J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome

“The Walkup Skydome is a unique, quirky stadium that is a shining example of how stadiums can add to the beauty of college football.” - Bleacher Report, 2012

The J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome is home to the Northern Arizona football, men’s and women’s basketball, and indoor track & field. It is one of the most unique venues in all of college athletics will open for its 43rd year as the entertainment center for northern Arizona.

After a logo rebranding in April 2014, the Skydome turf was rebranded with NAU’s newest logo in the center of the field and the wordmark in both endzones. The Skydome underwent additional upgrades in the fall of 2018, as new LED video boards were installed in each endzone, as well as new ribbon video display.

The building underwent a major renovation from Dec. 2010 - Sept. 9, 2011, at a cost of $26 million. The scope of the project included bringing the fire, life and safety up to code while remodeling the bathrooms, concourse, offices, suites, locker rooms and press box. The athletic training and equipment on the main floor were also remodeled and three elevators were added to the complex.

Fans enter the building to a panoramic view of the field on the east and west concourses. Capacity was reduced to 10,000 with 21-inch wide chair back seating being added. The construction of the Skydome began in the fall of 1975, and the facility was completed in September 1977. Seating capacity for football originally was 15,000 and 7,000 for basketball.

Once the largest wood-span structure of its kind in the world, the Skydome was built at a cost of more than $8 million. It covers an area of 6.2 acres, with the roof spanning more than 500 feet and rising 142 feet above the playing surface. The Skydome showcases the REALGRASS™ surface installed in the spring of 2008 by the Hellas Construction firm of Austin, Texas. The carpet, the Matrix version of the brand REALGRASS™ cost close to $1 million. The REALGRASS™ Matrix system is comprised of a monofilament spinneret yarn in two different sizes and colors. It is the same installed for the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium.

With the 2001 renovation to the Skydome floor, the 96,000-square foot surface was covered with Mondo. The track contains a six-lane, 300-meter non-banked loop (eight sprinting lanes) with the infield containing enough area for six NCAA-standard basketball and volleyball courts, as well as two regulation tennis courts. Track and field specific, the facility now has 12-month training capabilities. When covered for football with artificial turf, the Skydome supports a practice pole vault pit and a long/triple jump runway, as well as a lane for sprinting and hurdles. When the turf is up, the facility can be used for intramural and camp sports, and has enough room for a varsity soccer practice.

The roof was also resurfaced during the summer of 2000 and the astroturf was replaced in 2002 from a surface that was in the Tropicana Dome, the home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The concourse contains offices, meeting rooms, restrooms and concession stands. Located on the dome’s floor level are fully equipped locker rooms and state-of-the-art athletic training and weight rooms. During the summer of 1997, the dome underwent a $1 million lighting renovation that further enhanced the Skydome’s lure for television cameras. Fresh air and heat come through 19 large ducts, maintaining a constant temperature of 72 degrees. The first NAU sporting event held in the Skydome was a Lumberjack win over Montana in football on a last-second field goal, 25-24. The first NAU basketball game was a 101-76 triumph over Alaska Anchorage.

Walkup Skydome Facts

Capacity Constructed Elevation First Game Longest Win Streak Losing Losing Streak Biggest Win 10,000 1977 7,000 feet NAU 25, Montana 24 11 (1996-97) 4 (1991-92) NAU 75, W. New Mexico 0

Field Fun Facts

* There is 44 oz. of yarn per square yard of REALGRASS™. * The field consists of 28 rolls that weigh 8,700 pounds each. * The project contains 23,400 pounds of fiber synthetic yarn. * The field is filled with 230,000 pounds of ground recycled rubber tires.

YEAR-BY-YEAR IN THE SKYDOME Year Record Pct. PF PA 1977* 5-1 .833 184 110 1978 5-0 1.000 148 61 1979 5-2 .714 127 92 1980 4-1 .800 142 64 1981 3-2 .600 107 97 1982 4-1 .800 126 87 1983 4-2 .667 176 139 1984 2-3 .400 123 112 1985 3-4 .429 144 161 1986 5-2 .714 179 123 1987 3-2 .600 209 130 1988 5-1 .833 189 101 1989 2-4 .333 184 196 1990 5-1 .833 202 156 1991 3-3 .500 185 166 1992 3-4 .429 138 128 1993 4-2 .667 175 137 1994 5-1 .833 219 130 1995 4-2 .667 264 55 1996* 6-1 .857 341 184 1997 5-1 .833 184 105 1998 4-2 .667 147 128 1999 2-3 .400 177 121 2000 2-4 .333 131 142 2001 4-1 .800 160 117 2002 4-1 .800 121 86 2003* 4-2 .667 214 179 2004 4-2 .667 171 166 2005 3-2 .600 135 113 2006 3-2 .600 205 126 2007 3-2 .600 166 111 2008 3-2 .600 184 104 2009 3-2 .600 196 168 2010 3-2 .600 180 88 2011 3-3 .500 188 121 2012 3-2 .600 177 94 2013* 5-1 .833 174 122 2014 4-1 .800 165 128 2015 5-0 1.000 254 138 2016 3-2 .600 226 142 2017* 5-2 .714 234 199 2018 3-2 .600 144 132 2019 4-2 .667 251 194 S2021 2-0 1.000 53 42 43 yrs. 152-75 .670 7,699 5,582 *Includes one playoff home game

Special athletics events held in the Skydome include a Division II football playoff game in 1977, Division I FCS playoff games in 1996, 2003, 2013 and 2017, a first-round National Invitation Tournament basketball game in 1986 and 2006, the 1987, 1997, 1998 and 2006 Big Sky Conference men’s basketball tournaments, two rounds of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament in 2015, and the 1984, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018 Big Sky Conference indoor track and field championship meets. In 2003, comedian Jay Leno appeared at the Skydome in a special Family Weekend event.

Many special events, including concerts, trade shows and high-school state tournaments are held in the Skydome each year. It has previously served as the training camp home of the Arizona Cardinals and the Phoenix Suns. In May of 2000, the facility hosted a WNBA exhibition game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Detroit Shock.

NAU is one of 10 universities to play football in a dome. The others are Idaho, Idaho State, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, Northern Michigan, North Dakota State, South Dakota, Syracuse and UTSA. NAUSTRONG

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