(KIWA Staff Photo)The University of Northern Iowa Athletic Department says it will seek naming rights for the UNI-Dome for the first time in the facility’s 50-year history.
The indoor stadium on the Cedar Falls campus hosts UNI football, the Iowa high school football championships, concerts, home shows, and many other events. It was also home to Panther basketball before a separate arena was built.
UNI President Mark Nook told the Board of Regents at their recent meeting that NIL and revenue-sharing changes have significantly affected the university’s athletic budget.
Nook did not specifically mention naming rights for the UNI-Dome, but said the university is exploring multiple ways to increase athletics revenue.
UNI has invested millions of dollars into upgrades as the Dome reaches its 50-year milestone. Improvements include wider seating, additional restrooms, updated infrastructure, and a new seating capacity of about 12,200, with the ability to expand to nearly 20,000 depending on configuration.
UNI’s 2027 athletics budget is around $16.6 million, compared to $182 million at the University of Iowa and $145 million at Iowa State University.
