By
The weather outside might be frightful, but there will always be spring-like conditions for Boston College athletic teams in the new air support structure that has been erected over the field at Alumni Stadium.
The new “bubble” was put into place over the semester break, replacing a decade-old covering that was damaged by heavy storms last February, and will be a well-used practice facility for BC’s baseball, softball and other spring sports teams as they prepare for their upcoming seasons.
Manufactured by Yeadon Fabric Domes of St. Paul, Minn., the bubble measures 390 feet by 194 feet and rises to 66 feet above Alumni Stadium’s artificial turf, about six feet higher than the previous structure. The higher roof allows the dome to have straighter walls that translate into additional playing surface at ground level, according to Senior Construction Manager Ed Stokes, who oversaw the new facility’s installation.
“It’s a stronger material than the old one,” Stokes adds. “So although it looks similar to the old ‘bubble,’ it really is a lot different.”
The dome was constructed with high-tensile strength architectural PVC-coated kevlar fabric, Stokes says. “This one has a second layer designed for energy efficiency. It’s really a ‘green bubble.’ Translucent panels on the top will allow natural light.”
Stokes says technological advancements have contributed to improved infrastructure features in the new facility, which will include a state-of-the-art electrical system along with new fans, lighting systems and entryways. “We’ve also got support cables going in two directions now,” he notes. “They used to go in just one. We anticipate this facility lasting for 15 years.”
Because the manufacture of such a massive structure takes about six months, followed by installation, the extended construction period forced the BC football team to conduct their December pre-bowl game practices at Harvard University’s sports dome before departing for San Francisco right after the New Year.
Yeadon is one of the few manufacturers to make fabric domes of this size. The firm has also constructed “bubbles” used by sports teams at the University of Texas-Austin, Washington State University and the Pittsburgh Steelers, among many others.