You’ve decided an air dome is the right way to cover your sports facility. The next question is: seasonal or permanent?

It’s one of the most important decisions in the entire project. A seasonal dome and a permanent dome look similar from a distance, but they’re fundamentally different propositions — in how they’re built, how they perform, what they cost, and how they shape the way your facility operates. Choosing the wrong type means either overspending on capability you don’t need, or underinvesting and regretting it within a year.

This guide walks you through the key differences, explains the trade-offs honestly, and helps you match the right dome type to your specific circumstances.

How They Work

Seasonal Air Domes

A seasonal air dome is a single-skin membrane structure, inflated by one or more continuously running fan units. It’s designed to be erected at the start of winter (typically October) and removed at the end of the season (typically April), giving you covered play through the coldest months while preserving the authentic outdoor experience in summer.

Covair manufactures seasonal domes in-house at its UK facility, drawing on over 40 years of British engineering expertise. The membranes are available in two materials: polyethylene (PE), which is lighter and more affordable, and PVC, which is heavier-duty and longer-lasting.

Permanent Air Domes

A permanent air dome is a double-skin membrane structure with an insulating air gap (and, in premium specifications, additional insulation layers). It stays in place year-round and is designed to deliver full climate control — heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting — in all seasons.

Covair supplies permanent domes through its exclusive UK partnership with DUOL, the world’s leading manufacturer of double-skin air dome technology. DUOL’s patented ECO membrane system offers three specification levels, each delivering progressively better energy performance.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Cost Breakdown

Capital Cost

The upfront investment difference is significant. A seasonal dome for a single tennis court starts from around £85,000, while a permanent dome for the same court starts from approximately £150,000. For larger configurations, the gap widens further.

All prices exclude VAT, groundworks, and optional extras.

Running Costs

This is where the picture gets more nuanced. Seasonal domes are cheaper to run in absolute terms — they only operate for five to six months of the year, and their fan units draw minimal power. But they also only generate revenue for five to six months.

Permanent domes cost more to run (three-phase power, HVAC, year-round lighting) but generate revenue twelve months a year. The higher-specification models — particularly the ECO Ultra with A-rated insulation — achieve 50–70% energy savings compared to single-skin alternatives, making the running cost gap smaller than you might expect.

Energy and Insulation

Energy performance is one of the biggest differentiators between seasonal and permanent domes, and it’s worth understanding in detail.

Seasonal Domes

A single-skin membrane provides minimal insulation. Heat loss is high, which means heating costs are significant if you choose to heat the dome. Many seasonal dome operators accept lower internal temperatures or only heat during peak usage hours to manage costs. The fan units themselves are very efficient — typically 2.5–7.5kW on a standard single-phase supply.

Permanent Domes: The ECO Range

Player Experience

Summer

This is where the seasonal dome has a unique advantage: it isn’t there. Removing the dome in spring means your players enjoy authentic outdoor sport all summer. For tennis and padel clubs in particular, this matters enormously — members value the outdoor experience and may resist playing under a dome when the weather is good.

A permanent dome stays up year-round. While the translucent membrane and HVAC systems create a comfortable environment, some players will always prefer genuine outdoor play in summer. Permanent domes with ventilation louvers and opening panels can mitigate this, but they’re not the same as open air.

Winter

In winter, the permanent dome is the superior playing environment. Full climate control means consistent temperature, humidity, and air quality regardless of conditions outside. Integrated LED sports lighting provides professional-grade illumination. Acoustic treatments in double-skin domes reduce noise levels significantly.

A seasonal dome with heating provides comfortable winter play, but the experience is less refined. Temperature can fluctuate, lighting depends on existing floodlights (unless upgraded), and single-skin acoustics can be lively in larger structures.

Year-Round Summary

Planning and Permissions

Seasonal Domes

Seasonal air domes benefit from a significantly easier planning pathway. Structures erected for fewer than 28 consecutive days generally fall within permitted development rights. In practice, most clubs operate under a seasonal planning consent (typically October to April), which is usually straightforward to obtain.

Key advantages: shorter application timelines, fewer objections (neighbours know it’s temporary), and no permanent alteration to the site. If planning is refused, the dome can be removed without trace.

Permanent Domes

Permanent domes require full planning permission, which involves a more formal application process: design and access statements, visual impact assessments, and potentially longer consultation periods. However, the reversible nature of air domes — even permanent ones can be removed — is viewed favourably by many planning authorities compared to traditional brick-and-steel buildings.

Allow 8–12 weeks for a straightforward permanent dome application, longer if your site is in a conservation area or has other sensitivities.

Operational Considerations

Staffing and Management

Seasonal domes require more hands-on management. Someone needs to coordinate the annual erection and removal, manage the transition periods (switching from outdoor to covered and back), and arrange off-season membrane storage. Many clubs handle erection and removal in-house after initial training, though professional DomeCycle™ services are available.

Permanent domes are operationally simpler once installed. The HVAC and monitoring systems run autonomously (with smart controls and remote management available), and there are no seasonal transitions to manage. Annual maintenance is a professional inspection rather than a full erection/removal cycle.

Revenue Generation

This is often the deciding factor. A seasonal dome generates revenue for approximately five to six months of the year. A permanent dome generates revenue for twelve months. For facilities with high demand and strong pricing power, the additional six months of revenue can be transformative.

Making the Decision

The choice between seasonal and permanent comes down to five key questions:

1. Do your members value outdoor summer play?

If yes, a seasonal dome preserves that experience. Tennis and padel clubs where the outdoor summer experience is part of the club’s identity often prefer seasonal. If year-round consistency matters more — common for football training facilities, elite academies, and commercial leisure centres — permanent is the stronger choice.

2. What’s your budget?

If capital is the primary constraint, seasonal domes offer covered play at roughly half the investment. If you can fund a permanent dome (through capital, financing, or grants), the year-round revenue usually justifies the additional investment.

3. How complex is your planning situation?

If planning permission is uncertain or your site has sensitivities, seasonal domes offer a lower-risk entry point. If you have a clear planning pathway, permanent domes are straightforward to consent.

4. Do you own or lease the land?

Leased land favours seasonal domes: removable, relocatable, and they don’t require the landlord to agree to permanent structures. Owned land opens up both options equally.

5. What’s your long-term vision?

If you’re building a facility that will serve your community for decades, a permanent dome with ECO technology is the investment that delivers the highest long-term value. If your needs are more immediate or uncertain, a seasonal dome provides flexibility and a lower commitment.

Next Steps

• Talk to us: A 30-minute conversation will clarify which option suits your situation. We’ll ask about your sport, your site, your budget, and your ambitions.
• Visit an installation: We can arrange visits to both seasonal and permanent dome sites so you can experience the difference first-hand.
• Get indicative costs: We’ll provide budget estimates for both options based on your specific requirements, with no obligation.
• Explore financing: DomeFinance™ offers lease, hire purchase, and business loan options specifically designed for dome projects.
• Check planning: A pre-application enquiry to your local authority costs very little and gives you early certainty.

Whether you choose seasonal or permanent, an air dome transforms your facility. The right choice simply makes sure the transformation matches your specific needs.