Resource Library

Multi-sport Domes

Since the late 1960s, Ralph Farley has set the industry standard for dome quality and after-market service. We at The Farley Group believe that – given the financial investment and operational complexity of building an air-supported structure – who you choose to work with matters. The Farley Group’sexpertise, experience and professionalism are unparalleled in the industry. Year over year, we are North America’s leading provider of dome construction and aftermarket service.

As a new dome operator, you can rely on The Farley Group to guide you through the unique complexities of planning, building and safely operating a dome. Operators need a trusted partner to be there for them, not just during construction but throughout the dome’s twenty-year lifecycle, to answer everyday questions, recommend best operating practices, and in the event of an emergency. As the industry’s only dome supplier with a dedicated, in-house service team, we’re the long-term partner you can depend on 24/7 for years (and years) to come. As our new dome owners become seasoned industry veterans, they appreciated the critical importance of having a reliable partner in the operation and maintenance of their domes. In fact, because of its focus on long-term client relationships, The Farley Group has never lost a service client.

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. We believe that an educated buyer is our best buyer. Given our expertise and experience, we’ve developed the internet’s only digital resource library for all things done related. If you’re ready to build your dome, give us a call, and we’ll get started. Otherwise, research at your own pace in our digital content library, and when you’re ready, reach out to us to discuss how to make your unique dome vision a reality. From design to operation to replacement, when you’re part of the Farley family, we’ve got you covered.

Understanding the Process of Building a Dome

Air-supported domes (or “bubbles”) are a fast, cost-effective way of enabling year-round play on your tennis courts. Domes create a large and open interior space free from columns or beams. They can be installed permanently or seasonally to adjust for weather. Farley’s best-in-class domes are specifically designed to withstand extreme weather outside while providing consistent comfort for athletes inside. We use physical insulation between inner and outer fabric layers (not just extra layers of fabric) to achieve an industry leading insulation value of R-10, helping maintain the desired internal temperature while simultaneously reducing operating costs.
Remote monitoring, automated controls, and a suite of environmental sensors enable dome operators to ensure the safe operation of domes at all times.

By partnering with The Farley Group on your dome project, you can build with confidence – starting with a true understanding of the full complexity of the project. Building a dome requires careful planning and precise execution. Much like traditional construction, the process involves custom design, permitting, concrete foundations, HVAC equipment, electrical work, and use-specific, add-on finishes.

The Farley Group provides everything you need for the dome portion of the project, including:

  • Initial planning and design
  • The structure’s fabric membrane and physicalinsulation for an R10 insulation value
  • Retention cables, as required, for stability andsafety
  • All entry and exit components, including allairlocks and emergency exit doors
  • HVAC required for inflation and operation
  • Automated temperature controls, including asuite of advanced environmental sensors
  • Customized, energy efficient LED lighting system
  • Interior fixtures such as walkways and dividers
  • And – of course – full installation, inflation andsetup for turnkey operation of the dome.

All dome projects also require a third-party general contractor which is directly hired by the dome owner. Your general contractor will be responsible for all site construction requirements for the dome.
Prior to installation, the general contractor will then pour a concrete foundation – called a “grade beam” –
around the perimeter of the planned dome. In addition to the dome’s concrete grade beam anchoring system around the dome’s footprint, the general contractor is responsible for the concrete pads for peripheral components and HVAC systems, and all electrical and gas infrastructure.

Once the construction requirements have been completed and utility services have been commissioned, The Farley Group can then begin the installation process of the dome package. This includes spreading out the dome’s fabric membrane and connecting it to the perimeter anchoring system, inflation and stabilization of the structure, installing the insulation material, interior lighting system, and all peripheral entry and exit components. This process takes only a week or two, depending on the size of the dome.

Finally, the general contractor and other specialists can complete add-on features such as the interior surface, exterior landscaping, parking lots or adjoining buildings for reception, locker rooms, restrooms and administrative offices.

Dome development projects can be complicated, but Farley is accustomed to working closely with general contractors and other consultants to ensure the project – from planning to operation – is completed smoothly, on-time, and on budget.

Multi-Sport Specific Considerations

A dome is the most cost-effective building system for creating a large, clear-span, indoor space for a multi-sport facility. Without any posts or columns in the way, the interior space of an air-supported structure provides unlimited possibilities for configuring the layout of your multi-sport activities.

Divider netting and curtains can be tailored to the specific requirements of the layout. Lighting configurations are completely customizable to achieve the light levels desired for each area of the dome. A dome is the perfect solution for creating the ultimate multi-sport facility under one roof.

