ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release) – Gypsy Day weekend will include a groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of the new Northern State University Regional Sports Complex.
The ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, outside the south entrance of the Barnett Center. Numerous officials related to the project will speak, including NSU President Dr. Tim Downs, Athletic Director Josh Moon and Jim Thares of the South Dakota Board of Regents.
Work will soon be underway on the Barnett Center addition, part of the sports complex project. The complex will also include Dacotah Bank Stadium and Koehler Hall of Fame Softball Field. Work on the stadium will tentatively start in spring 2020, pending a fundraising goal of $55 million.
Once completed, the complex will make campus one contiguous space, stretching from the new Harvey C. Jewett IV Regional Science Education Center to the stadium and softball field – essentially from 12th to 17th avenues. The new facility will greatly enhance the on-campus student experience – students will be able to walk to a game rather than drive – as well as enhancing the fan experience. Features will include a designated tailgating lot; family-oriented activities such as bean bag tournaments and bounce castles; and seating closer to the action.
Attached to the south side of the BC, there will be a multipurpose champion’s club on the second floor. This space, designed to seat more than 350 people, can be used for events such as seated meals during game days, wedding receptions, and the annual NSU Honors Breakfast.
The Regional Sports Complex is one of three projects of the Educational Impact Campaign. Fundraising is ongoing for the $55 million campaign, which also includes the completed Athletic and Recreation Fields and a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, currently under construction at the former site of Jerde Hall.
For more information about campus improvement projects, visit NSU Master Plan.