Round Valley Ensphere Remains Community Anchor for Sports and Safety
The Round Valley Ensphere, locally known as the Tot Workman Dome, is a wooden geodesic stadium that has served Round Valley High School and the twin towns of Eagar and Springerville since the early 1990s. With seating for roughly 5,500 for football and up to 9,000 for basketball and volleyball, the dome continues to drive local activity, support school programs and provide a regional option for emergency sheltering.
The Round Valley Ensphere is a distinctive local asset that combines athletic, cultural and emergency functions for residents of Apache County. Built in the early 1990s as a wooden geodesic dome, the facility hosts Round Valley High School football, basketball and volleyball, and accommodates concerts, community events and large gatherings for the twin towns of Eagar and Springerville.
Capacity figures underscore the dome's regional reach. For football the venue seats roughly 5,500 spectators while for basketball and volleyball it can hold up to 9,000. Those seating numbers allow the venue to stage events at a scale uncommon for small town venues, drawing attendees from across the county and nearby areas and concentrating economic activity through local hotels, restaurants and retail businesses during event days.
Beyond sports and entertainment the Ensphere serves a public safety function. The facility has been used for emergency purposes and remains a viable staging area or shelter in regional responses. Its enclosed, high capacity structure provides a controlled environment for sheltering residents, housing response operations and hosting mass care functions when needed. That dual role as both civic gathering place and emergency resource increases its value to local officials and residents alike.
The dome's age and unique wooden construction create both strengths and challenges. As a long running community icon it supports school identity and extracurricular programs, providing a year round indoor venue for practices and competitions. At the same time maintaining an older wooden geodesic structure requires ongoing investment to meet modern building standards, energy efficiency expectations and emergency readiness needs.
For county and school district decision makers the policy implications are clear. Continued upkeep and targeted upgrades would preserve the facility's economic and safety benefits. Exploring state and federal grant opportunities for community facilities and emergency preparedness could reduce local budget pressure. As Apache County plans for long term resilience and economic vitality, sustaining the Round Valley Ensphere will remain a practical and symbolic priority for the region.
