NDSU Athletic Facilities Have a Lot to Offer to Players

Since making the move to Division I in 2004, NDSU Athletics have continued their traditional winning ways. The Bison proved they can continue to recruit athletes with the best of the Midwest, and these athletes have won numerous championships for the Herd in the last eight years. The championship banners are hung in the athletic facilities around campus that are coincidently enough, also some of the best in the Midwest.

While the athletes here at NDSU have proven to be some of the best in their region, so have the facilities they play in. With recent renovations and more to come in the future, NDSU has become an attractive place to play for prospects during their recruiting visits.

Arguably the most recognized complex on the NDSU campus is Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. The Bison rank in the top 10 nationally for attendance in the Football Championship Subdivision, with more than 100,000 fans a year passing through the dome. About 19,000 exuberant fans can pack into the Fargodome and help contribute its reputation as one of the loudest environments in college football.

Bleacherreport.com named the Fargodome in their top 50 greatest college stadiums in 2011. With a newly installed artificial turf and four 16-foot LED video boards, the Fargodome has become known for a great game day experience for players and the fans.

The Bison Sports Arena also plays a great role in Bison Athletics. The arena is home to men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and indoor track and field. Opened in 1970, the BSA can seat 5,830 for basketball and wrestling and 1,851 for indoor track events.

The 150,639 square feet of space in the BSA is home to a main basketball court, surrounded by bleachers that can be converted into four synthetic courts or six volleyball courts, which is surrounded by a six-lane, 200-meter track. Offices, locker rooms, classrooms, an athletic training room and a seven-lane swimming pool are also on the main floor.

The second level has a weight training facility and the McCormick Wrestling Complex. In 2010, Sanford Health donated $10 million to spark a renovation to the BSA. The renovation, still in the starting phases, will transform the BSA into a worthy and modern Division I arena.

Inside the BSA, the McCormick Wrestling Complex was completely renovated in 2000. Said to be one of the premier wrestling practice facilities in the country, the complex offers 6,300 square feet of space. The cardio room and the video room are home to state-of-the-art equipment, computers, television and meeting room capabilities.

The Shelly Ellig Track and Field Facility, located just southwest of the BSA, is the newest addition to the NDSU campus. Estimated at 74,800 square feet, the facility will include a 200-meter, eight-lane track, multiple long jump, triple jump and pole vault runways, and a shot put and weight throw section on the infield. The facility will also hold baseball and softball batting cages. Bleachers inside will seat up to 1,000 spectators.

Home to Bison volleyball, the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse is a unique venue that has served several NCAA and conference tournaments since 1978. Originally known as the Physical Education Building, it was renamed in 1995. With the move to Division I athletics, the BBF received many improvements, including a new digital scoreboard and stats display, new floor markings and design and new chair back seating for 1,206 fans. The BBF will be the host of this year’s Summit League Championships.

Completed in 1997, the Ellig Sports Complex is home to Bison soccer, outdoor track and field, and softball. The running track has a ProTurf surface over all nine lanes. Bleachers line both sides of the track and natural-grass infield and can hold up to 3,500 spectators.

The NDSU softball field is one of the top playing fields in the Upper Midwest. The field is surrounded by a permanent fence and warning track. The dugouts are enclosed and covered and a press box is situated above the first base bench. An electronic scoreboard is located above the right-center field fence.

The Bison baseball squad arguably plays in one of the best facilities in college. With seating up to 4,419 fans, Newman Outdoor Field has been home to NDSU and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the Independent American Association since 1997. Dressing rooms are located under the stadium behind each dugout and there is also an indoor batting cage. High above the 12 spectator suites is a two-tiered press box with radio and television booths. Beyond the outfield fence is a scoreboard with complete line score and team totals and a color message board used for player statistics and other information.