FARGO, N.D. - FARGODOME and Gate City Bank announced today an exclusive branding rights partnership for the Gate City Bank Field. The field will be known as the Gate City Bank Field at the FARGODOME. The $1 million partnership will help make possible the installation of new Astroturf GameDay Grass 3DH Stadium Surfacing football field turf, which will be installed in June of 2012.
"We are very appreciative of our existing partnership with Gate City Bank, and are very excited with this opportunity to enhance the relationship between FARGODOME and Gate City Bank," said Rob Sobolik, General Manager FARGODOME. "When we started discussing different organizations and which ones to approach about branding rights on the new football turf, Gate City Bank was an organization that rose to the top because of their history of support, not only of FARGODOME, but with many other organizations within Fargo-Moorhead and the surrounding area."
Other criteria considered was an entity that has ties with communities throughout North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota. It was important to consider this since the new football turf will not only benefit North Dakota State University, high schools and other organizations located in and around Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo, but it will also benefit all of the schools outside of the community such as Lisbon, Valley City, Jamestown, and Wahpeton that have played, and will continue to play, football games at FARGODOME.
Astroturf GameDay Grass 3DH Stadium Surfacing football field turf was selected to replace the current turf because of its innovative technology, consistency and precise performance across the entire field. In extensive testing, AstroTurf GameDay Grass systems perform most like natural grass from ball roll, to slide resistance, to the biomechanical function of cleats penetrating and releasing properly. A study at Michigan State University, funded by NFL Charities, found that AstroTurf GameDay Grass systems looked and performed more like natural grass than any other synthetic product measured, also making it the safest option.
The rubber infill system is composed of highly-durable rubber, extracted from post-consumer recycled tires by certified recyclers all across the U.S., keeping up to 20,000 tires from being placed in landfills. These materials have been rigorously tested by the international scientific communities for both environmental and human health hazards and have been found to pose no risks.
"We are excited to begin this new partnership with the FARGODOME," said Gate City Bank Chairman, President, and CEO Steve Swiontek. "Gate City Bank has a commitment of supporting organizations that provide a better way of life for the communities we serve. The Gate City Bank Field will provide a top-quality playing surface for student athletes from high schools and colleges across the region. This partnership will also expand our longtime support of North Dakota State University, with Bison football being the primary user of the Gate City Bank Field."
"Generous partners like Gate City Bank are vital to the ongoing success of NDSU and allow us to bring ever greater benefits to the entire state of North Dakota," NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani said. "We are on a trajectory to accomplish great things, and very much appreciate this major gift, which will be a part of realizing that potential."
"We are very excited to be putting in our new turf for next football season," said NDSU Athletic Director Gene Taylor. "This turf will have such a positive impact for our football program in terms of recruiting, wear and tear on our athletes and player safety. We want to thank Gate City Bank, the FARGODOME and The Fargo Dome Authority for their part in making this new turf possible."
The branding rights agreement will last for 11 years, and will include signage below the scoreboard and on the end zone wraps, as well as field name identification on the playing surface itself.
