Demolition of Akron Rubber Bowl begins

Preliminary work to demolish the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio, is underway, a report by Fox 8 Cleveland says. The stadium will undergo an emergency demolition the week of June 10.

The stadium was built in 1940 and served as the home field to the Akron Zips football team until 2008, when the university sold the stadium to a private owner, according to the report. The stadium was condemned in 2017 because of safety hazards, such as debris and vandalism.

The private owner originally planned to turn the stadium into a year-round entertainment venue, but those plans never came to fruition and the stadium was foreclosed on last year.

According to the report, the partial demolition will cost $200,000 and will take down the most dangerous section of the stadium, including the scoreboard, ticket gate and a seating area neighboring the Derby Downs.

Akron official say in the report trespassers on the property will be prosecuted. The project is expected to be complete by October.