Poor weather in the spring of 1971 caused delays in the construction of Idaho's new stadium, and the Vandals played "home" games at Bronco Stadium in Boise and at Joe Albi in Spokane in September. After a three-year absence, the UI Vandals returned to campus in Moscow on October 9 at their new "Idaho Stadium", originally an outdoor venue with natural grass. The debut game was a Vandal victory over Idaho State, and Idaho won eight straight games and finished at 8–3, their best football record to date. Artificial turf was installed the next year, and the stadium was enclosed three years later in 1975, renamed the Kibbie Dome.
