The Colosseum had a folding cover that could be operated by means of a pulley system. Initially, this cover was made of sailcloth, but was later replaced by linen, which was lighter. The supporting structure for this cover was composed of a network of ropes, the exact details of which are largely unknown. Each section of cloth could be moved independently of the others, and was operated by a unit of sailors belonging to the Roman fleet.

On the upper part of the façade, the spaces where the 250 wooden masts that held the cables were located have been identified. Apparently, the ropes were fixed to the ground, thus preventing the masts from supporting excess weight. For this purpose, a concentric ring of stones or cipos was placed at a distance of 18 meters from the façade on the outer esplanade. These elements also played a role in crowd control to avoid overcrowding. The area between the façade and the cipos was paved with travertine.