When a sports club, school, or local authority needs to cover a playing area, the instinctive first thought is often a traditional brick-and-steel building. It’s familiar, well understood, and feels permanent. But in the last decade, air-supported structures have transformed the market — and for many facilities, they now represent the smarter, faster, and more cost-effective choice.

This guide sets out an honest, side-by-side comparison of air domes and traditional sports buildings. It covers cost, speed, planning, flexibility, energy performance, player experience, and long-term value. The aim isn’t to argue that one is always better than the other — it’s to help you decide which is right for your specific situation.

Cost Comparison

For most organisations, this is where the conversation starts. The cost difference between an air dome and a traditional building is significant — and it’s not just about the headline price.

Capital Cost

Note: Air dome figures are for seasonal or permanent options depending on size. Traditional building figures include steel frame, cladding, foundations, services, and fit-out. All exclude VAT.

The capital cost difference is typically 5–10x. For a community tennis club with a £200,000 budget, a traditional building is simply out of reach. An air dome delivers covered play at a fraction of the investment.

Running Costs

Traditional buildings have lower ongoing energy costs for heating (thanks to solid insulation), but higher costs for maintenance, business rates, and lifecycle repairs. Air domes — particularly modern permanent domes with double-skin insulation — have narrowed the energy gap considerably.

Speed of Delivery

This is one of the most compelling advantages of air dome technology. The difference in project timelines is dramatic.

A seasonal air dome can go from initial enquiry to operational facility in as little as four weeks. A traditional building project routinely takes 12–18 months from concept to completion. For a tennis club that needs covered courts before winter, or a school that has secured funding with a spend deadline, this speed is transformative.

Planning Permission

Planning permission is often the biggest barrier to covering a sports facility — and one of the areas where air domes offer the greatest advantage.

Seasonal Air Domes

Seasonal air domes that are erected for fewer than 28 days at a time generally fall within permitted development rights and do not require formal planning permission. In practice, many clubs operate on a seasonal basis (October to April) under a seasonal planning consent, which is typically easier to obtain than full permanent permission.

Permanent Air Domes

Permanent air domes require planning permission, but applications are often more straightforward than for traditional buildings. The visual impact is lower, the structure is reversible (it can be removed without trace), and there is no permanent alteration to the land. These factors are viewed favourably by many planning authorities.

Traditional Buildings

A traditional sports building always requires full planning permission, which involves detailed architectural drawings, structural calculations, environmental assessments, and often months of consultation. Refusal rates are higher, and conditions (such as restricted opening hours or design modifications) are more common.

Flexibility and Reversibility

This is where the comparison becomes particularly interesting for organisations that don’t own their land, or whose needs may change over time.

For clubs on leased land, schools with evolving facility plans, or organisations unsure of their long-term needs, the reversibility of an air dome is a significant strategic advantage. A traditional building is a permanent commitment. An air dome is an investment you can take with you.

Player Experience

Both air domes and traditional buildings can deliver excellent playing environments, but the experience is different.

Light and Atmosphere

Air domes offer a unique playing experience. The translucent membrane allows natural daylight to flood the interior, creating a bright, airy environment that feels far more open than a conventional indoor facility. Players consistently report that playing under a dome feels closer to outdoor tennis, football, or padel than playing inside a traditional building.

Traditional buildings rely entirely on artificial lighting. While modern LED systems provide excellent illumination, the enclosed feel is fundamentally different.

Acoustics

This is one area where traditional buildings have historically had the advantage. Air domes can amplify sound, particularly in large, single-skin structures. However, modern permanent domes with double-skin membranes and acoustic treatments have largely resolved this issue. DUOL’s ECO Ultra specification, for example, delivers acoustic performance comparable to conventional buildings.

Climate Control

Permanent air domes with modern HVAC systems maintain consistent temperature and humidity year-round. Seasonal domes with heating provide comfortable winter play, though temperature management is less precise. Traditional buildings with solid walls offer inherently stable thermal performance, but at significantly higher build cost.

Height and Space

Air domes can cover very large areas with no internal columns or supports. A single dome can span a full-size football pitch, multiple tennis courts, or an athletics track — with clear heights of 12m or more. Traditional buildings of equivalent scale require significant structural steelwork and are exponentially more expensive.

Energy Performance

Energy efficiency has historically been the strongest argument in favour of traditional buildings. Modern dome technology has significantly narrowed this gap.

The ECO Ultra permanent dome achieves A-rated energy certification with a U-value of 0.65 W/m²K. While this doesn’t match the best-insulated traditional walls, the dome’s natural daylight transmission significantly reduces lighting energy — often offsetting the insulation difference. The total energy cost comparison is closer than most people expect.

Durability and Lifespan

A common concern about air domes is longevity. How does a membrane structure compare to a conventional building over time?

A PVC air dome membrane typically lasts 20–30 years. A PE membrane lasts 10–15 years. When replacement is needed, it’s a straightforward, relatively affordable process — the equivalent of re-roofing, but without scaffolding, temporary closures, or structural complications.

Traditional buildings last longer in absolute terms, but their lifecycle costs are front-loaded (higher capital) and their refurbishment is more disruptive and expensive. Over a 30-year horizon, the total cost of ownership comparison often favours the air dome.

When to Choose Which

Neither option is universally better. The right choice depends on your specific circumstances.

Choose an Air Dome When:

• Budget is the primary constraint: You need covered play but can’t fund a traditional building.
• Speed matters: You need the facility operational within weeks, not months.
• Planning is uncertain: You want to minimise planning risk or operate on leased land.
• Flexibility is valued: Your needs may change, or you want the option to relocate.
• Natural light is important: You want an airy, daylit playing environment.
• Large spans are needed: You need to cover a large area without internal columns.

Choose a Traditional Building When:

• Maximum thermal performance is essential: You need the absolute best insulation for energy-intensive activities.
• Multi-storey facilities are required: You need viewing galleries, changing rooms, offices, or hospitality above or alongside the playing area.
• Architectural presence is a priority: The building needs to make a visual statement or integrate with existing architecture.
• Permanent ancillary facilities are needed: Changing rooms, reception areas, and retail spaces built into the structure.
• Budget allows: You have the capital (or financing capacity) for the higher investment.

Next Steps

If you’re weighing up an air dome against a traditional building, here’s how to move forward:

• Get comparative quotes: Ask for indicative costs for both options. The numbers will clarify the decision faster than anything else.
• Visit both types: Play under an air dome and inside a traditional sports building. The experience is the best guide.
• Check planning early: A pre-application enquiry tells you what’s realistic before you invest time in detailed designs.
• Model the financials: Compare total cost of ownership over 20–30 years, not just the upfront price.
• Talk to operators: Speak to clubs and facilities that have chosen each option and learn from their experience.

The right covering solution depends on your sport, your site, your budget, and your ambitions. Understanding the genuine strengths and limitations of each option is the first step towards a decision you’ll be confident in for decades.