Civic Center roof collapse: 30 years ago today

It doesn't seem that long ago, but it's true: In the early-morning hours of January 18, 1978, a flaw in the "space frame" roof's design and about 5 inches of heavy, wet snow combined to cause the collapse. No one was hurt, but only six hours earlier, a crowd of about 5,000 had left the arena after watching a men's basketball game between the University of Connecticut and University of Massachusetts. A rebuilt Civic Center opened in 1980. Gallery of Hartford Courant file photos