Walkup Skydome

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J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome
"Skydome"
Location	McConnell Dr Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Broke ground	1975
Opened	September 17, 1977
Owner	Northern Arizona University
Operator	Northern Arizona University
Surface	Artificial turf
Construction cost	$8,000,000
Tenants	NAU Lumberjacks (NCAA)
Capacity	15,000 permanent seats 1,230 additional seats available in ten sections of portable bleachers 16,230 total seats

The J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome is a 16,230-seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Opened in September 1977, it is the home of the NAU Lumberjacks football and basketball teams of the Big Sky Conference. The Walkup Skydome has hosted five Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournaments: 1987, 1997, 1998, 2005, and 2006.

It is the second largest clear-span timber dome in the world^[1]. It held the world record as the largest timber dome in the world from opening in 1977 until 1998 when the Sydney Showground Exhibition Building was completed for the 2000 Olympics.

The Skydome is named after J. Lawrence Walkup, the president of the university from (1958–79), a period of tremendous growth for the school. The playing field/court for the stadium sits at an elevation of 6880 feet (2097 m) above sea level, [1] second only to Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium, by 335 feet (102 m). Twenty feet above the field there is a red line with a 7000 on it at the exact point where the building hits 7000 feet elevation.

Besides sporting events, the arena is also used for commencement ceremonies, concerts, and other events such as conventions and trade shows. The arena floor features 97,000 square feet (over 9000 m²) of space.

The Walkup Skydome is also used by the NFL's Arizona Cardinals during their summer training camp, held at NAU. The Cardinals are able to move inside to conduct practice when the weather is unsuitable outdoors.

[edit] References

1. ^ Skydome Information. Northern Arizona University. Retrieved on 2006-04-26.

[edit] External links

• NAU.newtier.com - official athletics site - NAU facilities
• Stadium seating campus maps and more at S&E News on Walkup Skydome

• Walkup Skydome is at coordinates 35°10′50″N 111°39′09″W / 35.1805, -111.6525 (Walkup Skydome)Coordinates: 35°10′50″N 111°39′09″W / 35.1805, -111.6525 (Walkup Skydome)

v • d • e Current Basketball Arenas in the Big Sky Conference Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion (Northern Colorado) • Dahlberg Arena (Montana) • Dee Events Center (Weber State) • Holt Arena/Reed Gym (Idaho State) • Hornets Nest (Sacramento State) • Reese Court (Eastern Washington) • Stott Center (Portland State) • Walkup Skydome (Northern Arizona) • Worthington Arena (Montana State)

v • d • e Football stadiums of the Big Sky Conference Bobcat Stadium (Montana State) • Holt Arena (Idaho State) • Hornet Stadium (Sacramento State) • Joe Albi Stadium (Eastern Washington) • Nottingham Field (Northern Colorado) • PGE Park (Portland State) • Stewart Stadium (Weber State) • Walkup Skydome (Northern Arizona) • Washington Grizzly Stadium (Montana) • Woodward Field (Eastern Washington)

v • d • e College football venues in Arizona Division I FBS Pac-10 Arizona Stadium (Arizona) • Sun Devil Stadium (Arizona State) Division I FCS Big Sky Walkup Skydome (Northern Arizona) University of Phoenix Stadium