RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — February 1st marks one year after the Hodag dome first opened its doors.
Since it opened community members have filed through the doors of the 128,000 square foot dome. The multi-million dollar project continues to leave impacts on both students and residents.
Opening for members six days a week to use the facility and hosting events, the Hodag Dome has something for everyone. From community education to story hour the dome is not just used by the school district.
“This weekend we are hosting a softball tournament where 22 teams are coming to the Rhinelander area,” Hodag Dome Manager Janet Jamison told WAOW TV. “That’s over 600 visitors to Rhinelander who will stay at our hotels and eat our restaurants and visit our local stores so it brings a huge economic boost to our area.”
Students at the middle and high school are finding the use of the facility as well. Student-athletes say they’re finding their skills and teamwork have improved since using the dome.
“I think the dome is a great place for anybody who wants to become a better athlete I don’t think I’d be going to play college baseball without the dome here,” said Joseph Schneider, a senior at Rhinelander high school.
For students like Schneider who participate in sports outside, the dome allows them to practice more without the weather stopping them.
Annika Johnson, a tennis player and senior at Rhinelander said the dome gives her more time to practice before the start of the season. “Practicing before the dome was a minor inconvenience for pretty much all athletes who play outside,” Johnson said. “Often we had to cancel practice and weren’t able to reschedule it at all.”
Rhinelander School District Superintendent Eric Burke said the dome has allowed student-athletes to grow in their sport, even bringing the community together to see games that otherwise might have been canceled due to the weather.
“All these sports are able to practice year-round which is definitely going to help our talent,” Burke said.
The dome is also available for community members as well, who exercise in the winter on the indoor track or use features like a golf simulator to keep their game sharp. It’s also been used for community gatherings and served as a polling place in the November 2020 general election.
The dome is one of the largest air-supported structures in North America. It came with a final price tag of around $8.3 million.
