North Dakota State Foundation Backs $41M Arena Expansion

FARGO (AP) - The North Dakota State University Development Foundation says it will guarantee funding to expand and renovate a sports facility on campus.

The Sanford Health Athletic Complex and Scheels Center will include seating for more than 5,700 fans for basketball, as well as other workout and sports medicine areas.

The development foundation will back the project up to $41 million. It still needs approval from the state Board of Higher Education and state Legislature.

School officials say renovation of the Bison Sports Arena will give NDSU "a true Division I athletic complex."

Sanford Health has given $10 million to the project and the Scheel family $5 million. School officials announced Thursday that Fargo businessman Jim Ingstad and his wife, Victoria, have committed $1.2 million to the project.