Laurier opens massive indoor sports dome, expanding winter access for students and community
CBC
Wilfrid Laurier University unveiled a massive new sports dome on Tuesday, opening what the school calls the largest air-supported, indoor turf facility in Ontario university sport.
The 118,750-square-foot inflatable structure now covers Knight-Newbrough Field during the winter months. It will allow varsity teams and community sports groups to use the space year-round.
Ryan Lannan, Laurier’s associate director of university sport and recreational wellness, says the dome is a "game changer" for the university.
"Not having a space to train in the off-season was our biggest hurdle,” Lannan said.
Teams previously relied on rented, off-campus facilities, which often had limited availability and added costs.
"We can be more adaptable to [the students'] academic schedule," he said. "Which then helps their mental well-being."
Close to 200 people gathered Tuesday for the opening ceremony. Among the attendees was Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe, who spoke about the new dome's impact on the city.
"A healthy, thriving and well community requires assets like this," she said at the opening.
Through a partnership with the City of Waterloo, local minor sports organizations will be able to book time in the facility.
Student fees, the university, and the city will collectively cover the cost of purchasing and maintaining the dome.
Standing roughly 80 feet high, the seasonal structure spans the full turf surface and can be divided into halves or thirds, allowing multiple sports to operate simultaneously.
“We could have three different sports training at the exact same time and never get in the way of each other,” Lannan said.
The dome will be installed annually in early December and removed after the May long weekend, returning the field to outdoor use for the summer.
It is part of a broader redevelopment of University Stadium that began in 2023, which started with the replacement of the old turf, scoreboard and lighting. Next steps include the construction of new grandstands and potentially a new building with a double gymnasium.
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