The NCAA’s Only Indoor Soccer Field
You should probably read this just because the US is dominating women’s soccer, thanks to Title IX…but I think it is also a fun, out-of-the-box success story.
The University of Idaho had a very successful Women’s Soccer program as I began my presidency. As a reward for winning the regular season, the winning program got the privilege of hosting the end of the season tournament that determined who represented the Big Sky at the NCAA tournament. UI won the regular season twice, but in neither case could we host. Our field was torn up and soggy from rain and poor drainage. Of course, late fall in Idaho can be cold, rainy (snowy) and our field had been poorly constructed on a sloping site.
Reasonably, our fans and coach pressed me to upgrade the soccer field. Our preliminary estimate for an improved field was $1.5M and a two year project during which time we would need to find an alternate site. And, it would still be cold and rainy for championship season.
I asked our Athletic Director…could we play in our enclosed football dome? Initially, I was told that the turf wasn’t big enough. I persisted, asking how large an NCAA regulation field had to be (70×115 yards is the minimum). I was told there just wasn’t enough width, but the tale of the tape was that we had 72 yards! The next objection was that the NCAA prohibited indoor soccer, but a call to the NCAA indicated otherwise. No one had ever played an indoor NCAA soccer game.
So, the field fit in the Kibbie Dome. And, the football coach wanted new turf (which would also be a safer playing surface for everyone). The University of Idaho replaced our indoor turf at a cost of about $600,000 and became the NCAA’s only indoor soccer field.
Our first regular season game in the Dome was against arch-rival Boise State. That game attracted almost 4200 fans, setting a new season attendance record for soccer at UI (in one game!) and probably an all-time record for decibel level at a women’s soccer game at the University of Idaho. We tied Boise State in the final seconds, but lost in overtime.
The venue offers potential for video capture for practice and games as well as video display far beyond capabilities of most soccer facilities. The field is level and true, and every day in the Dome is windless and comfortable for players and fans. Keep asking questions, and a unique solution can emerge.
