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The P1FCU Kibbie Dome, known simply as the Kibbie Dome and formerly named the Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center, is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. It is the home of the Idaho Vandals of the Big Sky Conference for four sports (football, tennis, indoor track and field, soccer). Basketball was played in the venue until the autumn 2021 opening of the adjacent Idaho Central Credit Union Arena (ICCU Arena).[6]

Key Information

The Kibbie Dome opened 55 years ago as an outdoor concrete football stadium in October 1971,[7] built on the same site of the demolished wooden Neale Stadium. Following the 1974 season, a barrel-arched roof and vertical end walls were added and the stadium re-opened as an enclosed facility in September 1975.[6]

With 16,000 permanent seats,[8] the Kibbie Dome was the second smallest home stadium for in Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A) from 1997 to 2017. In 2018, Idaho football rejoined the Big Sky in FCS.

From February 2001 until the opening of ICCU Arena in autumn 2021,[9][10] the Kibbie Dome was reconfigured for basketball games and was referred to as the Cowan Spectrum, seating 7,000.

Potlatch No. 1 Financial Credit Union, a credit union based in Lewiston, acquired naming rights to the stadium in June 2023 in a ten-year deal for $5 million as part of a broader partnership with the university.[11][12]

The elevation of the playing surface is 2,610 feet (795 m) above sea level.

History

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Construction

[edit]

The stadium was built in stages and took several years to complete.[6] Originally, the new football stadium was to be outdoors and seat over 23,000 spectators, with an adjacent 10,000-seat indoor arena for basketball. The Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), known since 1988 as the Big West Conference, had been launched in 1969 and Idaho was attempting to join, but political wrangling in the state legislature and subsequent budget cuts caused a change in the scope of the stadium project. This ensured that Idaho could not make the move to the PCAA; the Vandals remained in the Big Sky Conference with the other state schools, Idaho State and new member Boise State.[13] Idaho eventually joined the Big West in 1996.

The revised plan was for a smaller capacity football stadium, to be enclosed to allow use as a basketball arena (and indoor track and tennis as well). This multi-purpose concept had been recently used at Idaho State in Pocatello, where ICCU Dome had opened as the Minidome in 1970.

Construction on the concrete grandstands started in February 1971,[14] after a fire destroyed the previously condemned wooden Neale Stadium in November 1969.[15] The stadium, which opened in 1937, had been condemned in August 1969 due to soil erosion beneath the grandstands. The Vandal football team played its limited home schedule for the next two seasons at WSU's Rogers Field in nearby Pullman.

After a fire significantly damaged Rogers Field's south grandstand in April 1970, WSU moved all of its 1970 and 1971 home games to Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane, but the Vandals remained at Rogers in Pullman for four "home" games in 1970. The Vandals' game with WSU on September 19 in Spokane was dubbed the "Displaced Bowl"[16]. A lopsided 44–16 win for the Cougars, it was WSU's only victory in a stretch of 22 games.

Back in Moscow, weather-related construction delays in the spring put the new "Idaho Stadium" a month behind schedule.[17][18][19] The Vandals played their first two "home" games in 1971 well away from campus, in Boise for the opener and Spokane two weeks later.[17] Uncompleted, the stadium debuted on October 9 with a 40–3 victory over Idaho State before 14,200; it was the first football game on campus in nearly three years.[20] The Vandals went 8–3 in 1971, which included a school-record eight-game winning streak, and won the Big Sky title. For its first four seasons (1971–74), the stadium was outdoors and without lights.[21][22] In the summer of 1972, a Tartan Turf field was installed over a four-inch (10 cm) asphalt bed,[23] with a roll-up mechanism behind the west end zone; the one-piece field was the first in the world.[24][25] In November 1974, approval was finally granted by the board of regents to enclose the stadium.[26][27] The arched roof and vertical end walls were completed in time for the 1975 season's home opener on September 27, a deflating 29–14 loss to Idaho State in front of 14,079.[28]

The enclosed stadium was renamed that year for William H. Kibbie, a construction executive from Salt Lake City and a primary benefactor of the project; he contributed $300,000 in 1974 to initiate the funding drive.[14][26][29][30] Bill Kibbie (1918–1988),[31] originally of Bellevue in Blaine County, was a UI student for less than a month in 1936 when he withdrew due to his father's illness.[32][33] He entered the construction business, then served as a B-24 pilot in World War II, and eventually founded JELCO in 1957,[34] later EMKO, a major contracting company in Utah.[30][35] The acronym "ASUI" is for the "Associated Students of the University of Idaho", which functions as the student government.

