FAQs
Talk of work on the Kibbie is years old. Why is now any different?
We have the leadership and the plan necessary to tackle a project of this magnitude. We have conducted an extensive feasibility study and from that study have developed a sound business plan to renovate and expand the iconic ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center. As a university, we are committed to financial stewardship and that means we will not move forward with a project until all the necessary elements are in place. We can move forward now that we have those key elements in place.
We’ve benchmarked ourselves against facilities expansion projects at our peer and other institutions and are confident of our ability to move forward. The university is also in the midst of a renewal as it plans for the future and we are confident that people will want to be part of the process that will provide the means for leaving a legacy of sound facilities to future generations not only of Vandals, but Idahoans as well.
We’ve benchmarked ourselves against facilities expansion projects at our peer and other institutions and are confident of our ability to move forward. The university is also in the midst of a renewal as it plans for the future and we are confident that people will want to be part of the process that will provide the means for leaving a legacy of sound facilities to future generations not only of Vandals, but Idahoans as well.
Can you guarantee that a renovated and expanded Dome will jump-start Vandal athletics?
We know from past experience that investments do pay off. But, no, there are no guarantees in life.
We’ve seen first-hand how excellent facilities attract excellent players, coaches and staff. For the University of Idaho in particular, when the institution made an investment in the mid-1970s, the resulting Kibbie Dome helped pave the way for attracting excellent student-athletes, coaches and staff and yielded great results for Vandal athletics. It is a formula that works and it will work here.
The University of Idaho’s strength right now is academics; we’ve seen how that investment has benefited the university. Athletics is part of the whole academic experience and a strong athletics venue will help the institution as a whole be more competitive nationally.
We’ve seen first-hand how excellent facilities attract excellent players, coaches and staff. For the University of Idaho in particular, when the institution made an investment in the mid-1970s, the resulting Kibbie Dome helped pave the way for attracting excellent student-athletes, coaches and staff and yielded great results for Vandal athletics. It is a formula that works and it will work here.
The University of Idaho’s strength right now is academics; we’ve seen how that investment has benefited the university. Athletics is part of the whole academic experience and a strong athletics venue will help the institution as a whole be more competitive nationally.
This all seems football-focused. What about other sports—like basketball—and other events and users like the jazz festival?
The Dome is a multi-use activity center that is home not only to Vandal athletics, but to major university and community events and activities, such as commencement and the award-winning Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. A feasibility study guided and assessed our needs and focused the university strategically on a Dome-first approach to address life safety and code compliance issues and then renovate and expand to accommodate our projected needs.
The focus on football is one phase of the total Kibbie project. The needs of basketball and other sports will be addressed in subsequent phases.
The focus on football is one phase of the total Kibbie project. The needs of basketball and other sports will be addressed in subsequent phases.
I’d like to see you put your efforts into scholarships for students. Why not just leave the Dome alone after completing the life safety and code compliance upgrades?
The University of Idaho has ongoing and active fundraising for scholarships. In fact, we offer some outstanding scholarships to our students, including the Go Idaho! program that guarantees $6,000 to those Idaho high school and home school graduates who meet minimum qualifications. We are also raising funds for faculty and programs.
It is critical for us to ensure that the facilities at the university are the best they can be. So, just as we are working to invest in our students and faculty, we must also invest in the facilities that are crucial for our campus.
It is critical for us to ensure that the facilities at the university are the best they can be. So, just as we are working to invest in our students and faculty, we must also invest in the facilities that are crucial for our campus.
Why not build big to compete with other Division 1-A stadiums?
We are being realistic in our projections. A feasibility study has guided and assessed our needs. There is a stewardship element to our plans for the facility, which is tied in to the university’s strategic and long-range plans. The Dome is a multi-use activity center, with athletics accounting for just 22 percent of the facility’s use.
Should we stop giving to the Vandal Scholarship Fund and just give to the Kibbie renovation and expansion project?
These are two very distinct giving opportunities and support very different things. The Vandal Scholarship fund supports students and the Kibbie renovation and expansion project is facilities-specific. We hope you will consider contributing to both.
What does the entire project entail?
Life safety and code compliance (university funding): Identified improvements include: replacement of the structure’s two wood-frame end walls; installation of a smoke exhaust system; expansion of the fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems; enhanced exiting; and improvements to the air handling and electrical distribution systems. Code compliance improvements also are identified for the north and south concourse restrooms. Estimated cost: $17 million.
Renovation and expansion (private funding): Planned elements include: Add seats to increase capacity to accommodate 20,000; improve and expand concourse concession and restroom facilities; improve the press box; create space for the university’s Hall of Fame and a clubroom; and create seating configurations, such as suite, loge and club seating. Estimated cost: $35 million.
Renovation and expansion (private funding): Planned elements include: Add seats to increase capacity to accommodate 20,000; improve and expand concourse concession and restroom facilities; improve the press box; create space for the university’s Hall of Fame and a clubroom; and create seating configurations, such as suite, loge and club seating. Estimated cost: $35 million.
I’ve decided to make a gift! Where does my money go?
Thank you! Like all fundraising projects at the university, private gifts go to the University of Idaho Foundation. The foundation accepts and receipts all gifts and then directs them to the project identified by the donor. In this case, the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center Expansion and Renovation project will have a designated account at the foundation. All gifts identified for the project go into that account and will be distributed at the appropriate time to support execution of the project.