests damages to the structure, walls, carpets, and fixtures in excess of several million dollars.
No word yet on how this will affect events scheduled at the Columbus Convention Center over the next several weeks, including the Arnold Fitness Weekend and Arnold Expo.
