Deal the Steel in Mobile

Construction is under way on the city of Mobile, Ala.'s new public arena. Replacing the former Mobile Civic Center, the new 10,000-seat Mobile Arena is expected to open in 2027.

The project offers a dynamic juxtaposition of old and new along Alabama's Gulf Coast, as two time-tested Manitowoc 999 lattice boom crawler cranes are helping to construct the new arena. The heavy lift equipment is supplied to Garrison Steel Erectors by ALL Crane Rental of Georgia, a member of the ALL Family of Companies.

The 275-ton capacity Manitowoc 999 is a quarter-century workhorse. Making its debut at the turn of the last millennium, the machine is no longer in production. It was replaced in Manitowoc's portfolio by the MLC300 (of which ALL also has dozens in the fleet that stay busy on bridge projects and other work).

ALL has earned a reputation for keeping cranes of all vintages in like-new condition, extending the service lives of its equipment. A dedicated maintenance staff housed across the national footprint adheres to strict maintenance intervals, maintains meticulous digital records of all service performed and has access to more than 100,000 parts — including backup engines for every model in the fleet.

It's all in service of the mission of maintaining a rent-ready fleet. In fact, another ALL Manitowoc unit, the 21000, a model that debuted the year before the Triple 9, was just decommissioned late last year — and headed for a second life in the construction markets of Peru.

The 999 remains a versatile tool for mid-size commercial construction projects like the arena, with its 360-degree rotating 290-ft. main boom. The machine offers a combination of high performance, easy mobilization and versatility, including a small footprint. When combined with its high capacity, fast self-assembly and impressive reach, there's still a place for the Triple 9 on construction sites.

The two 999s in Mobile are both configured with 90 ft. of main boom; one adds 110-ft. of luffing jib, the other has 170-ft. of luffing jib.

"They are single-picking all the structural steel that forms the body of the arena," said Justin Thacker, sales representative of ALL Crane Rental of Georgia. "In addition to the two crawlers, we have an 85-ton Link-Belt RT85 rough terrain crane on the site to handle smaller steel sections."

Construction is moving along quickly, with the Triple 9s currently setting the roof trusses for the arena's main bowl. Each truss is 90 ft. long and weighs 70 tons. Each crawler will literally be building the new arena up around itself, which is typical in this type of construction. As a result, each move is carefully plotted out so the equipment has room to exit the structure before the final pieces are set.

As the steel structure takes final form, the exit strategy for the cranes is executed just as carefully as the lifts.

"Before the cranes even arrived on site, we already knew exactly how they were getting out," said Thacker. "We determined the dimensions we'll have to work with, came up with a plan, and based on that, know precisely where we're going to tear down. We coordinate regularly with the general contractor to make sure everybody's on the same page."

The Mobile Arena project demonstrates what thoughtful planning and proven equipment can accomplish. The marriage of modern construction and the enduring capability of the Manitowoc 999 underscores how experience, maintenance, and know-how can keep even legacy machines relevant on today's job sites. When the right tools and expertise come together, good things happen.

For more information, visit allcrane.com.