When the university announced it would enclose its football stadium, the fledgling Trus Joist Company of Boise bid on and won the project. While steel and aluminum were the products of the day for domes and large unsupported buildings, Trus Joist saw the UI stadium as a chance to demonstrate the strength, durability, and economy of their engineered wood products.[6][36] From the final design to the end of construction, the enclosure project took just ten months and $1 million to complete. In 1976, the Kibbie Dome roof won the "Structural Engineering Achievement Award" from the American Society of Civil Engineers.[37] TJ International, the successor to Trus Joist, was acquired by Weyerhaeuser in late 1999.[38][39][40]

Renovations

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Following the first indoor football season, the asphalt base underneath the field was covered with Tartan polyurethane in January 1976.[23][41][42][43] The first basketball game was played on January 21,[44] and the inaugural Vandal Invitational indoor track meet was held three days later.[45][46][47][48]

The Kibbie Dome's roof spans 400 feet (120 m) from sideline-to-sideline, and its maximum height is 150 feet (45 m) above the hashmarks. (The ICCU Dome, completed in 1970 on the campus of Idaho State University in Pocatello, has an opposite geometry: its arched roof spans the length of the football field, rather than its width, resulting in a very low roof at the end lines and goal posts.)

Soon after completion in 1975, problems arose with the roof's exterior. The 4.5-acre (1.8 ha) outer surface of Hypalon and underlying polyurethane foam were improperly applied and a second attempt to seal the roof with Diathon in the late 1970s did not succeed. Leaks were occurring and wood rot was a potential problem by 1980. An infrared scan of the roof in the spring of 1981 showed that half of it was moist and the insulating foam was in poor condition.[4][5] Various stopgap measures were taken to stop the leaks in 1981.[49][50][51][52][53][54] After an extended period of finger-pointing and threatened legal action,[55] an out-of-court settlement was reached; a new superstructure with a composite roof was built over the original.[56] Completed in the fall of 1982, coinciding with the completion of the East End Addition, the second roof shielded the first and solved the problem.[57][58][59] A by-product of the settlement was the exposure of many safety issues with the venue.[60]

Football

[edit]
Kibbie Dome's west side in 2010

Up until 2011 the Kibbie Dome officially sat 16,000 spectators for football. By the end of Idaho's tenure in Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A) in the 2017 season, it was the second-smallest FBS venue. A record crowd of 19,878 was recorded for the eighth consecutive rivalry game victory over Boise State in November 1989, during the schools' I-AA Big Sky era. The football field runs an unorthodox east–west, but even with the new translucent upper end walls (2009 and 2011), sun location is not a major visibility issue.

For two and a half seasons, 1999 to 2001, the Vandals used WSU's Martin Stadium in nearby Pullman as its home field, as Idaho transitioned back to Division I-A from Division I-AA. When Dennis Erickson returned as head coach in 2006, there was talk of adding a second deck to the Kibbie Dome to increase the football seating to 25,000, and building a new basketball arena. In February 2007, the state board of education appropriated funds to study expansion possibilities. On December 6, the board approved funding to begin design work for $52 million in improvements, including an expansion to 20,000 seats, lowering the elevation of the playing field, and other various safety and spectator improvements.[61] However, the capacity was ultimately never expanded beyond 16,000.

Interior from northeast corner in 2020

When not used for football, the former AstroTurf football field was rolled up in about an hour to reveal 93,000 square feet (2.1 acres; 0.86 hectares) of polyurethane tartan surface, used for indoor tennis and track & field. The five-lane track is 317 yards (290 m) in length, and nine tennis courts are lined on its infield. Basketball and volleyball courts are also lined on the tartan infield. The AstroTurf was spooled onto a large field-width reel at the base of the west wall.

In 1990, the original synthetic turf (3M Tartan Turf)[1] of 1972 was replaced after 18 seasons, which included three years outdoors.[62] At this time, the goal posts were modified and attached to the walls, eliminating the conventional center support post.[6][63] In 2007, the AstroTurf was replaced with RealGrass Pro, a next-generation infilled synthetic turf similar to FieldTurf.[64] Unlike the carpet-like AstroTurf, the infilled synthetic turf is not easily rolled up in a continuous reel, and must be removed in sections. The turf sections are five yards (4.6 m) in width, running from sideline to sideline, attached to each other with velcro. Other stadiums with RealGrass Pro include Texas Stadium (the former home of the Dallas Cowboys), and the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Life and safety upgrades to the Kibbie Dome began in the spring of 2009. The west wall was replaced with a non-combustible construction assembly; translucent plastic panels on the upper half and opaque metal siding on the lower. Concurrent with the end-wall replacement, a range of interior life safety work took place: field level exiting in the new west wall, addition of handrails in the seating aisles, provision of the required smoke exhaust systems; and other life safety and code mitigation improvements. The second phase of the project was completed in 2011 with the replacement of the east wall. A premium seating area (Bud & June Ford Clubroom) was established in 2011 in the former press box area above the south grandstand; a new press box was constructed above the north grandstand.

