Planning has begun for the Fargo Sports Complex project, an extraordinary building project that will address a critically unmet need for indoor recreation facilities available to the Fargo community. This Giving Hearts Day, the Fargo Park District Foundation is asking for your help!
Funds raised through this day of online giving will support the construction of a multipurpose indoor recreation facility critical to community wellness and the growth of recreational opportunities. The Fargo Sports Complex plans to accommodate many indoor sports, activities, tournaments and special events. This facility is expected to attract over 600,000 visitors annually and hold 45 plus community events and sports tournaments a year.
"This facility is for turf, courts and ice," said Erv Inniger, Fargo Sports Complex Steering Committee. "This is going to benefit people all the time, and different types of people all the time. It will make a difference in young people's lives."
As Giving Hearts Day approaches, the Fargo Park District Foundation is taking the time to highlight eight Fargo sports organizations and the community benefits the Fargo Sports Complex will provide for their participants. By partnering with local sports organizations like Fargo Youth Hockey Association, this project also provides for greater opportunities for access to recreational programs for members of our community.
Approximately 13,000 kids in our community will benefit from the creation of this large multipurpose recreation facility. That’s counting the nearly 1,000 kids who participate in Fargo Youth Hockey Association programs.
The Fargo Sports Complex will benefit Fargo Youth Hockey Association by allowing a variety of positive impacts. Since more additional ice will be available, there will be fewer night practices for the older skaters. Reduced number of practices/games on Wednesdays and Sunday mornings along with fewer teams on the ice during practices. The Fargo Youth Hockey Association will also have the ability to have specialized goalie-only practices thanks to the Fargo Sports Complex.
In 2019, the total direct visitor spending in the Fargo-Moorhead community was $2.3 million from Fargo Youth Hockey Association tournaments only, however, there were multiple events impacted due to weather conditions. So, this number will only increase with the help of the Fargo Sports Complex being able to offer additional ice.
"Because of the desire for teams to come to Fargo, we have to turn teams away, up to 10-15 teams a year," said Sommer Lockhart, Tournament and Sales Director of Fargo Youth Hockey Association. "We don't have the ice availability to expand our tournaments to accommodate those additional teams."
Help support the Fargo Sports Complex by donating to the Fargo Park District Foundation on Giving Hearts Day! Your support will benefit the community and partner organizations like Fargo Youth Hockey Association. Donations can be made from now until February 11 by mail (701 Main Ave) or through our Giving Hearts Day page.
Scheel’s will match your donation to the Fargo Park District Foundation’s Fargo Sports Complex. They are matching up to $250,000, which means for every dollar you donate, one more will be raised to help make this project a reality!
