Seasonal vs Permanent Air Dome: Which Is Right for Your Facility?

Choosing between a seasonal and a permanent air dome is one of the most consequential decisions in any sports facility project. Get it right and you match your capital and operating cost profile to your actual usage pattern. Get it wrong and you either overpay in capital, or lose revenue you could have captured.

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The core difference

Seasonal dome: erected in autumn, deflated and removed in spring. The membrane and mechanical equipment are stored during the off-season.

Permanent dome: installed once and remains in place year-round. Provides 12-month indoor capacity.

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Head-to-head comparison

Factor	Seasonal dome	Permanent dome
Capital cost	60–75% of equivalent permanent	100% baseline
Annual installation/removal	£10,000–£30,000 / $12,000–$38,000	None
Foundation	Ground anchors or ballast	Concrete ring beam (typically)
Summer income	Outdoor courts generate revenue	Full indoor revenue 12 months
Planning	Often permitted as temporary structure	Usually requires full planning permission
Membrane lifespan	15–25 years	12–20 years (same material, more UV)
Revenue potential	5–7 months indoor / 5–7 months outdoor	12 months indoor
Break-even period	Typically 2–4 years	Typically 4–7 years

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When a seasonal dome is the right choice

1. You already have high-value outdoor courts or pitches in summer.
2. Your market is in a temperate climate with defined playing seasons.
3. Your capital budget is constrained.
4. Planning permission for a permanent structure is difficult.

Typical seasonal dome payback period:

Dome size	Capital cost	Annual dome income (net)	Payback
2-court tennis bubble	$150,000–$240,000	$55,000–$90,000	2–3 years
4-court tennis / pickleball	$320,000–$550,000	$100,000–$200,000	2–4 years
Small soccer dome	$480,000–$750,000	$120,000–$250,000	3–5 years

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When a permanent dome is the right choice

1. Your climate is cold or wet for most of the year.
2. You want to build a full indoor sports business.
3. You are covering new courts rather than existing ones.
4. You have a long lease or own the land outright.
5. Energy cost management is a priority.

Typical permanent dome payback period:

Dome size	Capital cost	Annual dome income (net)	Payback
4-court tennis dome	$500,000–$800,000	$110,000–$220,000	3–6 years
Multi-sport (5-a-side + courts)	$800,000–$1,500,000	$180,000–$380,000	4–6 years
Large indoor sports centre	$2,000,000–$4,000,000	$350,000–$800,000	5–8 years

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The total cost of ownership comparison (4-court dome, 20 years)

Cost element	Seasonal dome	Permanent dome
Year 0 capital cost	$420,000	$600,000
Annual install/removal (20 years)	$280,000 total	$0
Energy costs (20 years)	$450,000 total	$650,000 total
Membrane replacement (year 15)	$90,000	$120,000
Maintenance (20 years)	$160,000 total	$180,000 total
Total 20-year cost	$1,400,000	$1,550,000
Approximate revenue (20 yrs)	$2,400,000	$4,600,000
Net 20-year position	+$1,000,000	+$3,050,000

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Decision framework

Question	Lean seasonal if…	Lean permanent if…
What is your summer outdoor revenue?	High	Low or zero
How many months per year is outdoor sport impractical?	4–6 months	7+ months
What is your lease length on the site?	Under 15 years	15+ years or freehold
Do you need 12-month revenue certainty?	No	Yes
Is planning permission for permanent structure viable?	No	Yes

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HeroX AirDomes has installed both seasonal and permanent air-supported structures across the US, UK, Europe, and UAE.

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