In 1994, the air-supported roof collapsed in a snowstorm. Since this had occurred on numerous occasions before, it was replaced by a more permanent metal roof. Prior to November 18, 2006, the basketball, volleyball and wrestling team used the UNI-Dome, before the construction of the McLeod Center. The McLeod Center is directly south of the UNI-Dome and connected by a covered walkway. The UNI-Dome attendance record for football is 17,190, which was set on October 17, 2009, during a Panthers homecoming game against the Missouri Valley rival Southern Illinois.
Renovations
The UNI-Dome's roof was most recently renovated in late summer 2010 due to damages during a high wind storm in July 2009. The cost of the renovation was close to $4 million. The storm knocked down trees, power lines and roofs all over Cedar Falls. The University of Northern Iowa campus lost 20% of its 100+-year-old trees that cover the campus. The UNI-Dome received a new HD video board for the start of the 2008 football season. The board replaced an aging, and many times malfunctioning video board. Much of the cost of the new video board was donated by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, which hosts their state football semi-finals and finals in the UNI-Dome each year for all classes. In 2014, the UNI-Dome had a 100' × 27' video board installed at the south end. The existing video board has replaced the north end scoreboard. All this was made possible with a grant from the Black Hawk Gaming Assoc., plus a very generous gift. This video board is the second largest in FCS football. A major renovation was also announced in 2014. On April 26, 2017, Northern Iowa University Athletics announced that it would be adding AstroTurf to the field of the UNI-Dome. The total cost of the new turf will be approximately $900,000 and will be paid for from previously allocated internal revenue from the university. The AstroTurf is scheduled to be completed prior to the 2017 season.
Notable features
At football games, where cold temperatures are frequently an issue for fans, the UNI-Dome announcers have a tradition during pre-game rituals. The announcers will announce the weather in the town where the visiting team is from, and then will say "The temperature in Cedar Falls, no wind, 72°, Welcome to the UNI-DOME!" to emphasize the fact that a domed stadium is not affected as much by the weather. In 2016, the university celebrated 40 years of history inside the Dome. As of December 1, 2019, the Panthers have a home record of 220–56–1, having won nearly 80 percent of their games in the dome.
Other uses
During the academic year, during hours when the athletic teams are not using the Dome, it is open to the public. Many students and others with UNI connections will come to the Dome to run or walk the stairs and the concourse. The UNI-Dome has hosted graduation ceremonies as well. Perhaps the most notable ceremony was in the spring of 2011, when first lady Michelle Obama delivered the headlining address.
