The new turf adds luster. Natural light radiates off of translucent panels and shoots between conference championship banners, a brightness that once was not present. The band fills the air with tunes of Top Gun and Pat Benatar. The temperature is always perfect and the fans are quite unruly, as dedicated fans should be.
This is the Kibbie Dome — home of Idaho football and so much more.
The Kibbie Dome was built in 1975 by Boise architect Gene Cline and named after former student and donor, William H. Kibbie. This engineering marvel stands as a map-marker on campus, a unique symbol of the University of Idaho and even a national feat.
The dome was awarded the “Structural Engineering Achievement Award” in 1976 by the American Society of Civil Engineers and was the focus of a 1998 book titled, Raising the Roof by Peter T. Johnson and Jack Lemley. All because of the unique structure.
Yet we still take it for granted. I grew up knowing it just as Idaho’s stadium. Idaho has a dome, Boise State has blue turf — I didn’t think beyond that.
After becoming a Vandal over three years ago, I began to see why the facility is important. The Kibbie Dome, although small, is a big deal to me and should be to students, alumni and Idaho supporters alike.
It is one of the only Division I football stadiums in the nation that serves, not only as a football field, but as an athletic and student facility as well. Unlike many upper-tier programs, the dome accommodates a lot, including playing host to soccer and football programs, basketball, intramurals, classes and weight training programs.
Idaho is also one of only three FBS football programs that play indoors and one of two FBS schools that have domes for the purpose of the university. Syracuse and Texas – San Antonio (UTSA) also play in domes, but UTSA’s Alamodome was originally built for an NFL franchise that never found its footing.
Idaho has the 70 degree advantage and, while yes, it may feel uncomfortably hot inside during early season games, Vandal fans never have to brace for the unpredictable weather of the area, whether it be the below zero wind chill or a foot of snow on the ground.
Ask anyone who has been to a November or December game at Washington State’s Martin Stadium. It’s quite unbearable with the funneling winds in the low-ground complex. Comfortably watching games is important to fans, not to mention the increased likelihood of player injuries in inclement weather.
There are several qualms from Idaho and college football fans about the Kibbie Dome, made apparent by the Idaho forums on Scout.com. Comments range from the stadium being too small, in a bad location and that it appears as a military barracks or chicken coop.
The Kibbie Dome has the lowest capacity of any FBS program at 16,000. This particularly hurts when considering ticket sales total about half a million dollars per season, compared to nearly $40 million for some upper-tier schools. But the capacity fits well with Idaho’s current conference home, as average Sun Belt attendance is a little over 18,000 per game.
In Pat Hauge’s 2012 interview with Idaho athletic director Rob Spear, Spear said there is potential for added balcony seats and end zone stands, but I have yet to see a complete sellout since I have been here, making the idea of added stands seem impractical.
Several fans even went as far as arguing that the dome should be in downtown Moscow to help local businesses, but then there’s the question of parking, of which the dome currently has plenty, and the sheer cost of moving a stadium. Some argued that the roof should come off altogether, taking away a landmark on campus.
National news outlets such as ESPN and USA Today have even praised the Kibbie Dome for its unique architecture and comfortability. Opposing coaches and former players, including College Football Hall of Fame quarterback John Friesz, agreed that the dome is an experience unlike any other venue in college football.
Some argue that the dome is outdated, but as an Idaho kid and sports enthusiast, I beg to differ. The Kibbie Dome is an under-the-radar blessing that is sometimes taken for granted. As a recruiting tool, an atmospheric and engineering oddity and the home of perhaps the best two seasons in Vandal history since the FBS move, the Kibbie Dome should be loved. It makes us stand out.
Colton Clark can be reached at [email protected]