The film opens with Darren McCord (Jean-Claude Van Damme), a former fireman who is now working as a fire marshal at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Darren is dealing with the aftermath of a personal tragedy—his family life is in disarray following the death of his wife. He is struggling to connect with his children, especially his teenage daughter, Emily.

During a hockey game at the arena, a group of terrorists led by Joshua Foss (Powers Boothe) takes control of the stadium. They have taken the game’s audience hostage and planted explosives throughout the arena. Their plan is to blow up the stadium and demand a large ransom from the government. Foss is a former U.S. military operative with a grudge against the government, which he intends to use as leverage.

As the terrorists’ demands are communicated and chaos ensues, Darren finds himself in the middle of the crisis. Unbeknownst to the terrorists, Darren is the only person in the arena who is not incapacitated. He becomes a one-man army, using his skills and resourcefulness to thwart the terrorists’ plans.

Throughout the film, Darren employs a series of action-packed maneuvers and strategic tactics to undermine the terrorists’ efforts. He uses his knowledge of the arena’s layout and his fireman training to navigate the complex and dangerous situation.

The tension escalates as Darren discovers that his own children are in immediate danger. Emily, his daughter, has been separated from him and is in the clutches of the terrorists. This personal stake fuels Darren’s determination to stop Foss and save the hostages.

The climax of the film involves a high-stakes showdown between Darren and Foss. Darren’s combat skills and bravery come to the forefront as he engages in a series of intense confrontations with Foss and his henchmen. The battle culminates in a dramatic fight atop the arena, where Darren must prevent the final detonation of the explosives and save his daughter.