Watch CBS News

Ride Through The Silverdome On A BMX Bike (Video)

By Edward Cardenas

PONTIAC (CBS Detroit) - The Pontiac Silverdome was once a playground for football, basketball and soccer teams.

But since the Detroit Lions left in 2001 the stadium has slowly slid into disrepair, and now is an abandoned shell of its former glory.

While it may not be suitable for large-scale events, it has attracted an athlete from one extreme sport.

BMX rider Tyler Fernengel, from Wyandotte, rode through the halls of the stadium and performed a number of gravity-defying tricks on his bike. A video, and photos of his ride, were captured by Red Bull.

Fernengel, who competed in amateur supercross races held at the Silverdome, reminisced about the last time he visited the stadium nine years ago for an amateur supercross.

"When I showed up to scope for the shoot, so many memories were coming back. Just sitting in the tunnel — where you come out on the track and where the players would run out — I remembered sitting there, years ago, with my dad and all the other kids. It brought back a lot of good memories," he told Red Bull. "Being out on the field, it was crazy to think that there once was a motorcycle track there, every year, with all the fans, but now it's nowhere near the same — it's like a war zone."

His ride took him throughout the stadium, from roof to the floor. His biggest trick was a 360-barspin from the club level to a ramp on the lower level and ultimately the floor of the stadium.

"At that moment when I pulled that trick over the box, and finished the line, I seriously felt like there were a couple-hundred thousand people in the stadium cheering," he said.

See the video, and behind-the-scenes photos, on the Red Bull website.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.