Originally named the ASISU Minidome—named after the Associated Students of Idaho State University, who funded construction[7]—it opened 53 years ago in 1970 at the north end of the ISU campus.[2][4] The indoor facility replaced the outdoor "Spud Bowl" as the Bengals' home football stadium.[4][8]
The venue was renamed in 1988 to honor Milton W. "Dubby" Holt (1914–2007),[9][10] ISU's athletic director from 1967 to 1989. As assistant athletic director, Holt conceived the indoor arena in 1966 and it was designed by architect Cedric M. Allen. Although a controversial design proposal for the time, ISU students voted to appropriate not more than $2.8 million to the project two years later.[4] The arena was built entirely with these voluntary student funds.[11] With over 56% in favor, ISU students approved a $12 increase in semester fees to fund the stadium in early 1968.[12][13]
Holt Arena is the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States and the second-oldest overall.[14] Only the Astrodome in Houston, completed in 1965, predates it. Since the Astrodome's 2006 closure, Holt Arena has been the oldest enclosed stadium in use.[15]
The original artificial turf installed in 1970 was Poly-Turf.[2][3][4] After 41 football seasons on Poly-Turf and AstroTurf, infilled synthetic turf was installed in Holt Arena in July 2011. Similar to FieldTurf, the SoftTop Removable Matrix System[16] is also installed in AT&T Stadium in the NFL.
Holt Arena is undergoing major renovations which are planned to be complete by the 2023 season. A new turf is being designed as part of the renovations, and the new turf is projected to be installed by the 2022 season.[17]
Additional uses
Holt Arena also serves as home for the ISU indoor track and field team and men's basketball team. It also hosts high school football games, the famous Simplot Games high school indoor track meet, along with other sporting events, rodeos, concerts, and other activities.
During ISU's run in basketball to the Elite Eight in 1977, they won the Big Sky regular season title, which allowed them to host the four-team conference tournament,[18] which they also won.[19] The Bengals were allowed to stay home for the first round of the 32-team NCAA tournament, as the Minidome had a pair of first round games (sub-regionals) on Saturday, March 12.[20][21]UCLA defeated Louisville and hometown ISU beat Long Beach State. (Five days later, Idaho State stunned UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen at the West regional in Provo, Utah.)[22][23] Between the Big Sky tourney and the NCAA games, the venue also hosted the state's three-day A-1 (now 5A) high school championship tournament.[24]
It is one of three indoor football stadiums currently in use in the Big Sky Conference, along with the Kibbie Dome and Walkup Skydome. During the final six seasons of Idaho's absence from Big Sky football (2012–2017), the Alerus Center at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks was another indoor stadium used in Big Sky football, but UND left the Big Sky after the 2017 football season for the Missouri Valley Football Conference, home to three other football programs that play in domes (North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, and South Dakota).
Holt Arena features 194,400 square feet (18,060 m2) of floor space; the building is recessed 20 feet (6.1 m) below grade and rises 89 feet (27 m) above grade at its highest point.[11]
Holt Arena hosted the 2018 Convention of the Idaho Republican Party, which was held June 28 through June 30.[25]
^Idaho State Bengals | Holt Arena, ChampionshipSubdivision.com. (accessed 4 September 2013)
^ abc"'Mini-Dome' just first of new Big Sky stadia". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 13, 1970. p. 10, fb.
^ abcChecketts, Brent (February 19, 1970). "Pocatello's Mini-Dome Serves Maxi-Purpose". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B-14.
^ abcdefFerguson, George (May 12, 1970). "Idaho State: What a Mini!". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. C-1.
^1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved April 16, 2022.
^USGS topographic map of Holt Arena. MSR Maps. Accessed 6 January 2008.
^"Decision Likely Next Week on Dome Name". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. October 31, 1969. p. 2. Retrieved February 2, 2019 – via newspaper.com.
^"Idaho rivalry flares anew at Spud Bowl". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). November 16, 1963. p. 8.
