Princeton Announces Plans To Have "Bubble" Over Powers Field Each Winter

Beginning in 2017, the end of the football season will only be the beginning for how much Powers Field at Princeton Stadium will be used.

Thanks to a $3.5 million gift from an anonymous donor, Powers Field will be covered by a climate-controlled seasonal air structure, or "bubble," that will enable the field to be used year-round. The bubble will cover the entire playing field of the facility and will have multiple uses and users.

Construction will begin this spring, and the bubble should be in place shortly after the conclusion of the 2017 football season.

"We could not be more excited to begin construction on our brand new seasonal air structure. Having a full-field indoor practice facility is something that will benefit all of our student-athletes and will have a hugely positive impact on our coaches' ability to teach during inclement weather," said Mollie Marcoux Samaan, the Ford Family Director of Athletics. "The structure will also provide much-needed recreational space for our expansive campus recreation program, including club teams and intramurals."

The bubble will be placed over Powers Field at the end of each football season and will stay in place through each spring. Among its many uses, the climate-controlled interior will enable Princeton's teams to practice inside as weather necessitates.

The space under the bubble can be sub-divided so that more than one team can use it at the same time. It will also be used by campus recreation programs, intramural and club teams, outside groups and youth teams.

Beyond that, Princeton's strength and conditioning program can use the space, which will help nearly all 37 of Princeton's teams.

Construction on the project will begin during the spring of 2017, and the bubble should fully operational within 10 days of the last football game each season.

"We could not be more appreciative of the support from the project's benefactor, who immediately saw the enormous value that first-rate facilities play in helping us accomplish our overall mission of Education through Athletics," said Marcoux Samaan.

Princeton head coaches on the addition of the bubble:

"The addition of a full-field bubble over Princeton stadium during the winter and spring months will make Princeton's athletic facilities truly world class, and will provide our team, as well as many other field sport teams at Princeton, with a wonderful facility to train in during very cold or inclement weather. Having access to the bubble will undoubtedly aid our ability to be game ready at the start of our season in mid-February, and to teach and develop our players all year long. We appreciate the foresight of the athletic department for recognizing this need and to the project donors for making the bubble possible." – Chris Sailer, women's lacrosse

"We are forever grateful for the continued support of our athletic programs. We are excited for a winter training facility. The ability to train, condition, and teach in a facility that protects us from the weather will immediately impact off-season and early season development." – Matt Madalon, men's lacrosse

"I can't wait to have our team utilize the bubble to enhance our speed, agility and conditioning in the winter. Our primary offseason focus is always player development, and the bubble will allow our players to train year round and perform at an even higher level." – Bob Surace, football

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