UNI-Dome

UNI-Dome
Location	2401 Hudson Road; Cedar Falls, Iowa, 50614 United States
Public transit	9 10 MET Transit
Owner	University of Northern Iowa
Operator	University of Northern Iowa
Capacity	17,190 (American football)
Surface	AstroTurf PureGrass
Construction
Broke ground	July 26, 1974
Built	1974–1976
Opened	February 7, 1976
Construction cost	$7.5 million; ($40.2 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	Thorson–Brom–Broshar–Snyder
Structural engineer	Geiger-Berger Associates
General contractor	John G. Miller Construction Company
Tenants
	Northern Iowa Panthers Football (1976–present); IHSAA Football Playoffs (1976–present); UNI Panthers Men's Basketball (1976–2006); UNI Panthers Women's Basketball (1978–2006); UNI Panthers Wrestling (1976–2006); UNI Panthers Volleyball (1978–2006)

UNI-Dome (pronounced "YOU-nih-dome") is a multi-purpose stadium on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. It opened in 1976 as the home of the UNI Panthers basketball and football teams. The facility's capacity for football is 16,324. For basketball, its official capacity is 16,324; however it has seated as many as 22,000 for events such as the 1990 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament and the 1997 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships. It has been the home of the Iowa State High School football championships since 1976 and has hosted junior college football bowl games, wrestling, track and field, softball, concerts, and conventions.

History

In 1994, the air-supported roof collapsed in a snowstorm. Since this had occurred on numerous occasions before, it was replaced by a more permanent metal roof. Prior to November 18, 2006, the basketball, volleyball and wrestling team used the UNI-Dome, before the construction of the McLeod Center. The McLeod Center is directly south of the UNI-Dome and connected by a covered walkway. The UNI-Dome attendance record for football is 17,190, which was set on October 17, 2009, during a Panthers homecoming game against the Missouri Valley rival Southern Illinois.

Renovations

The UNI-Dome's roof was most recently renovated in late summer 2010 due to damages during a high wind storm in July 2009.^[4] The cost of the renovation was close to $4 million. The storm knocked down trees, power lines and roofs all over Cedar Falls. The University of Northern Iowa campus lost 20% of its 100+-year-old trees that cover the campus.^{[citation needed]}

The UNI-Dome received a new HD video board for the start of the 2008 football season. The board replaced an aging, and many times malfunctioning video board. Much of the cost of the new video board was donated by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, which hosts their state football semi-finals and finals in the UNI-Dome each year for all classes. Northern Iowan article

In 2014, the UNI-Dome had a 98' × 26' video board installed at the south end, then the second-largest in FCS football. The existing video board has replaced the north end scoreboard. All this was made possible with a grant from the Black Hawk Gaming Association.^[5]

A major renovation was also announced in 2014.^[6]

On April 26, 2017, Northern Iowa University Athletics announced that it would be adding AstroTurf to the field of the UNI-Dome. The total cost of the new turf will be approximately $900,000 and will be paid for from previously allocated internal revenue from the university. The AstroTurf installation was completed prior to the 2017 season.^[7]

Notable features

At football games, where cold temperatures are frequently an issue for fans, the UNI-Dome announcers have a tradition during pre-game rituals. The announcers will announce the weather in the town where the visiting team is from, and then will say "The temperature in the Dome, no wind, 72°, Welcome to the UNI-DOME!" to emphasize the fact that a domed stadium is not affected as much by the weather. In 2016, the university celebrated 40 years of history inside the Dome. As of December 1, 2019, the Panthers have a home record of 220–56–1, having won nearly 80 percent of their games in the dome.

Other uses

During the academic year, during hours when the athletic teams are not using the Dome, it is open to the public. Many students and others with UNI connections will come to the Dome to run or walk the stairs and the concourse. The UNI-Dome has hosted graduation ceremonies as well. Perhaps the most notable ceremony was in the spring of 2011, when first lady Michelle Obama delivered the headlining address.