Walkup Skydome

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J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome
"Skydome"
Flagstaff NAU Skydome.jpg
Location McConnell Drive
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
 United States
Broke ground 1975
Opened September 17, 1977
Owner Northern Arizona University
Operator Northern Arizona University
Surface FieldTurf - 2002 to present
AstroTurf - 1977 to 2001
Construction cost $8,000,000
($30.3 million in 2013 dollars[1])
Architect Rossman and Partners[2]
Structural engineer John K. Parsons[2]
Capacity 11,230 - total
10,000 - permanent seats
1,230 seats in ten sections of portable bleachers
Tenants
NAU Lumberjacks (NCAA)
(1977-present)

The J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome is an indoor multi-purpose stadium in Flagstaff, Arizona, on the campus of Northern Arizona University (NAU). Opened in September 1977, it is the home of the NAU Lumberjacks football and basketball teams of the Big Sky Conference. The seating capacity is 16,230, with 15,000 permanent seats and 1,230 seats in portable bleachers. The Walkup Skydome has hosted five Big Sky men's basketball tournaments: 1987, 1997, 1998, 2005, and 2006.

For its first six years, the Walkup Skydome was the world's largest clear-span timber dome, until the completion of the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, in 1983.[3] The architect was Wendell Rossman, of Phoenix, also responsible for many other buildings on the surrounding NAU campus. The wood used in construction of Walkup Skydome was Southern Yellow Pine.

The Skydome is named after J. Lawrence Walkup, the president of NAU from 1958 to 1979, a period of tremendous growth for the university. The playing surface is at an elevation of 6980 feet (2127 m) above sea level,[4] second only to Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium, by 335 feet (102 m). Twenty feet (6 m) above the field is a red line marked with "7000," indicating the exact point where the building hits 7000 feet (2133 m) elevation. Originally AstroTurf, the playing surface for football is now infilled FieldTurf.

Besides sporting events, the arena is also used for commencement ceremonies, concerts, and other events such as conventions and trade shows. The arena floor features 97,000 square feet (9011 m²) of space.

The Walkup Skydome is also used by the NFL's Arizona Cardinals during their summer training camp, held at NAU. The Cardinals are able to move inside to conduct practice when the weather is unsuitable outdoors.

Renovation [edit]

The building underwent a major renovation from Dec. 2010-Sept. 9, 2011, at a cost of $26 million. The scope of the project included bringing the fire, life and safety up to code while remodeling the bathrooms, concourse, offices, suites, locker rooms and press box. The athletic training and equipment on the main floor were also remodeled and three elevators were added to the complex. Fans now enter the building to a panoramic view of the field on the East and west concourses. Capacity was reduced to 10,000 but now feature 21-inch wide chair back seating.[5]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Staff. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2012. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Domes - timeline". Columbia University. Retrieved August 6, 2010. 
  3. ^ "Skydome Information". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved April 26, 2006. 
  4. ^ Topographic map from USGS The National Map
  5. ^ "Walkup Skydome Set to Reopen This Week with Fort Lewis Game". Northern Arizona Athletics. September 5, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2012. 

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 35°10′50″N 111°39′09″W / 35.1805°N 111.6525°W / 35.1805; -111.6525

Northern Arizona University
Athletics
Facilities
  • Walkup Skydome
Related
Venues
  • Walkup Skydome (1977–present)
People
Seasons
Basketball arenas of the Big Sky Conference
Football stadiums of the Big Sky Conference
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