Only in Eagle River – The Dome

There are stadiums, arenas, rinks, and domes throughout the world. But there is only one sports facility simply called The Dome. It might be the reason Eagle River is Hockey Capital of Wisconsin®.

The ice at the Eagle River Sports Arena might not be smoother or better than anywhere else, but the iconic lamella truss construction of the roof and the longevity of the arena—opened in 1933—have made it a legendary Wisconsin site. In fact, it’s on the Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places.

Thanks to regional tournaments, hundreds of thousands of youths from dozens of states and other countries have geared up for hockey or figure skating in The Dome. The memories that have been created there are part of the reason it has survived so long.

Many of the people connected to the Eagle River Sports Arena donated to the Save The Dome capital fundraiser to help pay for essential maintenance needs to keep it in operation. The facility itself is exclusively run by volunteers in a true labor of love. Folks interested in donating to the preservation of The Dome and its programming can donate through the Eagle River Recreation Association here (scroll down on the page for donation information).

In addition to hosting youth hockey and figure skating teams and tournaments, The Dome also houses the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame. It’s truly a year-round facility that brings people in from all over.

Recently, it became the home arena for the North American Hockey League franchise the Windigo. The team relocated from hockey crazy Minnesota. No doubt the history of Eagle River and The Dome helped make the move possible.

For more information about The Dome and to find out what’s happening there, visit ERRA.com.