Prior to the 2022 season, a new LED lighting package was installed.

Basketball

[edit]

The stadium has also served as the home of the Vandal basketball teams, providing increased seating capacity over the venerable Memorial Gym (built in 1928), a block to the east. The basketball court is positioned at midfield on the south sideline, in front of the press box and the south grandstand, with temporary seating on the north, east, and west. The first basketball game was played 50 years ago against WSU on January 21, 1976, commemorated with an alumni game which included Vandal great Gus Johnson.[44][65][66] The main court was originally smooth tartan rubber, poured directly onto the pavement floor, resulting in a very hard and unforgiving surface, but resulted in a tremendous home court advantage under head coach Don Monson in the early 1980s. After nine seasons, it was replaced with a conventional hardwood floor in the fall of 1984, acquired from the University of Arizona in Tucson.[67] During basketball games, the converted Kibbie Dome was referred to as the Cowan Spectrum, named for Bob and Jan Cowan, who financed the final basketball configuration, from 2000 until basketball moved to the new ICCU Arena. Since February 2001,[9][10] the basketball layout was separated from the rest of the stadium by massive black curtains to give the court a more intimate "stadium-within-a-stadium" feel, with a reduced seating capacity of 7,000. Temporary OES scoreboards were placed over the north and south stands during games.

From January 1980 to February 1983, the Vandals won 43 consecutive home games. A Big Sky record attendance of 11,800 witnessed the streak end against Montana.[68]

The venue hosted three Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournaments (by winning the regular season title), in 1981, 1982, and 1993. (The Vandals departed the Big Sky for the Big West in 1996, then to the WAC in 2005 before returning its non-football sports to the Big Sky in 2014, and football in 2018.)

In October 2021, Idaho opened the new Idaho Central Credit Union Arena, north of the west end of the Kibbie Dome, to house men's and women's basketball.[69][70] The first game in the new arena was a men's exhibition against NAIA member Evergreen State on October 29.[71] The first regular-season game was a men's game against Long Beach State, coached by Don Monson's son Dan, himself a former Vandals football player.[72]

Additions

[edit]
The east side of the Kibbie Dome features the East End Addition (center), the Vandal Athletic Center (right), and SprinTurf practice fields. (2008)

Since its enclosure in 1975, the Kibbie Dome has undergone several significant additions. The East End Addition was completed in the fall of 1982, providing the entire athletic department with locker rooms, offices, a weight room, athletic training facility, and equipment room. The formal dedication and open house for the $3.9 million addition was held in late October.[73] Until the addition, the football and basketball teams, both Vandals and visitors, dressed in the Memorial Gym and made the lengthy walk (or run) west to the Kibbie Dome, often in rain or snow. This had been the practice for UI football for over 40 years, since the opening of Neale Stadium in 1937. Bill Kibbie also made a significant donation for this project in 1979.[74]

In April 2004, the facilities were again enhanced with the addition of the 8,000-square-foot (740 m2) Vandal Athletic Center, designed by Opsis Architecture, home to the Norm and Becky Iverson Speed and Strength Center; the renovation of the men's and women's basketball, football, and volleyball locker rooms, and the addition of a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool (ARC).[75]

Adjacent practice fields

[edit]
Kibbie Dome from the far west (2007)

August 2005 saw the installation of infilled SprinTurf on the former natural grass practice field east of the Kibbie Dome. The days of "off-limits" were eliminated, as UI students acquired state-of-the-art playing fields available for year-round use. A field that previously had just 300 usable hours annually as an "intercollegiate athletics only" field (primarily for natural turf varsity football practice), is now available for up to 2,000 hours per year. The project was funded through the Kibbie Dome turf replacement fund; the $1.2 million SprinTurf project included lighting and fencing. The two 75-yard (69 m) fields are adequate for team practice for football (and soccer, lacrosse, rugby, and other sports) as well as for intramural competition, but short enough to have two fields in the space available. Each field is a full half-field (with end zone & goal post) plus an additional 15 yards (14 m) beyond the 50-yard line. An unmarked 10-yard (9 m) median separates the two fields; the total length, with end zones, is 160 yards (146 m) and runs north–south. The former natural turf fields were lined as a regulation football field running north–south, with a half field at the north end running east–west. An added benefit of the synthetic surface is an estimated $50,000 annual savings in field maintenance costs.[76]

