The University of South Dakota has received a major gift to build a new indoor track and field society.
The $20 million gift is from philanthropist Denny Sanford. University officials say it matches the largest gift to USD athletics in its history.
The money goes toward the development of the Gassen Family Fieldhouse, which is named in honor of the Bill and Jill Gassen family. Bill Gassen is president and CEO of Sanford Health.
"I want to thank Mr. Sanford for this transformative gift to Coyote Athletics, and we are thrilled to honor amazing Coyotes in Bill and Jill Gassen," said USD Athletics Director Jon Schemmel. "Not only will this gift build a world class indoor track facility, but it will also create an entire new home for our track and field programs, allowing us to turn the DakotaDome into a turf-down facility. All 430 of our student-athletes and the community of Vermillion will benefit tremendously from this investment."
USD athletics officials say the new fieldhouse is a “world class” indoor track facility. Aside from being the home of the school’s track and field team, it also includes training spaces for USD’s other student athletes.
The facility will feature a 200-meter banked track with a pair of perimeter warm-up lanes, plus a 60-meter straightaway. It will also feature a pair of long jump/triple jump pits, two pole vaulting stations, two high jumps over straightaways and a pair of throwing cages.
"This new indoor track facility will be a game-changer for our student-athletes," said Director of USD Track and Field and Cross Country Lucky Huber. "More than just a building, this facility represents our commitment to giving students the resources they need to reach their full potential—athletically, academically and personally."
The goal is to open in 2028 or early 2029. Officials say the total cost estimate for the facility is between $45 and $50 million.