A tennis bubble is not like a goldfish bowl with the fish exhaling bubbles while they play tennis but in fact a tennis bubble is actually an air supported structure where people can play or watch tennis matches. It makes an effective structure because a tennis bubble is created to withstand seasonal temperatures including rains, storms, winds and snow. It is an air pressurized building made to last for years.
There are several tennis bubbles in NYC area and also in other areas of the country. The original air supported dome was introduced in the 19602 and since the 1970s using a tennis bubble to protect players from the elements has been a growth industry. They make excellent area where players are protected from the elements and these domes can withstand a lot of weather during the year. They can also be created from a translucent material that lets natural light into the structure. They also can be created in custom sizes and shapes for many different locations and different purposes. An indoor gym can coexist along with an air supported dome so that the facility can be multi-purpose.
These can be designed as modules and can cover parts of a sports arena or be removable and temporary just for the bad weather seasons of the year. It is a flexible alternative to a conventional building. It is also a low cost alternative to a conventional building. Since it has no inside the wall plumbing or other equipment it is a low maintenance option for covering a sports field easily and quickly. And the air pressure is not felt by the players. They are easy to set up and can be dismantled easily as there are no columns or poles to hold it up. It will have a safety built tension able system to hold the roof in place. Then it will require an external air flow system to keep the internal air pressure stabilized despite the various elements raging around it.
The inside can be climate controlled as necessary. The floor can be specially constructed tennis flooring or Astroturf or whatever is required for a particular sport. It certainly is an option to letting those tennis courts sit idle during inclement weather, a sure way to keep those revenues flowing into the till. One feature so that the air doesn’t escape is these structures are made to utilize a double door feature or called air lock doors which are installed in two sets. This type of door is also used as an emergency exit if required.
The fabric which makes up these modules is a lightweight fabric such as vinyl or polyester coated with Teflon or perhaps PVC. They can be made air tight or as a roof top only. They also can be ventilated. They are secured with some form of anchoring system depending on the location and the intended permanence of the structure. If used to cover a swimming pool it will be anchored differently than a more permanent tennis dome.