The fields were renovated in 2021 with the installation of a new AstroTurf RootZone 3D3 playing surface, as well as a Brock Pad PowerBase Pro.[77]

Nearby facilities

[edit]

On the west side of the Kibbie Dome is the Dan O'Brien outdoor track & field stadium, which hosted its first meet in 1972,[78] and was renamed in 1996 for the Olympic gold medalist, three-time world champion, and former world record holder in the decathlon. A concrete grandstand at the finish area (southeast corner) has a seating capacity of 1,000. The first all-weather surface lasted less than a decade and was replaced in 1980.[79][80] The facility underwent a major renovation in 2011 to host the 2012 WAC outdoor championships.[81] South of the Dome is the university's 18-hole golf course, a challenging track due to its rolling Palouse terrain. A par-72 course with terraced fairways and significant changes in elevation, its back tees measure 6,637 yards (6,069 m), with a course rating of 72.3, and a 128 slope rating.[82] The course opened in 1937 with nine holes, then expanded from 1968–70, with the present clubhouse opening in 1969.[83] To the east is the Memorial Gymnasium (1928), the swim center and the physical education building (both 1970), and six outdoor tennis courts. Four additional tennis courts are on the east side of campus, at the southeast corner of the Administration Lawn. As noted earlier, ICCU Arena is immediately to the north of the Dome.

About a half-mile north (800 m) of the Dome are expansive natural grass intramural fields, west of the Wallace dormitories. Included here is the women's soccer field, in the far northwest corner bounded by Perimeter Road. Towards the center is Guy Wicks Archived March 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Field, the baseball field since the late 1960s. (Baseball was dropped as a varsity sport after the 1980 season,[84] after more than 80 seasons, but continues as a club sport.)

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kibbie Dome

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The P1FCU Kibbie Dome is a multi-purpose indoor athletic on the campus in , serving as the primary home venue for the team in the while also accommodating , indoor , and events. Opened in 1975 after phased construction that began in 1969, with an initial open-air concrete bowl completed in 1971 replacing the outdated Neale Stadium, the facility features a distinctive barrel-vaulted with a laminated wooden roof spanning 14 stories and covering 93,000 square feet, earning it recognition as one of college football's most unique venues. With a of 15,000 for football—reconfigurable to 7,000 for basketball as the Cowan —the dome includes a sunken field with goalposts attached to padded end walls, a 290-meter indoor track resurfaced in 2022, and space for up to nine tennis courts via a retractable flooring system. Beyond athletics, the Kibbie Dome functions as a versatile event center, hosting university commencements, playoffs, and the annual Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival since 1967, which has featured performers like and . Its innovative engineering, including translucent Kalwall panels for and a half-buried structure that enhances acoustics and intimacy, led to the ' Outstanding Structural Engineering Achievement Award in 1976. The naming rights, held by Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union (P1FCU) since 2023 in a 10-year, $5 million deal, reflect ongoing community ties, while the facility's role as a training hub for all 16 Vandal varsity teams underscores its central place in campus life. Significant renovations have preserved and modernized the dome over the decades, including a 2004 expansion adding the 7,000-square-foot Norm and Becky Iverson Speed and Strength Center and enlarged locker rooms, followed by 2010–2011 upgrades to end walls, premium donor seating, and the press box via Kalwall panel replacements. More recent improvements by Opsis Architecture addressed life-safety codes, accessibility, acoustics, seating configurations, and mechanical systems while incorporating special donor amenities to extend the venue's usability. In 2025, the marked the dome's 50th anniversary with year-long celebrations, including special events tied to the September 13 football game against Utah Tech, highlighting its enduring legacy as a "cultural cornerstone" on the .

