UNI-Dome

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 utilized 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. 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.

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 semifinals and finals in the UNI-Dome each year for all classes. Northern Iowan article

In 2014, the UNI-Dome had a 100' × 27' video board installed at the south end. The existing video board has replaced the north end scoreboard. All this was made possible with a grant from the Black Hawk Gaming Assoc., plus a very generous gift. This video board is the second largest in FCS football.

A major renovation was also announced in 2014.

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 is scheduled to be completed prior to the 2017 season.

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 Cedar Falls, 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.

Events
The Dome has also hosted professional wrestling events, as well as concerts by bands such as Rolling Stones, The Who, Grateful Dead, Mötley Crüe, REO Speedwagon, Fleetwood Mac, 3 Doors Down, Fuel, The Police and UB40 in 1983, Pink Floyd, Oleander, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean (2015), Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and Nelly.

See also
 List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums
 List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas

References

External links
 

Category:Defunct college basketball venues in the United States
Category:College football venues
Category:Sports venues in Iowa
Category:Covered stadiums in the United States
Category:Northern Iowa Panthers basketball
Category:Northern Iowa Panthers football
Category:Basketball venues in Iowa
Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States
Category:College softball venues in the United States
Category:Buildings and structures in Cedar Falls, Iowa
Category:Tourist attractions in Black Hawk County, Iowa
Category:1976 establishments in Iowa
Category:Sports venues completed in 1976
Category:American football venues in Iowa
Category:Defunct volleyball venues
Category:College volleyball venues in the United States
Category:College wrestling venues in the United States