The True Story of America’s Most Unbelievable Dome | A History of the Kibbie Dome

Idaho Argonaut Archives: https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/ar... Idaho Library Digital Videos: http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/van... Idaho Library Digital Photos: https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/ca... Inside the Vandals:   / insidethevandals   Spencer McCann Visits Idaho via KREM 2 News:    • University of Idaho superfan from Florida ...   The Kibbie Dome celebrates its 50th birthday this year, although that’s a bit of a misnomer. The Dome was completed in 1975, but the stadium itself, often referred to as New Idaho Stadium before it was capped off, actually opened in 1971. Original remnants of the Dome are few and far between, considering it was leaking from the day it opened and wasn’t up to fire code until 2009. These days, the Kibbie Dome is iconic. The eighth and a half wonder of the sporting world. But there is so much more to the facility than meets the eye. And I’m not talking about the old racquetball courts that professors would insist on using during gamedays. Video and video games simply do not do the Kibbie Dome justice. Nestled there on the western edge of campus along the hills of the Palouse, it has a sight to behold from the outside. And once inside, it’s like entering another world. Perhaps the only thing more astonishing than the Kibbie Dome itself is just how it came to be over the past 50 years. From award-winning engineering to end zone seating that would never come to fruition. From football to basketball to track and field to intramural soccer games featuring yours truly. From hosting first-round NFL draft picks to Tim Floyd. From multimillion-dollar renovations to the stadium’s namesake donor, William Kibbie, probably never fulfilling his donation but getting to keep his name on the thing… The story of this iconic venue is one of what is and what could have been. People love the Kibbie Dome for its uniqueness, yet the facility could have been so much with proper planning. I mean, those end zone seats would have been awesome. The Kibbie Dome manages to be both a modern marvel and a disaster. An engineering feat plagued by a leaky roof and likely never up to fire code until the 2011 renovation was finished. How it never caught fire is as much of a mystery as the Neale Stadium and Rogers Field fires that led to it being built. Yet through thick and thin. Through failed renovation plans and leaks. Through a lot of losses and a handful of memorable victories. The Kibbie Dome inspires 50 years later. 54 if you’re not including the roof. This is the true story of America’s most unbelieve stadium. About The Touchback #takeitouttothe25 The Touchback is the world's best sports and culture website…or something like that. You'll either really like it or really hate it. But it's worth reading either way.