General Information

Location and Specifications

The P1FCU Kibbie Dome is located on the campus in , situated in the northeastern part of the state near the border with Washington. It occupies the site of the former Neale Stadium, an outdoor venue that preceded the dome's construction. The facility measures 410 feet by 498 feet, with a height of 150 feet and a total floor area of 93,550 square feet. Its most distinctive feature is a barrel-arched with a 400-foot clear span, constructed in a style using patented MICRO-LAM timber and steel trusses supported by foundations on steel pilings. The east and west walls incorporate four-foot-deep Trus-Joist beams on concrete supports, with later modifications including translucent Kal-Wall panels for natural lighting. Seating capacity for football events stands at 15,250, including premium options such as 64 loge box seats, four wheelchair-accessible seats, and space for 223 in the adjacent Bud and June Ford Club Room. The interior accommodates a regulation football field with that can roll up to reveal a 290-meter, eight-lane indoor track, two pits, two pits, and two throwing circles, along with space for up to nine courts or a arena known as the Cowan Spectrum with 7,000 seats. These versatile features, combined with the dome's enclosed design, enable year-round use for multiple sports and events while amplifying crowd noise to create an intimidating atmosphere.

Architectural Features

The Kibbie Dome features a distinctive barrel-arched that spans 400 feet clear across the interior, rising to a of 150 feet and enclosing a total floor area of approximately 93,550 square feet. This vaulted design, often likened to a or , was engineered to create an expansive, column-free indoor space suitable for multi-purpose athletic use, marking it as the first enclosed football on the West Coast upon completion in 1975. The roof is supported by 32 parallel timber trusses, each 7.5 feet deep and weighing 23 tons, utilizing a patented MICRO-LAM system developed by alumnus Art Troutner. These trusses incorporate micro-laminated wood (composed of compressed chips) for the top and bottom chords, interconnected with thousands of miles of tubular steel web members and 35,000 steel pins, consuming over one million board feet of laminated in total. The roof surface consists of sheathing over urethane insulation, finished with an elastomeric coating for weatherproofing, while the east and west end walls employ 4-foot-deep Trus-Joist beams on supports, originally constructed with walls. This innovative wood-and-steel hybrid construction represented the longest wooden roof span in the world at the time of its erection, earning the ' Outstanding Structural Engineering Achievement Award in 1976. The foundation rests on with steel pilings, and translucent Kal-Wall panels were incorporated for natural lighting, enhancing the facility's functionality as a large indoor arena. Later renovations, such as the replacement of wooden end walls with panels in the , improved insulation and acoustics without altering the core arched form.

Historical Development

Site History and Initial Planning

The site of the Kibbie Dome, located on the campus in , has a long history as a central venue for athletic activities. Initially developed as MacLean Field in the 1920s, it served as the university's primary outdoor sports area before being replaced by Neale Stadium in 1937. Neale Stadium, a wooden with a capacity of around 8,000, hosted football games and track events for over three decades until it was condemned in 1969 due to safety concerns related to its aging infrastructure. On November 25, 1969, the stadium was destroyed by , forcing the football team to play home games at Pullman High School in nearby , for the 1970 season. Following the loss of Neale Stadium, university officials prioritized rebuilding on the same site to maintain continuity for campus athletics. Planning for a replacement facility began in 1970 under the leadership of the University of Idaho's athletic department, with initial discussions focusing on a new outdoor stadium to restore on-campus football capacity. The project, named Stadium during its early phases, was designed to seat over 16,000 spectators, incorporating modern features such as luxury boxes and an field. Architects from Cline, Smull, Hamill Associates in Boise, led by Glen Cline, were selected to oversee the design, emphasizing durable construction to address the vulnerabilities exposed by Neale's wooden structure. Construction began in February 1971, and the open-air shell was completed by October 1971, allowing the Vandals to host their first game there against the on October 9, 1971. Initial funding challenges shaped the project's evolution from an outdoor venue to an enclosed multipurpose facility. Early plans envisioned a standalone outdoor paired with a separate indoor arena, but bond measures and state appropriations fell short, prompting a pivot in 1972–1973 to a single domed structure that could serve football, , track, and other events year-round. The Associated Students of the (ASUI) approved student fees to cover a significant portion of the costs, estimated at $7.8 million overall, while bids were solicited for innovative roofing solutions. In 1974, Trus Joist Corporation, based in Boise, won the contract with a proposal for massive wooden microlaminate arches—each spanning 400 feet and rising 150 feet—combined with trusses, marking a pioneering use of in large-scale architecture. This design not only reduced costs compared to steel-only alternatives but also earned recognition from the for structural achievement. Leon G. Green, appointed in 1973, played a key role in advocating for the enclosed concept to enhance the facility's versatility and revenue potential. A pivotal boost came from alumnus William H. Kibbie, a executive, who donated $300,000 in 1974 specifically for the roof, influencing the facility's eventual naming in his honor.

