CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Popular events are in jeopardy because a Charlotte landmark needs a major fix.

Memorial Stadium will have to close for months.

The July Fourth festivities there will go on as planned this weekend. However, high school football games scheduled at the stadium will likely be played elsewhere.

"It's a pretty major affair," said Jim Garges, director of Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.

Memorial Stadium is about to be ripped apart.

"Work will start later this month and work may not be completed until late fall," Garges said.

It could be November or December before the stadium reopens.

"It just depends on how extensive the damage is and how long it takes to fix it," Garges said. "We just don't know at this point."

A pipe running underneath the field has collapsed.

"That collapse has caused things to sink," Garges said.

A section of bleachers behind one end zone has caved in. Fixing the problem could cause serious damage to the field.

 "There will definitely be some impact," Garges said.

That means high school football games for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, state playoff games and a college game will have to move elsewhere. Bank of America Stadium is the only other football venue in the city of Charlotte.

The city says insurance will pay for some of the repairs, but there will be some out-of-pocket expenses. The Parks and Recreation Department and Storm Water Services will split those costs.

The city won't know the total cost of repairs until crews dig under the field and see the extent of the damage.