^Missildine, Harry (January 9, 1989). "Dubby started some things". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 13.
^"Idaho State icon Dubby Holt dies". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). January 9, 2007. p. C1.
holt, arena, indoor, multi, purpose, athletic, stadium, western, united, states, located, campus, idaho, state, university, pocatello, idaho, home, field, idaho, state, bengals, conference, sits, elevation, feet, above, level, 2008pocatellolocation, united, st. Holt Arena is an indoor multi purpose athletic stadium in the western United States located on the campus of Idaho State University ISU in Pocatello Idaho It is the home field of the Idaho State Bengals of the Big Sky Conference and sits at an elevation of 4 560 feet 1 390 m above sea level 6 Holt ArenaHolt Arena in 2008PocatelloLocation in the United StatesShow map of the United StatesPocatelloLocation in IdahoShow map of IdahoFormer namesASISU Minidome 1970 1988 Address550 Memorial DriveLocationIdaho State UniversityPocatello Idaho U S Coordinates42 52 12 N 112 25 44 W 42 870 N 112 429 W 42 870 112 429 Coordinates 42 52 12 N 112 25 44 W 42 870 N 112 429 W 42 870 112 429Public transitPocatello Regional TransitOwnerIdaho State UniversityOperatorIdaho State UniversityCapacity12 000 football 8 000 basketballRecord attendance13 895 football November 22 1980ISU vs Boise State 1 SurfaceSoftTop Matrixartificial turf 2011 Poly Turf 2 3 AstroTurf 1970 2010 ConstructionBroke groundOctober 1 1968OpenedMay 9 1970 52 years ago 1970 05 09 spring game 4 Construction cost 2 8 million 4 3 19 5 million in 2023 5 TenantsIdaho State Bengals Big Sky NCAA 1970 present Websiteisu edu events holtarena shtml Contents 1 History 2 Additional uses 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditOriginally named the ASISU Minidome named after the Associated Students of Idaho State University who funded construction 7 it opened 53 years ago in 1970 at the north end of the ISU campus 2 4 The indoor facility replaced the outdoor Spud Bowl as the Bengals home football stadium 4 8 The venue was renamed in 1988 to honor Milton W Dubby Holt 1914 2007 9 10 ISU s athletic director from 1967 to 1989 As assistant athletic director Holt conceived the indoor arena in 1966 and it was designed by architect Cedric M Allen Although a controversial design proposal for the time ISU students voted to appropriate not more than 2 8 million to the project two years later 4 The arena was built entirely with these voluntary student funds 11 With over 56 in favor ISU students approved a 12 increase in semester fees to fund the stadium in early 1968 12 13 Holt Arena is the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States and the second oldest overall 14 Only the Astrodome in Houston completed in 1965 predates it Since the Astrodome s 2006 closure Holt Arena has been the oldest enclosed stadium in use 15 The original artificial turf installed in 1970 was Poly Turf 2 3 4 After 41 football seasons on Poly Turf and AstroTurf infilled synthetic turf was installed in Holt Arena in July 2011 Similar to FieldTurf the SoftTop Removable Matrix System 16 is also installed in AT amp T Stadium in the NFL Holt Arena is undergoing major renovations which are planned to be complete by the 2023 season A new turf is being designed as part of the renovations and the new turf is projected to be installed by the 2022 season 17 Additional uses EditHolt Arena also serves as home for the ISU indoor track and field team and men s basketball team It also hosts high school football games the famous Simplot Games high school indoor track meet along with other sporting events rodeos concerts and other activities During ISU s run in basketball to the Elite Eight in 1977 they won the Big Sky regular season title which allowed them to host the four team conference tournament 18 which they also won 19 The Bengals were allowed to stay home for the first round of the 32 team NCAA tournament as the Minidome had a pair of first round games sub regionals on Saturday March 12 20 21 UCLA defeated Louisville and hometown ISU beat Long Beach State Five days later Idaho State stunned UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen at the West regional in Provo Utah 22 23 Between the Big Sky tourney and the NCAA games the venue also hosted the state s three day A 1 now 5A high school