Bison Forum

It may look good on paper but in reality does the Fargodome measure up?

Did the FBS pass on NDSU because of the stadium and Fargos on-going reluctance to bring it up to current standards?
Our closest partner. Brand new
Recent FCS move-up rebuilt brand new

Our current move-up rivals:


Tarleton State. Looking good with money for expansion



Sacramento State. 25,000 seats under construction I believe

I don't believe for a moment that our stadium has played any part in not getting a FBS invite.
And while the Dyno Dykeman Stadium is nice on a 70 degree day, I'll take our old heated shed any day.

User1 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 11:49 pm I don't believe for a moment that our stadium has played any part in not getting a FBS invite.
And while the Dyno Dykeman Stadium is nice on a 70 degree day, I'll take our old heated shed any day.

Its a plus if anything.

at 32 its serving well. Physically it’s fine. Capacity wise it’s a good FCS stadium. I’m not sure about FBS.

It has functional problems. No plans are underway to fix them. Most importantly its capacity is fixed limiting its revenue potential. Competing move-up schools and NIU seem to have solved those problems.

Planned expansion capacity was cancelled by leftist democrat mayor and over zealous, misguided, student body President. What was built was a compromise salvaged from their attempts to cancel the project.
expansion capacity included a second deck that could have been expanded as indicated. The top 20-30 rows of the lower deck would have been suits. Capacity as completed would have been 25 - 30,000 or so. Just what an FBS NDSU needs. Revenue capabilities would have been greatly enhanced. It would have been more expensive but, as we see now, a great investment.

In the FBS, where revenues rule the day, it seems NDSU would be a more attractive move up candidate if the above plan had been approved.

Wasn't the original proposal for the Fargodome something with about 25K-30K seats and similar in design to the Tacoma Dome?

That’s what I remember too. They weren’t really sure what it would look like but they knew they needed a certain budget amount to build it out as planned, in 2 phases.

It was like the Tacoma Dome was the picture on the brochure and the capacity and layout were the end goals. The second phase expansion capability would bring it up to the 25-30,000 range.

In the long run The foolish and misguided campaign to kill the project was a very expensive mistake for Fargo and may now have cost NDSU an FBS invite.

Barring unexpected surprises, for now FBS is over for NDSU. Maybe it’s for the best? The Fabulous Fargo Dome is perfect, the program has cracked the college football code and the dynasty is rolling.

Like the NFL dynasty Kansas City all dynasties bring fan apathy. I guess apathy drives the Bison FBS dream. Better competition? Bigger games every week?

The Bison are on espn+ weekly. any fan can get into the Fabulous Fargo Dome for a regular game. Big games are tougher. Perfect for FCS.

Often premiered nationwide, Big Games are Big with a capital B. casual fans are drawn to the NDSU national brand. FBS upsets are glorious, the season entertains and the post season one of the years highlights. The audience is growing. FCS competition is improving. a strata of elite FCS teams, on par with most of the FBS, has emerged.

I like The Bison in FCS. I hope they stay competitive in FCS and FBS games they do get. To me NDSU football seems perfectly positioned for the foreseeable future.