The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT June 2, 2012
If you build it - they will come.
With the addition of the Thunder Dome, a new indoor soccer facility in Hayden, that is exactly what the Idaho Thunder Soccer Club is hoping for.
THE FACILITY, known as the "Thunder Dome," is tentatively scheduled to open on Tuesday and is located off U.S. 95 and Miles, giving a year-round facility for training.
"It's about the size of an indoor soccer arena (200x85 feet)," Idaho Thunder director of coaching Briggs Anderson said. "It's not full-sized by any means, but we've got brand new walls, and field turf."
A crew from Chicago flew out to do the installation at the facility, which will provide players a year-round place to work on their skills.
"With the spring in the area, we need a place to provide a good, quality training facility," Anderson said. "It's been just crazy. We went out and got the space and here we are."
They are working to start an indoor league program.
"Now we've got the ability to train 12 months out of the year," Anderson said. "And we also have the potential for a multi-club indoor league instead of traveling to Spokane every day for workouts."
The process started when Miles Coffey, who owns the structure, wanted to do something with the area behind a restaurant already on site that he owns.
"He came to me and asked what we could do with the space in the back," Anderson said. "It will really be a multi-use facility."
Not only that, but parents have the ability to eat in the restaurant and watch their kids practice via closed-circuit television.
"The really cool thing is that parents are able to pull up, park and go in and order sandwiches for dinner," Anderson said. "They can just come in, sit down at a booth and watch their kids play. It's a pretty remarkable thing."
The facility also has offices to hold all of its club activities in the new location.
“Miles has been a huge supporter of this,” Anderson said. “He has really bent over backwards to make this an incredible soccer setting.
“We’re really excited because Idaho Thunder will have a home to call headquarters,” Anderson said. “We’ve got a sense of belonging and parents get something out of what they’re paying for. To be able to provide that and the potential to get better is a great opportunity.”
Training will also be a little easier to manage without a threat of bad weather.
“To be able to have everything under one roof, it really helps the club,” Anderson said. “We’re focused on building quality instead of quantity. This should be able to provide that and the quality should come.”
THE THUNDER is also in plans to host the “X-Mas Cup” — an indoor tournament during the holiday break, as well as opening the arena for a small fee.
“During the week, from the last training session, we’re going to open it to adults and coeds with minimal charge,” Anderson said. “Now, you can just drop in and play soccer anytime you want.”
The club’s under-18 boys team, coached by Ruben Briseno, advanced to the U.S. Far West Regionals June 18-24 in Phoenix.
The U17 program, coached by Anderson, will compete in National Cup XI Northwest Regional June 23-26 in Seattle. The same group finished second in the nation last year.
“We’re hoping to get back and get a national title,” Anderson said.
As far as the opening goes, Anderson added that the Chicago crew is working long hours trying to have the doors open by Tuesday.
“They’re installing it right now,” Anderson said. “They flew in and have a mission of getting out of here. They’ve been working long hours and plowing right through it.”
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].