championship tournament 24 Following the success of the Minidome several other colleges built enclosed stadiums including the Kibbie Dome at the University of Idaho in Moscow which was enclosed in 1975 after four years as an outdoor stadium and the Walkup Skydome at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff opened in 1977 It is one of three indoor football stadiums currently in use in the Big Sky Conference along with the Kibbie Dome and Walkup Skydome During the final six seasons of Idaho s absence from Big Sky football 2012 2017 the Alerus Center at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks was another indoor stadium used in Big Sky football but UND left the Big Sky after the 2017 football season for the Missouri Valley Football Conference home to three other football programs that play in domes North Dakota State Northern Iowa and South Dakota Holt Arena features 194 400 square feet 18 060 m2 of floor space the building is recessed 20 feet 6 1 m below grade and rises 89 feet 27 m above grade at its highest point 11 Holt Arena hosted the 2018 Convention of the Idaho Republican Party which was held June 28 through June 30 25 See also Edit Idaho portal Sports portal List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums List of NCAA Division I basketball arenasReferences Edit Idaho State Bengals Holt Arena ChampionshipSubdivision com accessed 4 September 2013 a b c Mini Dome just first of new Big Sky stadia Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press September 13 1970 p 10 fb a b c Checketts Brent February 19 1970 Pocatello s Mini Dome Serves Maxi Purpose Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah p B 14 a b c d e f Ferguson George May 12 1970 Idaho State What a Mini Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah p C 1 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved April 16 2022 USGS topographic map of Holt Arena MSR Maps Accessed 6 January 2008 Decision Likely Next Week on Dome Name Idaho State Journal Pocatello Idaho October 31 1969 p 2 Retrieved February 2 2019 via newspaper com Idaho rivalry flares anew at Spud Bowl Spokesman Review Spokane Washington November 16 1963 p 8 Missildine Harry January 9 1989 Dubby started some things Spokesman Review Spokane Washington p 13 Idaho State icon Dubby Holt dies Spokesman Review Spokane Washington January 9 2007 p C1 a b Holt Arena Archived 2009 11 06 at the Wayback Machine Idaho Public Television accessed 4 September 2013 ISU students vote on site Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press January 11 1968 p 21 Idaho students vote to build domed stadium Miami News Associated Press January 13 1968 p 3B Facilities Idaho State University Bengals Archived 2007 10 11 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 6 January 2008 Astrodome Hit With Code Violations click2houston com Archived from the original on 2008 07 22 Retrieved 2008 07 18 ISUBengals com Hellas Construction to Install New Holt Arena Turf 2011 06 02 accessed 2011 09 22 Holt Arena to Undergo Major Renovation Project Idaho State University Retrieved 2021 11 12 Gonzaga Montana State in tough but not without chances Spokesman Review Spokane Washington March 4 1977 p 31 Missildine Harry March 6 1977 Idaho State dumps Weber earns title and NCAA berth Spokesman Review Spokane Washington p D2 NCAA pairings Milwaukee Sentinel March 12 1977 p 2 part 2 McDermott Barry March 21 1977 The Sixteen Sweetest Fight For A Kiss Sports Illustrated p 28 Benson Lee March 18 1977 Utes fall short Idaho State stuns UCLA Deseret News Salt Lake City Utah p 6B Amazin Bengals knock out UCLA Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press March 18 1977 p 29 Hoop scores Idaho Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press March 12 1977 p 11 Hotel Information idgop org Archived from the original on April 17 2018 Retrieved April 25 2018 via Wayback Machine External links EditISU Bengals Athletics Holt Arena Idaho State University Office of Events Holt Arena Idaho Public Television Holt Arena World Stadiums Holt Arena Simplot Games annual indoor track meet at Holt ArenaPreceded byTacoma Dome Host of the NCAA Division I AA National Championship Game1987 1988 Succeeded byPaulson Stadium Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Holt Arena amp oldid 1115267194, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