Outdoor Stadium Construction

The construction of the original outdoor stadium at the Kibbie Dome site began in February 1971, following the demolition of the fire-damaged Neale Stadium, which had served as the 's primary football venue since 1937. Designed to replace the aging wooden structure and support the university's NCAA Division I-A football program, the project was spearheaded by the Associated Students of the (ASUI) and funded through a combination of private donations and student fees, with a total cost of $7.8 million for the initial phases. Architectural oversight was provided by Glen Cline of Cline, Smull, Hamill & Associates in Boise, alongside Art Troutner, also based in Boise, who emphasized a durable bowl design to accommodate the harsh region climate. The first phase, completed by October 1971, included the construction of a permanent seating approximately 16,000 spectators—reduced from an initial plan of 23,000 due to legislative budget constraints—a , and a grass infield, enabling the stadium's debut with the ' home football game against Idaho State on October 9, 1971. This open-air facility marked a significant upgrade in permanence and capacity over Neale Stadium, which had burned in 1969 and was hastily rebuilt with temporary wooden seating. In 1972, the second phase enhanced the field's usability by installing and a roll-up mechanism for the turf, allowing the space to double as an indoor activity area during inclement weather, though the stadium remained primarily outdoor. The project received its naming impetus from a $300,000 donation by Boise industrialist William H. Kibbie in 1974, honoring his support for university athletics and designating it the William H. Kibbie ASUI Activity Center. These early construction efforts laid the foundation for the venue's evolution, prioritizing functionality for football while anticipating future expansions to address Idaho's variable weather patterns.

Enclosure and Early Operations

The enclosure of the original outdoor Idaho Stadium into the Kibbie Dome transformed it into a multipurpose indoor facility, driven by evolving funding plans and the need for year-round usability at the . Construction of the iconic barrel-arched roof began following a bid in October 1974, utilizing innovative Trus TRUSDEK microlam wood arches supported by a . The , spanning 400 feet, was erected over just 28 days, with the final arch placed on June 11, 1975, after which end caps, , insulation, and covering were added to complete the structure by late summer. This design, engineered by architect Glen Cline of CSHQA with input from Harold El "Red" Thomas and Art Troutner, marked the first use of glued-laminated timber arches in a major stadium enclosure, earning the ' Structural Achievement Award in 1976. The enclosed Kibbie Dome—initially named the Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center after a $300,000 donation from alumnus William H. Kibbie and support from the —opened to the public on September 27, 1975, with its first football against Idaho State, resulting in a 29-14 loss for before a capacity crowd of 14,000. Formal dedication occurred on October 11, 1975, during the versus Boise State, highlighting the facility's role in elevating university athletics to NCAA Division I-A standards, though seating was scaled back from a planned 23,000 to 16,000 due to legislative constraints. Early operations emphasized football as the primary use, with the 1975 season featuring improved weather-independent play, but the dome also hosted its inaugural on January 21, 1976, a victory for that underscored its versatility for indoor sports. In its initial years, the Kibbie Dome served as a hub for university athletics and community events, accommodating track meets, concerts, and graduations while fostering a unique "eighth man" home-field advantage through its resonant acoustics and controlled environment. Operations were managed by the Department of Athletics, with maintenance focused on the wooden roof's integrity amid Moscow's variable climate. By 1976, the facility had hosted multiple games, solidifying its status as a pioneering enclosed venue that extended the outdoor stadium's legacy from its 1971 debut.

Renovations and Modernization

Pre-2000 Upgrades

Following the enclosure of the stadium in 1975, the Kibbie Dome underwent its first major post-opening upgrade with the installation of in 1972, prior to full enclosure, which replaced the natural grass infield and included a roll-up mechanism to facilitate multi-purpose use for indoor events. The most significant pre-2000 renovation was the East End Addition, completed in 1982 at a cost of $4.5 million, funded through reallocated student fees ($3 million), the facilities reserve account ($0.5 million), and private gifts ($1 million). This expansion added essential athletic facilities, including departmental offices, locker rooms, training rooms, and a weight room, enhancing operational capacity for the University of 's sports programs. The project brought the total construction cost for the dome and addition to over $12 million. In 1990, the original Tartan Turf surface, installed in 1972, was replaced with to improve durability and performance for football and other . This upgrade addressed wear from nearly two decades of use and supported the facility's role as a versatile indoor venue.

