DSU to break ground on Indoor Athletics Facility Oct. 27
October 19, 2026
MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State University will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Indoor Athletics Facility at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the dome construction site next to the Dan Beacom Track and Field.
Attendees can enter through the Beacom PREMIER Complex main entrance and be led to the groundbreaking ceremony site.
The ceremony will include opening remarks from DSU Foundation CEO and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jill Ruhd, and comments from DSU President John Ballard, CEO of PREMIER Bankcard Miles Beacom speaking on behalf of Denny Sanford, and Athletics Director Bud Postma. A student-athlete will also offer remarks before the ceremonial groundbreaking and photo opportunities.
Artistic rendering of the new DSU Indoor Athletic Facility.
“This groundbreaking marks an exciting step forward for Dakota State University and the Madison community,” Ballard said. “This Indoor Athletics Facility will give our student-athletes a place to train year-round and create new opportunities to host competitions and events. We are very grateful to the DSU supporters whose generosity and commitment are helping make this facility possible.”
A reception with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will follow at noon at the Heartland Captains Club, on the second floor of the Beacom PREMIER Complex. Guests will have an opportunity to visit with donors, university leaders, coaches, student-athletes, and others. At 12:45 p.m., the Trojans men’s basketball team will open its season against Trinity Bible College at Madison High School in the Education Kick-off Classic.
The Indoor Athletics Dome will provide 129,241 square feet of indoor space. It will be 499 feet long, 259 feet wide, and 85 feet tall at its highest point. The facility is designed to support year-round training and competition in sports including soccer, football, softball, baseball, and track, as well as emerging programs such as drone racing. It will also create opportunities for tournaments, youth programs, high school sports, and community events.
Rendering of the new DSU Indoor Athletic Facility.
An approximately 6,300-square-foot accessory building will include two locker rooms, offices, storage, a small concession area, restrooms, and a 1,050-square-foot lobby. A separate storage garage will add more than 2,700 square feet.
On March 2, 2026, Gov. Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 116, approving construction and authorizing $13.3 million for the project. The dome is Phase 2 of the Trojans Unite Building Champions campaign. Phase 1 included the now-completed construction of the Beacom PREMIER Complex, and Phase 3 will add a new arena with basketball and volleyball courts with 2,000 seats. Additional upcoming projects include outdoor baseball and softball fields located at the Beacom PREMIER Complex just east of Brian Kern Family Stadium.
The latest completion estimate for the Indoor Athletics Facility is August 2027.