ICCU Dome facts for kids
View from northeast in 2008
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 Pocatello
Location in the United States
Pocatello
Location in Idaho
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| Former names | ASISU Minidome (1970–1988) Holt Arena (1988–2023) |
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| Address | 550 Memorial Drive |
| Location | Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 42°52′12″N 112°25′44″W / 42.870°N 112.429°W |
| Elevation | 4,560 feet (1,390 m) AMSL |
| Public transit | Pocatello Regional Transit |
| Owner | Idaho State University |
| Operator | Idaho State University |
| Capacity | 12,000 (football) 8,000 (basketball) |
| Record attendance | 13,895 (football) November 22, 1980 vs. Boise State |
| Surface | SoftTop Matrix artificial turf (2011–present) Poly-Turf, AstroTurf (1970–2010) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 1, 1968 |
| Opened | May 9, 1970 (spring game) |
| Renovated | 2022–2023 |
| Construction cost | $2.8 million ($21.1 million in 2022 ) |
| Tenants | |
| Idaho State Bengals (Big Sky, NCAA) (1970–present) |
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The ICCU Dome is a cool indoor stadium located at Idaho State University (ISU) in Pocatello, Idaho. It's a place where many different sports and events happen. This stadium is the home field for the Idaho State Bengals football team, who play in the Big Sky Conference. It sits high up, about 4,560 feet (1,390 meters) above sea level.
History of the ICCU Dome
How the Stadium Got Its Start
When it first opened in 1970, this stadium was called the ASISU Minidome. The name came from the Associated Students of Idaho State University, who actually helped pay for it! It was built on the north side of the ISU campus. This new indoor stadium took the place of the old outdoor "Spud Bowl" where the Bengals football team used to play. The very first event held inside was a spring football game on May 9, 1970.
Renaming to Holt Arena
In 1988, the stadium got a new name: Holt Arena. This was to honor Milton W. "Dubby" Holt, who was the athletic director at ISU for many years (from 1967 to 1989). Mr. Holt had the idea for an indoor arena back in 1966. Students at ISU voted to use their own funds, up to $2.8 million, to build it. They approved a $12 increase in their semester fees to make the stadium a reality.
An Old and Important Stadium
The ICCU Dome is special because it's the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States. Only the Astrodome in Houston, which opened in 1965, is older overall. Since the Astrodome closed in 2006, the ICCU Dome has been the oldest enclosed stadium still in use! The football field inside runs from east to west. The arched roof is highest in the middle and gets lower towards the ends of the field.
Changes to the Playing Field
When the stadium first opened in 1970, it had a type of artificial turf called Poly-Turf. After 41 seasons of football, a new kind of artificial turf was put in during July 2011. This new turf, called the SoftTop Removable Matrix System, is similar to what's used in big stadiums like AT&T Stadium in the NFL. The stadium also had big renovations that were finished by the 2023 football season, including a brand new turf design.
Becoming the ICCU Dome
On January 9, 2024, the stadium officially changed its name again to the ICCU Dome. This happened after Idaho State University partnered with the Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU). The state board of education approved this new name.
More Ways the Dome is Used
Sports and Events for Everyone
The ICCU Dome isn't just for football! It's also the home for the ISU indoor track and field team and the men's basketball team. Many other exciting events happen here too. You can see high school football games, the famous Simplot Games (a big high school indoor track meet), rodeos, concerts, and even monster truck shows!
Basketball History at the Dome
In 1977, the ISU men's basketball team had an amazing season. They won the Big Sky regular season title, which meant they got to host the conference tournament. They won that too! Then, they hosted the first round of the 32-team NCAA tournament. On March 12, 1977, two big games were played there: UCLA played Louisville, and ISU beat Long Beach State. Just five days later, Idaho State surprised everyone by beating UCLA in another round of the tournament!
Other Domes Inspired by ISU
After the success of the Minidome, other colleges decided to build their own indoor stadiums. The Kibbie Dome at the University of Idaho was enclosed in 1975, and the Walkup Skydome at Northern Arizona University opened in 1977. Today, the ICCU Dome is one of three indoor football stadiums used in the Big Sky Conference, along with the Kibbie Dome and Walkup Skydome.
Dome Size and Features
The ICCU Dome has a huge amount of floor space, about 194,400 square feet (18,060 square meters). Part of the building is actually 20 feet (6 meters) below the ground, and it rises 89 feet (27 meters) above the ground at its highest point.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
