HAVRE – Montana State University-Northern is aiming to begin construction on a new football stadium in the near future.
That goal took another forward step on Tuesday, when the MSU-Northern Foundation announced a $125,000 contribution from the Havre Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID). The gift, which will be recognized at the stadium on the donor wall, brings Northern's fundraising total to more than $2.4 million. The university now needs an additional $550,000 by spring of 2020 to begin the first phase of the three-phase project.
“This project will bring people together on our campus in new, exciting ways. We look forward to building a facility where we can host football games, ceremonies, community events – you name it,” MSU-Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel said in a release. “The Northern Complex will be a place where our Northern students, alumni, and the Hi-Line community can come to celebrate and appreciate one another.”
“MSU-Northern is an incredible benefit to our community,” said Julea Robbins, Executive Director of the Havre Chamber of Commerce. “It employs our neighbors, draws thousands to campus and our community every year, and prepares students to contribute to society. By supporting this project, we’re simply recognizing that impact and doing our part to make sure that it continues.”
MSU-N currently plays its home football games at Havre High School's Blue Pony Stadium. The Lights rent the stadium for an annual fee of $5,000, according to HHS administrators.
The estimated cost for the first phase of MSU-Northern's stadium construction is $3 million. The university started fundraising in January of 2019 and announced it had raised more than $2.1 million in the first ninth months, including major gifts from Frances Baltrusch of Havre, the Tilleman family and Independence Bank.
