Construction for a new multi-sports dome, the Sports KingDome, is underway in the town of East Fishkill, and is said to be the world’s largest in the evolution of the multi-sport dome industry.
The goal of the facility is to provide world-class training opportunity for turf sport teams such as baseball/softball, lacrosse, soccer, football, and field hockey. Individual athletes of any sport who want to improve in athleticism and personal leadership skills will also be able to take advantage of the facility.
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Dan Fraioli, CEO of Air Structures American Technologies, Inc., owns the company building the Sports KingDome and is an investor. According to Fraioli, whose company has been involved in developing sports domes for universities like Harvard and Columbia, as well as 11 NFL football practice facilities including the New York Giants and New York Jets, the dome’s engineering and design took more than two years to complete. Measuring at 740 feet long by 460 feet wide, with a ceiling height of 160 feet, the structure will house an 8-foot wide track and 350,000 square feet of indoor space.
The structure is designed to withstand heavy winds, as well as heavy snow and ice in northern climates where such conditions restrict athletes and teams during the winter months. It’s for this reason, and the large, open spaces the air structure provides, that domes are increasing in popularity. The space creates multiple options for use and is more cost-efficient compared to the traditional brick and mortar structures.
Additionally, the growth in premier and travel team participation in youth sports has pushed both youth and amateur teams to utilize full-sized versions of their outdoor counterparts, rather than small indoor spaces.
The dome will take several months to construct, and more than six weeks to install, but Fraioli hopes to have it fully installed by this fall.
