Guide for North American colleges

How 3 top colleges upgraded their sports programs without breaking the bank

Was 2023 a challenging year? Prepare your team for a strong comeback in 2024 by ensuring they don’t miss a moment of field time. Sports domes (often referred to as “bubbles”) provide athletes with a safe, all-season training solution. Seasonal domes – like the Farley dome covering Princeton’s Powers Field – provide a bright, spacious, and temperature-controlled indoor playing environment for both athletes and the student community to enjoy during winter months.

Compared to traditional construction, seasonal domes are a convenient, fast and affordable way to increase usable space during winter months:

  • Universities can take advantage of existing space, like stadiums or fields, to erect a seasonal sports dome
  • From planning to play, constructing a seasonal dome can take as little as five months to complete
  • Sports domes are surprisingly affordable way to boost a Universities athletics program.
    For medium-sized domes like the one covering Princeton’s Powers Field, the total project costs (including constructions costs beyond the dome itself) are approximately $1.98 million as outlined in the chart below.
Medium-Sized Dome, Multi Sport
200′ x 300′ (60,000 ft²)
Cost of dome package (approx) The Farley Group $26 per ft2 $1,560,000
Cost of site preparation (approx) 3rd Party General Contractor $28 per ft2 $1,680,000
Total project costs (approximate) (typically 4 month completion time) $54 per ft2 $3,240,000

Having an indoor training facility on campus gives you an irreplaceable home-field advantage. Find out why a sports dome could be just the thing your athletics program needs to come back in 2024 stronger than ever.

Find Out How Your Campus Can Benefit
You'll learn exactly how institutions like yours are reaping the benefits of having an inflatable dome right now.
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Lessons Learned From 3 College Athletic Programs In Canada and the U.S.A.

What’s inside the report?

In this free report, we’ll show you how collegiate sports teams can reap the benefits of cost-effective sports domes to:

  • Give their varsity athletes a competitive edge
  • Demonstrate a visible commitment to the wellness of the entire student body
  • Improve recruitment of top athletes and students
  • Turn underused field space into a new revenue stream that benefits the college and its surrounding community

Take a look at the multiple case studies provided to see which sports dome features would work best on your campus.

About Us

Since 1969, Ralph Farley has set the industry standard for dome quality and aftermarket service.  We at The Farley Group believe – given the financial investment and operational complexity of building a sports dome – who you choose to work with matters. The Farley Group’s expertise, experience and professionalism are unparalleled in the industry.  Year after year, we are North America’s leading provider of dome construction and aftermarket service.

The process of building a dome is complex, but it should not be confusing.  We provide absolute, upfront transparency in dome design, building requirements, and project pricing. If you’re ready to build your dome, give us a call, and we’ll get the process started. From design to operation to replacement, when you’re part of the Farley family, we’ve got you covered.

The Farley Group was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process. They were very helpful and flexible with design changes, responded quickly and effectively to questions, and provided easy access to their experts in every aspect of the project. The customer service they provide is second to none. I have said both privately and publicly that the dome at Thiel and partnership with Farley was one of those decisions we would do again 10 out of 10 times. Farley continues to provide excellent seasonal service on our facility.
Tony Moscone
Owner - Total Sports Complex
Our company has used The Farley Group for our seasonal tennis dome take down and reinstall for the last 13 years and have recently added their service for a new soccer facility. We have always received exemplary service, timely response, and competitive pricing. I highly recommend The Farley Group and would be more than happy to discuss the same with any interested party.
Ed Skrobal
Partner - Eglinton Flats Winter Tennis Club/Mount Joy Sports Dome
The Farley Group was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process. They were very helpful and flexible with design changes, responded quickly and effectively to questions, and provided easy access to their experts in every aspect of the project. The customer service they provide is second to none. I have said both privately and publicly that the dome at Thiel and partnership with Farley was one of those decisions we would do again 10 out of 10 times. Farley continues to provide excellent seasonal service on our facility.
Troy D. VanAken, Ph.D,
President - Thiel College
Lessons Learned From Top North American Colleges and Universities
Essential Facts For Anyone Interested In Building a Dome