UNI-Dome Chronology

This list provides some of the highlights in the history of the UNI-Dome. When the UNI-Dome was completed, it was one of only four air-supported fabric-covered large permanent structures in the world.

1975

  • October 31 - UNI-Dome inflated.
  • November 9, 11, 12 - Storm tears hole in roof
  • November 29 - Roof is reinflated

1976

  • February 7 - First public event held in UNI-Dome. Wrestling meet against University of Iowa. 10,214 people attended
  • February 13 - First men's basketball game - UNI vs. South Dakota State
  • March - North Central Conference indoor track championships
  • March 25-27 - NCAA Division II gymnastics championships
  • May - First football game - Varsity vs. Alumni
  • May - First combined commencement ceremonies since 1970 held. Governor Robert Ray gives Commencement address
  • August 31 - Dome grand opening
  • September - Harry Chapin performs as part of Dome official opening
  • September 4 - Dedication ceremony held at 2 p.m.
  • September 4 - First intercollegiate football game - UNI vs. Northern Michigan
  • November - Chicago concert
  • November - First high school state football championships to be held in Dome
  • Fall - Local 838 of the UAW holds contract ratification meetings

1977

  • March - Establish attendance record - Sports and Vacation Show - 28,000 attend.
  • June - Second time roof is down because of technical failure during rainstorm
  • August 28 -Alice Cooper with Burton Cummings concert
  • September - Aerosmith concert cancelled because UNI-Dome could not hold the weight of the group's lights.
  • December - Waylon Jennings, Jesse Colter, and Hank Williams, Jr. concert

1978

  • February 5 - Grateful Dead concert - 7000 people attend
  • March - 16th Annual NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships held
  • June - Eddie Rabbit/Dolly Parton concert
  • November 30 - First women's basketball game played

1979

  • February - Alice Cooper performs for second time at the Dome
  • March 29-31 - Gymnastics NCAA Division II National Championships hosted
  • April - Jethro Tull and U.K. concert
  • June 20 - Peter Frampton concert
  • September - Ray Charles concert
  • December 1 - Fleetwood Mac plays to record crowd of 25,500

1980

  • March - Marshall Tucker Band concert
  • September - Cars concert

1981

  • November - Rolling Stones concert

1982

  • April - Willie Nelson concert
  • October - Fleetwood Mac concert
  • October - The Who concert

1983

  • December - Police concert

1984

  • Fall--new sign and message board added outside

1985

  • January 10 - Men's basketball game against Iowa State; sold-out audience of 8712 people.
  • July - RAGBRAI stays overnight outside of Dome

1987

  • August - U2 concert planned, but rescheduled for Carver Hawkeye Arena
  • April - Pink Floyd concert

1989

  • November - First sell-out crowd at football game - 16,324 in attendance

1990

  • January 3 - Record crowd of 22,676 attends UNI vs Iowa men's basketball game
  • November 2 - REO Speedwagon concert

1992

  • August - new nylon turf installed at a cost of $817,000

1993

  • April 24 - Field dedicated to Stan Sheriff

1994

  • December 7 - Dome deflates after snow and ice cause tear in the fabric roof

1997

  • March - NCAA National Wrestling Tournament held - sold out crowd each session

1998

  • March 23 - Dome deflated in order to begin construction on new roof system
  • September 12 - Opening football game played at Waterloo Memorial Stadium. First home game since 1975 to be played outside
  • October - Dome reopens with new roof

Compiled by Library Assistant Gail Briddle; edited by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, September-October 2001; last updated, September 23, 2015 (GP).