Round Valley Ensphere facts for kids
Front of the dome with main entrance
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| Location | Eagar, Arizona, USA |
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| Coordinates | 34°07′14″N 109°17′06″W / 34.120427°N 109.284959°W |
| Owner | Round Valley High School/Round Valley Unified School District |
| Capacity | Volleyball, basketball: 9,000 American football: 5,500 |
| Field size | 189,000 ft.² Diameter 440 feet / 134 m |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1990 |
| Opened | October 11, 1991 |
| Construction cost | US$11,000,000 ($23.6 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Rossman Schneider Gadbery Shay |
| General contractor | Sletten Construction Company |
The Round Valley Ensphere is a unique stadium located in Eagar, Arizona, USA. It's special because it has a large wooden dome. This stadium is owned by Round Valley High School and the local school district.
What makes it truly stand out is that it's the only domed stadium in the United States built specifically for a high school football team! It opened in 1991 and cost about $11 million to build. The Ensphere can hold 5,500 people for American football games. For basketball and volleyball, it can seat even more, up to 9,000 people. The huge dome covers an area of about 189,000 square feet (17,559 square meters).
Contents
Building the Ensphere: A Look at Its History
How the Dome Was Funded
In 1987, people voted to approve a plan to build the dome and make other repairs. This plan cost about $12 million. A large power company called Tucson Electric Power (TEP) helped pay for most of it, about $11 million. TEP operates a power plant nearby and pays a lot of property taxes in the area.
At first, TEP tried to stop the building project because they were having money problems. However, courts decided that the construction could go ahead.
Construction Challenges
Building the dome started in the summer of 1990. The work had to stop for three months at one point. This was for a safety check after a serious accident.
The very first football game played inside the dome was on October 11, 1991. The Payson High School Longhorns were the visiting team.
Dealing with Water Damage
In 2015, the Ensphere had to close for almost a year. Heavy rains caused water to leak into the building through the outside doors. This water damaged the special artificial turf inside. The damage led to high levels of mercury vapor, so the building needed professional cleaning.
The Round Valley football team played their 2015 season outdoors. But by 2016, the dome was safe and ready for them to return for games.
The Dome's Design
The Ensphere is a massive structure. It encloses about 8 million cubic feet (226,535 cubic meters) of space. It was also the first dome of its kind designed to let in a lot of natural light and heat. This means it can be bright inside without needing many electric lights during the day.
What the Ensphere Is Used For
School Activities
The dome is a very busy place for Round Valley High School. Besides football, students use it for:
- Basketball games
- Track and field events
- Soccer matches
Community Events and Shelter
The Ensphere isn't just for school sports. It also hosts events for the community. For example, it has been used for car shows.
The dome has also served as an important shelter during emergencies.
- In 2002, a huge wildfire called the Rodeo-Chediski fire forced many people to leave their homes. The Ensphere became a shelter for 9,800 evacuees. This meant Eagar's population tripled overnight! Even President George W. Bush visited the shelter.
- In 2016, the Cedar Fire also caused evacuations in a nearby town called Pinetop. The Round Valley Dome was again opened to help people who needed a safe place to stay.
