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Sports have always been an important part of Donny Mark’s life and the 32-year-old has already had a lot of interesting experiences because of it. Mark grew up in Shorewood, MN where he played multiple sports. But he excelled in soccer, playing for Tonka United and making the Region II ODP Team. He went on to play for Division I Marquette University, leading the team in scoring in his freshman year. He eventually transferred to the University of Connecticut where he played in two NCAA Final Four games and helped his team win the NCAA National Championship in 2000.
After college he spent time playing professionally for: Montagnarde (France), Carolina Dynamo, Des Moines Menace, MN Thunder, Parramatta Eagles (Australia) and a team in Shanghai, China.
Mark lived in China for seven years speaking Mandarin Chinese and starting a sports clothing company called the10 Soccer which outfitted teams and players in the US, China, Australia and the UK.
While in China, Mark started a youth soccer club called QiLin FC. He grew the club from 30 players to over 500 several years later. His club merged with another club that involved other sports. He eventually sold the club in 2010 and moved back to the Twin Cities where he is starting another chapter of his life, owning and running a sports dome.
Mark recently purchased the Long Lake Golf Dome in October and will reopen December 10th as a muti-pupose facility. The dome had to undergo some serious refurbishing including laying new fill turf and updating the lighting. But things are looking good.
Donny Mark with his newest venture, the10 Dome
The name of the new facility? The10 Dome, which Mark explains on his website represents all the best parts of soccer; creativity, imagination, speed, skill, and the purity of the game. The #10 player historically in teams is the central midfield playmaker.
Mark told the Lakeshore Weekly News the plans to have various activities going on at one time. They will continue to use the golf tees on the main level and convert the upper-deck level to batting cages and spectator seating. He also explained that the dome will have open field rental for baseball, lacrosse, soccer and softball.
The dome itself is 65 x 50 yards with 20 golf stalls for up to 40 golfers, 3 baseball/softball batting cages, soccer goals, lacrosse goals, and even has a clubhouse area.
The10 Dome will be having an open house on December 18th from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. For more information see the10 Dome’s website.
