MADISON, S.D. – November 20, 2024 – Coming off their first season in a new facility, Trojan Football is poised for a success. In August, the Beacom PREMIER Complex, Brian Kern Family Stadium, and Blankley Field officially welcomed fans to Dakota State University’s campus in Madison, SD. Designed by JLG Architects, Trojan Athletics’ new 54,000 SF Complex and Stadium were the initial phases of an athletic master plan that began in 2017 and kicked off with the 2023 Dan Beacom Track Complex. The 2024 phase delivered DSU’s new football stadium, with premium team, training, and locker spaces. The $38 million Beacom PREMIER Complex—entirely privately funded by stakeholders—is the first new DSU athletics facility since the Fieldhouse was finished in 1960.
Connected to the Athletic Events Center, the Brian Kern Family Stadium consists of a 1,800-seat grandstand, concessions, team store space, esports space, and a new full-size synthetic turf football field. Adjacent to the Complex is the new soccer and track facility, The Dan Beacom Track Complex, featuring a full-sized synthetic turf soccer field surrounded by a new eight-lane 400-meter polyurethane track in Trojan blue, with a steeple chase pit and new sites for shot put, discus, and javelin. New field lighting, grandstand seating, and press box amenities were provided for both outdoor complexes.
“In the current collegiate athletics environment, it’s paramount for universities to differentiate themselves from the competition, especially in top-tier recruitment. JLG was thrilled to partner with DSU to create a facility that provides a competitive edge now and into the future,” said Adam Davidson, AIA JLG Principal-in-Charge for the project. “The DSU Athletics Master Plan has been the road map to reinforce the identity of Trojan Athletics through distinctive design and state-of-the-art facilities that support future recruitment, the fan experience, and excellence in athletic performance, all furthering its connection to campus and the entire Madison community.”
In addition to the new stadium amenities, the Athletic Event Center boasts a variety of collegiate environments, such as new team locker rooms, central strength and conditioning space, state-of-the-art sports medicine space, office and meeting space, hospitality and VIP areas, media suites, a biomechanics lab, space for the Institute on Human Movement & Aging, and classrooms. The new facility is also home to one of the finest spaces in the country for esports competition and training. As the new hub for training and preparation, the esports spaces is tailored to promote various practice and competition setups, helping players fine-tune their gameplay strategies and overall team communication.
JLG’s Recent Collegiate & Community Sports Facility Projects Include:
- Augustana University’s Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, SD
- Sacred Heart University’s Martire Family Arena in Fairfield, CT
- Prairie Lakes Arena in Watertown, SD
- Fargo Parks Sports Center in Fargo, ND
- University of Minnesota’s 3M Arena at Mariucci Facility Upgrades in Minneapolis, MN
- Kraft Field Complex in Grand Forks, ND
- Colorado College’s Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs, CO
- Altru Sports Complex in Grand Forks, ND
JLG’s Upcoming Projects Include:
- New Lenox Crossroads Sports Complex in New Lenox, IL
- Port Wentworth Ice Cove & Amphitheater in Port Wentworth, GA
- Maple Grove Community Center & Expansion in Maple Grove, MN
- Palm Beach Gardens Ice Arena in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- Mosaic Quarter Fieldhouse and Ice Plex in Tucson, AZ
