The O2 arena in London, which is set to host an upcoming UFC event, had a sizeable portion of its roof blown off by hurricane-strength winds caused by Storm Eunice.
The damage was done to the fabric roof that covers The O2, not the structure. Several sections were shredded and blown away, causing the building to be evacuated and shut down for the rest of Friday.
“There has been some damage caused to the tent fabric in our roof at The O2,” a statement read on The O2 website. “The safety of our visitors remains of paramount importance, and we will continue to assess the ongoing situation and act accordingly.”
Winds caused by Storm Eunice reached up to 122 miles per hour on Friday, the fastest on record in England, according to CNN. Video of the damage done to The O2 circulated on social media (via Twitter).
More and more of the Dome is being shredded pic.twitter.com/EUgyH2ryvK
— Ben Hubbard (@BJFHubbard) February 18, 2022
So far, there has been no indication that the damage caused by Storm Eunice will keep the arena out of commission for a lengthy period.
UFC London is scheduled to take place March 19, the promotion’s return to the city for the first time in three years. The event is headlined by a clash between ranked heavyweights Alexander Volkov and Tom Aspinall.
