Last month, the University of Central Florida filed a lawsuit with the Orange County Circuit Court against architects and contractors involved in the construction of Spectrum Stadium.
The suit claims that the 45,000-seat stadium shifts and sways when the fans move in unison due to defects in the metal framework supporting the seating area.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the signature motion of the seating area inspired fans to nickname the venue the “Bounce House” when it opened in 2008.
University spokesperson Chad Binette said that the school intends “to hold the companies involved in constructing the stadium accountable for their role in creating premature wear of the steel.”
“We contend that it is requiring more maintenance than it should for its age and use,” he said.
While the lawsuit does not specify what type of wear is manifesting in the seat frames, university documents show that the school recently sought bids for emergency rust remediation.
UCF also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to stiffen the underpinnings of the structure by bolting additional steel to support beams after occupying the building in 2008.
UCF lawyers allege that defects in the steel are a result of a failure to meet industry standards and comply with building codes during construction.
According to the chairman of one company implicated by the lawsuit, it is common for metal structures to experience some issues in Florida’s humidity.
“Most metal products in Florida need to be maintained on a regular basis,” he said.
