Superior Dome

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The Superior Dome is a large domed stadium on the campus of Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette, Michigan. Opened in 1991, it was billed as the world’s largest wooden dome. It seats about 8,000 people in permanent seating, but can hold up to around 16,000 for events.

The dome stands 143 feet tall, has a diameter of 536 feet, covers 5.1 acres, and contains about 16.1 million cubic feet of space. It’s a geodesic structure built with 781 Douglas fir beams and 108.5 miles of fir decking, designed to handle heavy snow (up to 60 pounds per square foot) and winds up to 80 mph.

Construction happened in two phases. Phase I, completed in August 1991, cost $21.8 million and was funded by the State of Michigan. Phase II, finished in May 1995, added locker rooms, offices, concessions, a retail store, and more at a cost of $2.1 million, supported by private donations and loans. The total cost of the project is $23.9 million.

Inside, the Dome features a retractable artificial turf carpet—the largest of its kind—over a synthetic playing surface that includes three basketball/volleyball courts, two tennis courts, and a 200-meter track. When the turf is extended, it supports football, soccer, and field hockey; when retracted, the space can be used for other sports and events. Retracting the carpet takes about 30 minutes, with full setup around two hours.

The Dome is home to NMU Wildcats football, women’s lacrosse, and women’s track and field, and it hosts the NMU marching band and many campus and community events. It has hosted high school football championships, the Marquette Marathon, trade shows, conventions, commencement ceremonies, and more. It even hosted a George W. Bush campaign rally in 2004.

Attendance records include 8,432 for a 1991 football game and 8,672 for a 2008 game against Michigan Tech. In October 2024, the Dome hosted the Superior Dome Showdown, an exhibition basketball game between NMU and Michigan State—the first Big Ten Network broadcast from the Dome. The arena was fitted with a basketball court and extra seating for the event, drawing more than 11,000 spectators as Michigan State won 70–53.