RAPID CITY, S.D. – Sanford Health has signed a multi-year corporate partnership agreement with the City of Rapid City for the new Rapid City sports complex.
On Thursday, city officials, members of the Rapid City Sports Commission and representatives from Sanford Health made the formal announcement across from the 22-acre site of the future complex.
The $10 million, 20-year partnership with Sanford Health begins in 2027. The investment will support the new sports complex facility and operations, and provides Sanford with naming recognition for the sports complex and a dedicated space within the complex for use by Sanford for sports medicine, sports performance and Sports Academy activities, among other recognition rights and privileges.
“Sanford Health is proud to partner with the City of Rapid City on this historic investment in health, sports and community,” Kyle Wiese, Sanford Black Hills President and CEO said. “When Sanford Health expanded into the Black Hills, we made a commitment to meaningfully invest in the people and communities we serve.”
The total sports complex project cost is estimated to be $76.2 million, of which $64 million was secured prior to the partnership announcement. Funding includes $24.5 million from the Catalyst TIF District, $28.2 million from the Hotel Business Improvement District, $6.2 million in land donation value, and $5 million from the Vision Fund. The Sanford partnership with naming rights help complete the funding picture.
“This has been a long journey,” Domico Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Rapid City Sports Commission said. “This is just one additional piece to help this sports complex come to fruition.”
The proposed sport’s complex location – across Interstate 90 from Fleet Farm and will be a 180,000 square foot facility with an indoor walking track, basketball courts, and spaces to host regional sporting events.
Beyond youth sports, the complex is seen as part of a strategy to build a year-round visitor economy. With approximately 3.9 million visitors annually — most concentrated in the summer — a sports complex capable of drawing regional and national tournaments during the off-season could boost hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic, and retail sales tax revenue.
Sanford has been involved in athletic development for more than 25 years including operating the 500-acre Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls and partnering on the 400,000-square foot Fargo Parks Sports Center at the Sanford Sports Complex in Fargo, ND.
Sanford Sports operates sports performance, sports academy and sports events in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. Annually, Sanford Sports has more than 1 million athlete contacts, runs more than 250 club teams and hosts nearly 100 tournaments and spectator events ranging from youth and high school to major college and professional.
“Partnering with strong advocates for sport and youth throughout the state makes us and this facility successful from the beginning,” Rodriguez said.
The target for substantial completion of the complex is fall 2028, possibly playing the first games by 2029.
Next week, the City’s Legal and Finance Committee will consider the naming recognition agreement as well as an agreement with Scull Construction Service, Inc. to serve as construction manager at risk for the project.
Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun
Domico Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Rapid City Sports Commission
