Woodbury Schedules Dome Deflation at Bielenberg Sports Center

Letting the air out of the dome will breathe new life into the Bielenberg Sports Center.

A dome-deflation event is set for Wednesday, April 17, Woodbury announced Friday.

Bringing down the BSC bubble, built in 1995, will mark a major step toward the city’s $21.8 expansion project, which calls for a new permanent field house, outdoor pleasure rink, and two-story lobby linking the new structure and existing ice arenas.

“The dome proved to be a functional and durable facility, standing tall through straight-line winds, severe thunderstorms and blizzards for more than 17 years,” Bob Klatt, Woodbury Parks and Recreation director, said in a release. “But we knew the fabric material wouldn’t last forever, and we’re excited to break ground on the new building.”

At 6 p.m. on April 17, Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens will “flip the switch,” cutting power to the unit unit that keeps the dome inflated. It will be the first time the dome will be taken down since it was raised on Sept. 18, 1995, according to the city.

“Inflating the dome for the first time was an exciting event,” Klatt said. “It was a culmination of a long community-wide planning effort that included a successful voter-approved referendum needed to build the facility. Parks, streets, utilities and recreation staff worked collectively that day, bolting together pieces of fabric and laying out cables. Once we turned on the air-handling unit, it inflated like a big balloon in about an hour.”

The public is invited to watch the deflation event, which marks the start of construction on the 90,000-square-foot facility.

Note: Due to road construction on Radio Drive, drivers must use the access from Bailey Road at Pioneer Drive. People should park in the east lot and look for the gathering near the mechanical equipment on the east side of the field house.

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