Particularly as a first-time buyer, understanding the complexities and uncertainties of operating a dome is essential, which is why long-term service should be a critical factor in choosing a dome supplier. Our clients take comfort in having The Farley Group as a trusted, responsive, and dependable part of their operations team. We are there for you to answer everyday questions, recommend best practices, walkthrough solutions to pop-up problems or respond immediately in the event of an emergency.

When choosing a dome supplier ask yourself – who will be there for me not just during construction, but two months, two years, or twenty years after.
Because of its dedication to its long-term service partnerships, The Farley Group has NEVER lost a service client.

Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports

Hilliard, Ohio

460′ x 230′ x 70′

  • Permanent dome covering 114,000 ft of multi-sport space
  • Completed in 2016
  • First of its kind facility offering two multi-sportfields, a baseball diamond, batting cages, and a training area
  • State-of-the-art LED lighting system illuminates this massive space while keeping electricity costs low

The Sparta Dome

Crown Point, Indiana

490′ x 245′ x 75′

  • Permanent dome covering 120,000 ft of artificial field turf
  • Completed in 2015
  • Hosts training, leagues, tournaments, indoor camps, and youth programs, as well as private parties and other events

Central Tech Stadium

Toronto, Ontario

309′ x 215′ x 65′

  • Seasonal dome covering artificial Field Turf from November to April
  • Completed in 2016
  • Hosts a wide variety of training and leagues, including soccer, ultimate frisbee, football, rugby, field hockey, baseball, and Aussie rules football
  • First Toronto sports dome to feature a state-of-the-art LED lighting system for superior lighting and energy savings

Lexus Velodrome

Detroit, Michigan

320′ x 200′ x 60′

  • Permanent dome located in Midtown Detroit at the city’s Tolan Playfield Park
  • Completed in 2017
  • Featuring a 166-meter wooden banked track designed for purpose-built track bikes
  • One of only two U.S. cities with a specially designed sports venue for indoor bicycle racing

New Hampshire SportsDome (NHSD)

Hooksett, New Hampshire

350′ x 230′ x 72′

  • Permanent dome
  • Completed in 2021
  • Home to numerous soccer leagues, clubs, and clinics for all ages
  • Generates revenue year-round with field rentals and advertising opportunities

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts

335′ x 228′ x 60′

  • Seasonal dome located in William E. CarterPlayground
  • Completed in 2018
  • Enables year-round play in the park for both Northeastern students and Boston residents
  • Complex project partnership including Northeastern University, Boston Parks, and multiple general contractors and consultant groups

Oakland University

Rochester, Michigan

440′ x 245′ x 75′

  • Permanent dome covering 108,000 ft ; a 310′ x240′ field, a 180′ x 90′ field, and training space with a batting cage
  • Completed in 2015
  • Located on Oakland University’s Rochester campus
  • Public-private partnership between OaklandUniversity and Total Sports Complex, a company specializing in sport facilities

Drexel University

240′ x 110′ x 36′

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Seasonal dome covering Drexel’s Buckley Recreational Field
  • Completed in 2019
  • Built in a tight urban environment to maximize the University’s existing footprint
  • Mid-project, Drexel decided to build a seconddome and chose Farley for both; Farley was able to quickly turn around planning on the second dome and deliver both domes within the same time period

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

360′ x 200′ x 60′

  • Seasonal, field house dome covering HarvardStadium
  • Completed in 2019 as a replacement for a competitor’s dome
  • Complex baseball netting cages enable simultaneous use of two complete baseball infields, four indoor batting cages and 12 pitching mounds for bullpen sessions
  • Custom interior liner with University name and logo to emphasize the home-field advantage

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

360′ x 200′ x 60′

  • Seasonal, field house dome coveringPrinceton’s Powers Field
  • Completed in 2017
  • Using Farley’s energy efficient insulation,
    Princeton reduced utility / operational costs by nearly 50% of competitor’s estimation
  • Indoor field can be subdivided for simultaneous use by multiple groups, including non-student groups, to further integrate the Princeton campus with the local community

West Kelowna Multi-Sport Centre

West Kelowna, British Columbia

240′ x 148′ x 44′

  • Permanent dome covering Super-8 sized synthetic turf field
  • Completed in 2020
  • Public-private partnership between the City of West Kelowna and private sponsors
  • Designed to host soccer, flag football, baseball practice, Frisbee, boot camp, and more

Churchill Meadows Community Centre

Mississauga, Ontario

367′ x 243′ x 75′

  • Seasonal dome covering full sized soccer field
  • Constructed in 2021 as part of a larger park/community centre
  • Owned and operated by the City of Mississauga
  • One of many seasonal fieldhouse domes in the GTA