2000s and 2010s Renovations

In 2004, the Kibbie Dome underwent enhancements to its academic and athletic support facilities, adding dedicated spaces for student-athletes including study areas and training resources to better support their educational and performance needs. Planning for a comprehensive renovation began in 2007, culminating in a formal announcement in January 2008 for a multi-phase project aimed at addressing life-safety deficiencies, improving functionality, and enhancing fan experience. The total envisioned scope included a $52 million investment, with $17 million funded by university debt for immediate safety upgrades and the remaining $35 million sourced from private donations; key features planned were translucent wall replacements, fire suppression systems, expanded concessions and restrooms, VIP parking, and a new Vandal Hospitality Club terrace. Construction commenced in November 2008 under general contractor Walsh Construction Co., with architectural design led by Opsis Architecture. The first phase, focused on life-safety and code compliance, began in spring 2009 and involved replacing the combustible east and west end walls with non-combustible translucent insulated sandwich panels to allow natural daylighting while meeting codes. Additional work included installing a smoke exhaust system, expanding fire sprinklers and alarms, upgrading air handling and electrical systems, improving emergency exits, and renovating north and south concourse restrooms; this $12 million effort minimized disruptions to ongoing operations. Phase two, completed in August 2011, shifted to premium amenities and operational enhancements, erecting 46-foot columns and modular 105-foot columns to support new additions without interrupting events. This phase unveiled the Litehouse Center and Bud and June Ford Clubroom, introduced luxury club seating, loge boxes, and private suites within 100 feet of the field, and added spaces for , operations, a Hall of Fame, and a speed and center; the combined phases exceeded $30 million in cost and significantly boosted revenue potential through premium offerings. A planned third phase to lower the field by 8 feet for added sideline seating was deferred beyond the . Minor upgrades in the early , such as seating and improvements in 2010-2011 as part of the ongoing multi-phase initiative, further refined the facility's code compliance and usability.

2020s Developments and Additions

In 2022, the completed significant upgrades to the Kibbie Dome's infrastructure to enhance functionality and user experience. A state-of-the-art LED lighting system, installed by over the summer, replaced the previous fixtures, providing brighter illumination without the audible buzz of older systems and enabling high-quality broadcasts suitable for ESPN-televised events. This improvement addressed long-standing limitations in visibility and energy efficiency, supporting the venue's role in hosting football games and other events. Also in 2022, the indoor track surface underwent its first major replacement since the facility's opening, with a new 300-meter Mondo Super X Performance rubberized flooring installed during the summer. Named the Lauren McCluskey Track in honor of a former Vandal student-athlete, this $1 million project was funded by a donation from the McCluskey family, derived from a settlement related to her 2018 death at the University of Utah. The upgrade improved shock absorption, traction, and durability for indoor track and field competitions, including the Big Sky Conference championships in early 2023, while also accommodating tennis events. Adjacent tennis courts were similarly resurfaced as part of this initiative, expanding multi-sport usability. In June 2023, the facility received a prominent sponsorship-driven addition with its official renaming to the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, following approval by the Idaho State Board of Education. Potlatch No. 1 Financial (P1FCU) secured 10-year in a $5 million deal, the proceeds of which support student programs and athletic enhancements. Previously known as the Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center, the updated name reflects evolving partnerships while preserving the legacy of donor William H. Kibbie. The naming change drew criticism from some , who felt it diminished the original donor's legacy. This change coincided with broader campus efforts to modernize athletic venues. Throughout 2025, the P1FCU Kibbie Dome marked its 50th anniversary with campus-wide events, including historical exhibits and commemorative programming, highlighting its architectural significance and ongoing role in Vandal athletics. These celebrations underscored the venue's revitalization through recent upgrades, positioning it for future multi-purpose use without major structural alterations announced to date.

Primary Uses

American Football

The P1FCU Kibbie Dome has served as the primary home venue for the University of Idaho Vandals football team since its completion in 1975, hosting all home games for the program in the Big Sky Conference of NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Built on the site of the former Neale Stadium, which was destroyed by fire in 1969, the dome provided an enclosed environment that transformed the team's playing conditions from outdoor exposure to a controlled indoor setting, enabling year-round practice and competition regardless of weather. The facility's permanent seating capacity stands at 15,250, making it one of the smaller venues in FCS football, though temporary seating can expand it for larger crowds. The inaugural football game at the Kibbie Dome occurred on September 27, 1975, when the Vandals faced the Idaho State Bengals, resulting in a 14-29 loss despite the novelty of the enclosed space. The first tie followed on October 11, 1975, against Boise State University (31-31), during which the official dedication ceremony took place at halftime, attended by key figures including donor William H. Kibbie, Governor Cecil Andrus, and university president Ernest Hartung. The dome's first victory came on November 1, 1975, over the Montana State Bobcats, marking the beginning of its role in Vandal football history. Over the decades, the venue has been renowned for its acoustics, with the wooden arched roof and enclosed design amplifying crowd noise to levels that intimidate visiting teams, often described as one of the loudest environments in college football relative to its size. A distinctive feature for football is the Astroturf playing surface, which rolls up on rails to store beneath the east end zone, allowing the dome to convert quickly for other sports like indoor track and tennis. This multipurpose adaptability has been central to the facility's operations, though it underscores the dome's compact footprint compared to traditional football stadiums. Record attendance was set on November 18, 1989, during a game against Boise State, drawing 19,878 fans. From 1997 to 2017, while the Vandals competed in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as part of the Western Athletic Conference and later the Sun Belt Conference, the Kibbie Dome was the second-smallest stadium in that division, contributing to its unique reputation. In 2024, ESPN ranked it the 26th-best college football stadium nationally, praising its quirky charm and historical significance. The Vandals have enjoyed periods of success at the dome, including a 6-0 home record in the 2024 season and seven consecutive wins there entering 2025.

