Bison Sports Arena

Dedicated as the "Field House and Physical Education Classroom Building" in October 1970, the Bison Sports Arena was built at an initial cost of $3.1 million, including $1.75 million in state-appropriated funds.

The Bison Sports Arena was open 44 years before undergoing 2 1/2 years of construction starting in April 2014 to become the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.

The BSA was home to NDSU men's and women's basketball, wrestling, and indoor track and field. It was a popular venue for high school basketball championships and also hosted the university's winter commencement exercises. President George W. Bush spoke at the BSA in March 2001 and February 2005.

The main floor space featured the game-day basketball court, three full-size auxiliary courts, two batting cages for baseball/softball, and a 200-meter running track with six lanes. The arena hosted 12 NCAA Division II championships - five in women's basketball, three in track and field, three in wrestling, and one in volleyball.

Estimated crowds of more than 8,000 fans packed the BSA for college basketball in decades past, but its final seating configuration accommodated 5,830 spectators, including chairback seats for 1,851 on the upper level. The building had 150,639 square feet of space divided over three levels altogether.

Offices, locker rooms, a classroom, meeting room and the athletic training space were located on the main floor. The second level included the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame display, an extensive weight training facility, and the McCormick Wrestling Complex, which offered 6,300 square feet of space with cardiovascular training equipment and a team lounge.

Its final upgrades coincided with NDSU's move to Division I and included the October 2004 installation of a three-year old portable basketball floor purchased from Kansas State University, and the December 2005 installation of new Daktronics scoring and timing equipment with video boards at center court and each endline, digital media tables, and three-sided shot clocks.