A Parma sports complex rose again Tuesday after a wind storm destroyed its inflatable dome eight months ago.
“The New Year came with a bang, the dome is down. And I came right here and saw the devastation,” Owner of Glacier Ridge Sports Park Doug Miller said.
On New Year’s Day, Miller checked the security cameras of his indoor sports complex, only to find their inflated sports dome.
“It was a painful process, you know,” he added.
Many club sports that used the Glacier Ridge Sports Park, including the Rochester Lancers, were displaced.
“I had to help them find time, or reimburse their monies," Miller said. "So it was an extreme financial burden.”
But fast forward eight months, and all those athletes will soon be able to hit the field: after a new 72,000 square foot dome was installed and inflated to 70 feet tall.
Impressive to friends of Miller like Larry Trippodo.
“I didn’t expect this," Trippodo said. "I’m just blown away by the size, and it’s beautiful.”
It took the entire weekend for about 50 volunteers to roll out the 15,000 pounds of material, and eight hours to inflate Tuesday morning.
“The people that are connected to me are loving, serving and caring," Miller said. "[It] meant a lot to my family and I.”
“I don’t think I could hit the other side with a golf ball," Lancers assistant coach John Berardicurti added. "I mean that’s a distance, a lot further than it was before.”
And it’s back better than ever.
“I have wind sensors and snow sensors now. That as soon as the wind picks up, it turns the pressure on," Miller said. "This is state-of-the-art, the highest technology you can get in today’s market.”
Now all that’s left is installing the lights and the signature blue turf.
“When they see the Boise, Idaho blue turf they’re going to be pretty excited, because it’s state-of-the-art, and we’re going to get to play games in here,” Miller said.
He hopes the complex will be open to the public in the coming weeks.