Other Sports and Events

In addition to football, the Kibbie Dome has served as a venue for several other Vandal athletic programs. It hosted men's and women's basketball games from its opening in 1976 until the 2021–22 season, when the teams relocated to the newly constructed ICCU Arena. The facility's versatile design allowed for a temporary laid over the turf field, accommodating crowds of up to 12,000 during peak years. The dome remains the primary indoor home for Vandal soccer, which began using the venue in 2017 after transitioning from outdoor fields. Indoor competitions and practices have been held there since 1976, utilizing a 290-meter, five-lane track encircling the field, along with dedicated spaces for events like high jumps and pole vaults. Tennis also benefits from the facility's nine indoor courts, which are revealed when the football turf is rolled away, supporting both practice and matches year-round. Beyond intercollegiate athletics, the Kibbie Dome hosts a range of community and youth events. It has been a site for competitions, high school athletic championships, and youth sports tournaments, drawing participants from across . events, including statewide games, have utilized the space to provide accessible competition for athletes with disabilities. The venue also accommodates non-athletic gatherings such as concerts, performances, and university-wide student orientations, fostering its role as a multipurpose community hub.

Associated Facilities

Adjacent Practice Fields

The East Practice Field, located immediately to the east of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on the campus in , serves as a primary outdoor training area for Vandal athletic programs. Originally a natural grass area prone to muddiness, it was redeveloped in 2004 into an all-season facility to provide reliable practice space year-round, particularly for football during inclement weather when the dome is unavailable. In 2021, the field underwent a major renovation, replacing the original surface with AstroTurf's RootZone 3D3 synthetic turf system, which incorporates three distinct fiber types for enhanced durability, aesthetics, and performance. This upgrade, funded primarily by the DuRae Foundation along with contributions from Greg and McDonald, also added a Brock Pad PowerBase Pro underlayment for improved cushioning and faster play recovery. The project aimed to elevate the facility's quality to match those used by top programs, such as Stanford's practice fields and game surfaces at institutions like Oklahoma State and UCLA. The renovated field consists of two 75-yard synthetic turf surfaces separated by a 10-yard , equipped with goalposts for football, soccer field markings, and LED lighting for evening sessions. It functions as the official practice venue for the team, while also accommodating soccer, , club teams, and other university events to maximize community and athletic utilization.

Nearby Athletic Infrastructure

The (ICCU) Arena is situated directly on the north side of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, forming a key part of the university's athletics district and serving as the primary venue for Vandal and games. This 4,200-seat facility, completed in , enhances fan engagement and recruiting by providing modern amenities including premium seating, concessions, and event spaces, while integrating seamlessly with the Dome's infrastructure for shared access and operations. To the west of the Kibbie Dome lies the Dan O'Brien Track & Field Complex, an outdoor facility dedicated to events, hosting competitions for the Vandal track team and meets. Renovated in 2012 for $2.5 million, it features a Mondo all-weather surface, improved infield space for field events, and seating for spectators, complementing the Dome's indoor track capabilities. On the east side, the East Practice Field provides essential outdoor training space for football and other sports, upgraded in 2021 with a high-performance synthetic surface funded by donor contributions. This all-season field supports year-round practice sessions, reducing wear on indoor facilities like the Dome and enabling efficient team preparation. Further west, approximately 0.2 miles from the Dome, the Memorial Gym and Swim Center offer additional athletic resources, with the gym hosting and the Swim Center supporting aquatics programs for varsity and recreational use. In November 2025, the Memorial Gym floor was refinished. These structures contribute to a clustered athletic hub on the campus's southwest quadrant, facilitating coordinated training and events.

References

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