Market Square Arena, was the scene of Elvis Presley's final public concert on June 26, 1977. Presley died less than two months later. A fire possibly sparked by a welder's torch ignited the roof of Market Square Arena on Monday morning, blackening its domelike roof a month before its scheduled demolition. A plume of black smoke rising from the arena's white, rubberized roof could be seen for miles around as firefighters battled the blaze, which began about 9 a.m.
About 30 minutes later, firefighters brought the fire under control by using an aerial ladder to direct water onto flames along the southern face of roofline. No one was injured. Crews have been working for weeks to demolish parking garages connected to the arena, which will be brought down in June.
Market Square Arena Roof Catches Fire
May 18, 2001 | Other