Kibbie ASUI Activity Center

Monday - Friday: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

The iconic Kibbie Dome is the home of University of Idaho football, basketball and other special events.

1937: Origins

Neale Stadium, the original football venue for the University of Idaho was opened in 1937 on the site where the Kibbie Dome currently stands. An arson fire in November, 1969 completely destroyed the stadium and forced the planning of the current facility. Construction soon began on the grandstands and the press boxes. This work was completed in 1971 with a grass infield. However, only a year later the original artificial turf was installed to allow for a covered stadium.

Namesake

The Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center was named after William H. Kibbie, a former student who donated $300,000 towards the building of the facility. Kibbie, who only attended the University of Idaho for a few weeks in 1936 before he unfortunately had to leave, said this of the University: “It is a university in the classic and real sense of the word…and has maintained its position throughout the years as a leading institution of higher education. The enclosing of the stadium complex should serve to support and further the program of the university in all its aspect.” Sadly, on February 12, 1988, William H. Kibbie died in an automobile accident.

1975: An Engineering Marvel

The roof of the Kibbie Dome is constructed of laminated wood beams on a framework of tubular shaped steel. These huge arches span a distance of 400 feet and at the center height are 144 feet from the surface of the turf. The roof was completed in 1975. In 1976, the Kibbie Dome roof won the "Structural Engineering Achievement Award" from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

1982: Addition

$3.8 million was raised by July, 1981 to start work on the East End addition. The addition houses departmental offices, locker rooms, a weight room, equipment rooms, and both men’s and women’s varsity locker rooms. The addition was completed in August 1982. The total cost of construction of the Kibbie Dome and the East End project was over $12 million dollars.

2009: Life Safety and Seating Enhancements

Two major projects in recent years have enhanced the safety, functionality and visitor experience of the Kibbie Dome for the future. Read More