NDSU announced Jim and Victoria Ingstad have committed $1.2 million to the “Building the Competitive Edge for Bison Athletics” campaign for the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. The gift, announced Oct. 10, will be recognized by naming the club room and media workroom in the Scheels Center basketball arena.
Jim Ingstad is the owner of Radio FM Media, which includes Bob 95 FM, Big 98.7, 107.9 The Fox, Q105.1 Rocks, True Oldies 1660 and 1450 KBMW AM. He is a partner in Gateway Chevrolet, which supports the Bison by providing courtesy cars to coaches. Ingstad also supports Bison athletics through the scholarship endowment program and previously owned Radio Fargo-Moorhead (now Midwest Communications), which is the radio home of NDSU athletics.
"Vicki and I are excited and honored to be part of the new Sanford Health Athletic Complex," Ingstad said. "Watching the commitment Gene and his team have had guiding NDSU into Division I athletics has been amazing and has inspired us to become a part of their success."
The expansion and renovation of the existing Bison Sports Arena will transform the facility and the surrounding area, known as the Sanford Health Athletic Complex, into a true Division I athletic complex reflecting the new NDSU. Additionally, it will serve as the "front door" venue welcoming student-athletes and campus guests with the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame, Hall of Champions and various fan services and facilities.
“Jim and Vicki have been longtime supporters to Bison athletics in many ways, and this shows their continued support," said NDSU athletic director Gene Taylor. "I value my close and personal friendship with Jim and Vicki, so getting a gift of this size from your friends is very special. This project is extremely important to our program."
"The Ingstads' exceptional gift demonstrates the enthusiasm and support in our surrounding community for NDSU and Bison athletics," said NDSU president Dean L. Bresciani. "As major business leaders, they obviously appreciate that the successes of the campus and community have become inseparable."
Scheels Center will seat more than 5,700 fans for basketball, and a two-court basketball training facility will be added to the southwest corner of the existing structure. The west-side addition will house human performance facilities, including strength and conditioning, sports medicine and rehabilitation areas. The renovated arena also will have an academic center for student-athletes.
The newly built Shelly Ellig Indoor Track and Field Facility opened for training and competition in December 2012.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.
