More than $1 million has been poured into interior renovations of Thunder Bay’s Sportsdome.
“It was time to update the dome and offer something new and exciting,” said facility spokeswoman Sandi Boucher. Though usually open year-round, the facility was closed last summer amid the dust and dirt of renovations as demolition work began in replacing an underused golf mini-putt and basketball court with what’s being called an Aerosport Indoor Trampoline Park.
Boucher said the indoor trampoline park should be a great destressing outlet for groups of friends and co-workers.
At 90,000 square feet, the dome is the city’s largest activity venue and is located on the the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition grounds.
One side of the dome contains two 200 by 100-foot soccer pitches with the opposite side roped off to make way for the trampoline park.
The facility’s golf driving range was refurbished with new mats and reopened in January The targeted date is to have the trampoline park open by Family Day, Feb. 17.
The dome is home to men’s, women’s and youth soccer leagues but the artificial turf fields are also available for groups to book time for unstructured play. Part-time staff are on hand to organize corporate teambuilding activities.
“We have the support on staff to make sure everything runs well,” said Boucher, herself of one of five volunteer facilitators and instructors for activities like soccer, softball and ultimate Frisbee.
The dome contains two small meeting rooms capable of holding 15 to 20 people and an upper mezzanine area that can accommodate 60 to 80.
Catering is available upon request and the facility contains a licensed adult beverage area.
Located in Thunder Bay’s inner core, the dome's visibility as an entertainment and event venue should be further enhanced with two new hotels under construction – a Marriott and a Holiday Inn Express – only minutes away.
Boucher said the venue plays host to a healthy slate of monthly events including flea markets, outdoor and home and garden shows, statutory holiday activities and the occasional dodgeball tournament.
The electrical system was upgraded in recent years to allow for indoor concerts.
Boucher said the facility management is always on the outlook for new event ideas and reaching out to the public for suggestions through its website.
“We’re always looking for new events,” said Boucher. “It’s just an amazing space.”
