Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Â鶹´«Ã½ Bavendick Center | Â鶹´«Ã½

to the top of the page
Home Page

Â鶹´«Ã½ Bavendick Center

 


Â鶹´«Ã½ Bavendick Center Groundbreaking
Thursday, June 27, 2024 | 10:30 a.m.
1511 Canary Ave., Bismarck (Â鶹´«Ã½ Campus)
 

This isn’t just any new building; the Â鶹´«Ã½ Bavendick Center is going to be a game-changer! Imagine a place where every Â鶹´«Ã½ student—past, present, and future—can come together to compete, connect and celebrate like never before and a facility that will elevate athletics to the next level for our communities’ athletes and fans. Whether it’s catching a Mystics game in the 2000-seat stadium, joining a rec league, or enjoying a variety of campus events, this facility will have it all.

Student holding Vote Yes Sign  Students Holding "We left our Legacy Sign" Students Holding Vote Yes Sign Students Holding "We Left Our Legacy" Sign
 

Student-Led Initiative

On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, Â鶹´«Ã½ received the student body's approval of a plan to build a new 80,000-square-foot multipurpose student and athletic facility that will be home to Mystics collegiate sports, recreational activities and campus events.
 
Earlier in the year, the Â鶹´«Ã½ Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution supporting the construction of a new facility and organized a September student vote to increase the current mandatory student fee beginning in Fall 2025 to pay for a portion of human performance center costs. The SGA cited facility accessibility and equitability as the motivators driving their initiative.
 

#MysticPride

A generous lead gift from the Frank and Joanne Bavendick family, coupled with student fees and additional community and employee donations, will provide the funds to construct the new $40 million facility.
 
Frank Bavendick was a student-athlete at Â鶹´«Ã½ in 1949-50. Following graduation, he became a faithful Mystics fan, fostering a lifetime of friendships with Â鶹´«Ã½ and its students. Over the years, Frank attended many volleyball and basketball games at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Armory, a tradition his son and daughter-in-law Greg and Yvette have carried on. Frank was often known to stop by and chat with the coaches and Mystics athletes – even working out with them in the weight room. During those visits, Frank often talked of a need for a new athletic facility for the growing college. 
 
The Bavendick family’s contribution to this project ensures that Frank’s dream becomes a reality and that his Mystic pride will forever be remembered with a campus facility that will proudly carry his name.
 

The Game Plan

The Bavendick Center is positioned on the Â鶹´«Ã½ campus to overlook the MDU Resources Community Bowl and the Missouri River. It will seat approximately 2,000 screaming Mystics fans, which is roughly four times larger than the current home of Mystics athletics.
  • The new Bavendick Center will be home to Mystics basketball, volleyball, wrestling, esports competitions, and athletic training areas
  • The facility will also include:
    • A student hub
    • Intramural sports
    • An indoor walking track
    • Rock-climbing walls
    • A virtual reality sports simulator
  • Other uses for the arena space include:
    • On-campus graduation ceremonies
    • Entertainment performances
    • Gym space to host sports camps and tournaments
Climbing wall
Climbing wall
Athletic Exterior
Athletic Exterior
Athletic Gym
Athletic Gym
Athletic Health Bar
Athletic Health Bar
Athletic Interior A
Athletic Interior A
Athletic Interior B
Athletic Interior B
Athletic Interior Gym
Athletic Interior Gym

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the details of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Bavendick Center?

The Bavendick Center is positioned on the Â鶹´«Ã½ campus to overlook the MDU Resources Community Bowl and the Missouri River. It will seat approximately 2,000 screaming Mystics fans, which is roughly four times larger than the current home of Mystics athletics.

  • The new Bavendick Center will be home to Mystics basketball, volleyball, wrestling, esports competitions, and athletic training areas
  • The facility will also include:
    • A student hub
    • Intramural sports
    • An indoor walking track
    • Rock-climbing walls
    • A virtual reality sports simulator
  • Other uses for the arena space include:
    • On-campus graduation ceremonies
    • Entertainment performances
    • Gym space to host sports camps and tournaments
Why did we need a new facility when we have the Â鶹´«Ã½ Armory?
The Â鶹´«Ã½ Armory was constructed in 1961 for the ND National Guard’s operational needs and repurposed by Â鶹´«Ã½ for athletics and academics.
 
Flash forward to 2023 – the Â鶹´«Ã½ Armory is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act because it does not properly accommodate individuals with accessibility needs – students or guests.
 
In addition, the Armory is not compliant with Title IX requirements and regulations. The female locker room is not equipped with showers or restrooms and female student-athletes must use public restrooms during games and practices, whereas male athletes have access to private facilities.
 
And finally, the Armory doesn’t have a fire suppression system, there’s no external air exchange to the building interior, 2 of 4 air handling systems are not operational, there’s no air conditioning or central air, and the doors and walls are too close to the gymnasium competition floor... just to name a few.
 
What will happen to the Â鶹´«Ã½ Armory?
Many possible updates are being discussed for the Â鶹´«Ã½ Armory including:
  • A Mystics baseball and softball training center
  • Mystics track training rooms for throwing events
  • A Mystics trap shooting simulator range
  • A venue for student intramurals
  • Mystic Media studios and offices
  • Mass Communication classrooms and labs
  • And more!
Is the Bavendick Center just for Â鶹´«Ã½ Athletics?
Imagine a place where every Â鶹´«Ã½ student—past, present, and future—can come together to compete, connect and celebrate like never before and a facility that will elevate athletics to the next level for our communities’ athletes and fans. Whether it’s catching a Mystics game in the 2000-seat stadium, joining a rec league, or enjoying a variety of campus events, this facility will have it all.
 
In addition to collegiate athletic competitions, the Bavendick Center will also include:
  • A student hub
  • Intramural sports
  • An indoor walking track
  • Rock-climbing walls
  • A virtual reality sports simulator
Other uses for the arena space include:
  • On-campus graduation ceremonies
  • Entertainment performances
  • Gym space to host sports camps and tournaments
Where will the new Â鶹´«Ã½ Bavendick Center be located?
The Bavendick Center is positioned on the Â鶹´«Ã½ campus to overlook the MDU Resources Community Bowl and the Missouri River. It is located near the Â鶹´«Ã½ Aquatic and Wellness Center, where the former Â鶹´«Ã½ Library used to be.
When will the Bavendick Center be open to students?
Right now, the anticipated completion date is Spring 2026.
Where is the funding coming from for the Â鶹´«Ã½ Bavendick Center?
A generous lead gift from the Frank and Joanne Bavendick family, coupled with student fees and additional community and employee donations, will provide the funds to construct the new $40 million facility.

The overall mandatory student fee at Â鶹´«Ã½ is increasing $22.50 per credit and the 12-credit hour cap will be removed beginning in Fall 2025 to fund this historic project. It is important to note that even with the change in mandatory fees, Â鶹´«Ã½ will still have the 2nd lowest tuition plus mandatory and online fees in the North Dakota University System.

 
How long will the new fee structure be in place?
The new fee structure will affect students enrolled at Â鶹´«Ã½ from Fall 2025 to Fall 2055.
Do Financial Aid and scholarships cover mandatory student fees?
That depends on your individual student aid package, but yes, it is possible for Financial Aid and scholarships to be applied to student fees.