Over the course of last week and the weekend, the Minot State Athletics Department was in search of volunteers to help with part of the ongoing process to repair the bubble. Since it was damaged during the blizzard, the bubble has been out of commission, however, there was one final push that was needed in order to speed up the repair process.

MSU turned to the Minot community for help in what was expected to be a three-day process where volunteers would participate in four-hour shifts disassembling the bubble, unscrewing bolts, and lifting and moving different components and parts.

“It was a very interesting experience in trying to recruit 50 volunteers to help. One of the most difficult aspects of the project was the logistics of trying to anticipate when the manufacturer would be ready for us. It was a tall task, but we were able to work with all the volunteers and get it done,” Kevin Harmon, the Vice President for Student Affairs, told the Minot Daily News.

Thanks to the outpouring of support from the Minot community, what was expected to be a three-day job was completed in just two days. Members of the Bishop Ryan and South Prairie wrestling team, The Pursuit Church, Minot State Athletics Department, Minot State staff members, and individual members of the Minot community all played key roles in making this such a successful experience.

“All of those groups helped get the job done in two days. At the end of day one, we had a very productive day, and I was hopeful we could finish the job on day two. The team that was working on it could see the progress and realized that the end was in sight,” Harmon said.

There was an outside vendor group that was also brought in to help with the task. In addition to lending helping hands with the work, the vendor was also responsible for facilitating the group of volunteers and making sure the entire process ran smoothly.

Regarding what’s next for the bubble, it was packaged up and sent back to the manufacturers in the Twin Cities where it will undergo further analysis and additional repairs will be made if needed. With the significant damage that the blizzard caused, further evaluation by experts in these types of repairs will provide clarity on whether the bubble in its current state can be used again or if it needs to be replaced.

Fixing the bubble is not only important for being able to provide an indoor facility during the winter months, but also for another project on the horizon. The field turf is going to be replaced in July and with the bubble being on the surface, it had to be removed for MSU to move forward with that project.

The call for help was indeed a tall task and came paired with quick notice. The Minot community, however, rose to the occasion and provided more than enough help to be able to make the task seem less daunting.