A Word from Athletics Director David Herbster

Great work and progress are being made by the construction team, and hopefully many of you had a chance to see that at one of our three home football games. The overall project is on schedule and work will continue behind the scenes during the fall. The live webcam will go back online at the conclusion of the football season, so you'll be able to follow along on the progress with us. If you have not already, visit the facility webpage to learn more about the project.

Construction Updates

With three home football games already in the books, the DakotaDome looks a lot different than it did in mid-August. The turf may be down on the Dome floor, but the progress of the renovations on the west side has not slowed down. A lot has been accomplished in the last month, both visible and behind the scenes. Additional precast columns and raker beams have been installed in the northwest corner in preparation for the remainder of the stadia to be installed. All concrete has been poured for the floors of the new football locker room and lounge, and the framework for future interior walls is being erected. Outside the Dome, earthwork continues as the construction crew clears space to build the new west side bridges as well as the new drive lane and parking lot.

Project Highlights

The Locker Room
"The new football locker room will create a high-quality 'home' for our football student-athletes," said South Dakota Head Coach Bob Nielson. One of the first things players will notice when they enter their new locker room is its size. The room covers 6,320 square feet, or nearly four times the space of the current locker room and will feature 110 individual lockers.

Each locker features a customizable nameplate, a padded seat, ample storage for personal clothing, practice and game gear, and a floor to ceiling ventilation system used to dry equipment. There is a lockable section for personal items and standard outlets for electronics and USB connections. In addition, the room boasts an internal sound system and 20 individual showerheads. "The locker room will be spacious, functional and address the current and future needs of our football program," said Coach Nielson.

The Players' Lounge
Near the locker room area there will be a spacious players' lounge where student-athletes can relax, study and hang out with teammates. The room will offer comfortable seating, televisions and gaming systems, and a nutrition area where players can refuel with nutritious snacks and beverages that fit the needs of the on-the-go lifestyle of a student-athlete. The lounge will also feature small table seating for individual or group study. 

Supporting the Project
 

Renovations in the DakotaDome are beginning to take shape. The progress being made to create a championship-level facility wouldn't be possible without passionate donors who believe in the project.  Ryan Taylor graduated from USD in 1993 with an accounting degree and in 1999 with a Juris Doctor. He explained why giving to the project was important to him. "I'm excited about the continued enhancement of USD's athletic facilities. This renovation enhances the resources available to student-athletes, staff and faculty and heightens the experience for fans," Taylor said. "I'm looking forward to watching football games from the new suites because they are close to the field and all the action."

When it comes to recruiting top athletes and building lifelong fans, a university's training and game-day facilities are as important as its reputation. In fact, a 2016 study showed that 99 percent of surveyed schools planned to invest in space improvements in the next five years. Infrastructure updates and state-of-the-art amenity upgrades will ensure South Dakota remains not only competitive but continues to lead the way.

"I enjoyed earning both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from USD, so it's exciting to be part of this project by giving back. Over the years, I've been able to build relationships with the Athletic Department and the coaching staff. They are doing great things with the student-athletes, so it means a lot to be able to support them," Taylor said. "My work with the USD Foundation Board of Directors has shown me how essential it is for alumni and donors to support campus initiatives."

With construction already underway, fundraising continues to keep the project going. For information on how you can support the project, contact Andy Carr, Andrew.Carr@usdfoundation.org or (605) 658-5507. Also, watch for the "Finish the Dome" text-to-give campaign at each home game.