LifeAnchorage · August 8, 2026
the dome is $1.5 million short
Anchorage could lose the building where a thousand people a day escape winter, and the gap to save it is down to $1.5 million.
Daily Alaska staff · August 8, 2026 · Anchorage
The Dome, a 180,000-square-foot air-supported sports facility in Anchorage, needs to replace its original 2007 fabric shell before the structure reaches the end of its typical 20-to-25-year lifespan, according to the facility's CEO. The replacement project costs $6 million, and leadership says The Dome will close permanently if the funding gap is not closed.
More than $4.5 million has already been committed toward the project, including $2 million from local family foundations, a $1 million grant from the Rasmuson Foundation, and a $1.5 million loan from Northrim Bank. That leaves about $1.5 million still needed before construction is scheduled to begin in May 2027.
The Dome serves about 1,000 visitors a day and hosts a full-sized field, a USA Track and Field-certified indoor track, and batting cages. It partners with the Anchorage School District, the University of Alaska Anchorage, and 20 other nonprofits that rely on the facility during Alaska winters.
In this story
Questions people ask
how much more money does the dome need
About $1.5 million. More than $4.5 million is already locked in toward the $6 million shell replacement, and they need to close the gap before May 2027 or the building closes for good.
when does the dome fabric shell replacement start
May 2027. That's when construction begins on the new shell, if the final $1.5 million gets raised.
what happens if dome doesn't raise remaining funds
The Dome closes permanently. It's been serving about a thousand visitors a day and dozens of programs with schools and nonprofits.
who uses the dome in anchorage
About a thousand people visit every day, plus the Anchorage School District, University of Alaska Anchorage, and 20 other nonprofits rely on it for programs and sports.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- The Dome's fabric shell, installed in 2007, needs replacement at a total project cost of $6 million. · alaskasnewssource.com
- More than $4.5 million has been committed, including $2 million from local family foundations, a $1 million Rasmuson Foundation grant, and a $1.5 million Northrim Bank loan. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The Dome's CEO says the facility will close permanently if the remaining funding is not raised. · alaskasnewssource.com
- Construction on the fabric replacement is scheduled to begin in May 2027. · alaskasnewssource.com
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