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At 7:53 a.m. on Friday, countless eyes focused on the west side of Oregon State University‘s Reser Stadium in Corvallis.

“Five, four, three, two, one … fire in the hole!” a Hoffman Construction crew member yelled. “Let’s do this, coach.”

“Let’s do this!” OSU Athletic Director Scott Barnes replied.

At that moment Barnes turned two switches and ignited explosives laid in the stadium’s base. A series of small blasts and loud pops followed – and the large structure fell backward.

Crowds cheered and dust filled the air.

“The most exciting three and a half seconds of my life,” Barnes was heard saying in the background of the video. It’s viewable online at .

The implosion is part of a $153 million stadium renovation. Friday’s event went exactly as planned, according to Steve Hatch of Dykon Explosive Demolition Corp. The 100-foot-by-120-foot structure was leveled with slightly more than 200 pounds of explosives – a small amount for Dykon, he said.

Crews started loading the explosives days ago after months of preparation. Two different kinds of explosives were used: dynamite and another designed by NASA. The latter ones, used to cut through the stadium’s steel columns, were originally designed to go through bolts on spaces shuttles as they jettison fuel tanks on takeoff.

Shortly after the dust cleared, Staton Cos. crew members began making roadways through the rubble so that recyclable materials could be extracted, Hoffman superintendent Mark Rado said. A week or two will be needed to prepare the site for wider access, he added.

Then K&E Excavating will start excavation on the north end and move south as Staton finishes its work, Rado said.

“Very exciting time,” he said. “I’m still on a high right now; I don’t know about everybody else. But that worked great. We are really happy with the outcome.”

Construction of the stadium’s new west side is scheduled to wrap up before the start of the 2023 football season.

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An internet livestream of the implosion of the west side of Oregon State University‘s Reser Stadium will be available to the public. The event is expected to take place on Friday between 7:40 a.m. and 8 a.m.

A series of explosive-like popping sounds will take place over roughly two seconds, according to an OSU press release. Then the structure’s pieces will fall safely to the parking lot around the stadium.

The implosion is part of the $153 million project to transform Reser Stadium into a facility for daily use. The west side will be rebuilt to include new premium and general seating as well as complete a 360-degree concourse.

Additionally, the facility will gain a state-of-the-art, interactive welcome center as well as one new health center for students and another for OSU faculty and staff.

The livestream, which will feature multiple cameras, will be accessible at . Replays will be available for viewing. There will also be video of OSU play-by-play announcer Mike Parker speaking with OSU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Barnes.

Residential, commercial and campus structures within 500 feet of the stadium will be unoccupied during the implosion. Residents and building occupants within 1,000 feet of the stadium’s west side – but outside the 500-foot evacuation zone – have been asked to stay indoors and away from windows during the event.

The project team includes SRG Partnership, Populous and Hoffman Construction. Work is expected to wrap up before the start of the 2023 football season.

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Oregon State University is preparing to tackle a $153 million renovation of Reser Stadium, thanks in large part to a $50 million anonymous donation – equal to the largest gift ever received by the university.

The stadium’s west side will be demolished and rebuilt entirely. Additionally, the facility will gain a state-of-the-art, interactive welcome center as well as one new health center for students and another for OSU faculty and staff.

The OSU Board of Trustees’ Finance & Administration Committee on Jan. 28 issued its approval for the project to enter the design phase. The board is expected to give final project approval during its May meeting.

The project team includes SRG Partnership, Populous and Hoffman Construction. With approval, construction would begin immediately late this year and be expected to finish before the start of the 2023 season.

Plans call for a “move to construction documents at the end of the 2021 football season,” said Scott Barnes, vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics at OSU. “Literally go into demolition mode and knock the west side down.”

OSU will continue to host games at Reser Stadium during the project.

The overall fundraising goal is $85 million, Barnes said. So far, $64.5 million has been raised. Revenues from event seating and other stadium services will also help pay for the project.

Upon completion, Reser Stadium will have a 360-degree concourse as well as new premium and general seating on the west side.

The renovation will provide the stadium with aesthetic balance, OSU President F. King Alexander said. The west side is a bit smaller currently, but will closely mirror the east side.

Meanwhile, the new welcome center (including meeting space) and health centers will make the stadium active and fully functional 365 days per year.

The project also will eliminate the need to address $70 million of deferred maintenance, King said. As Reser Stadium has aged, maintenance costs have increased. But construction will seismically strengthen the facility’s west side.

“This is not a time to stop moving forward and looking forward,” King said. “Yes, we’re in COVID, and we want to come out of this stronger with great momentum as a university.”

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