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