[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6132775,"mediaKeyId","5714801-02dc32dac1ce11c05952cb2ca245af4a","parentId",5714801,"title","Fargo Dome Authority presents Fargo Dome site plan with exhibition hall, hotel and entertainment phases","audioSeconds",1661,"startMs",3760000,"endMs",5421000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5714801-02dc32dac1ce11c05952cb2ca245af4a&start=3760&end=5421","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5714801-02dc32dac1ce11c05952cb2ca245af4a/thumbnail_3760000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6132775/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Fargo-Dome-Authority-presents-Fargo-Dome-site-plan-with-exhibition-hall-hotel-and-entertainment-phases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132775-ddb733e4cfa83628ad7a101cd7d755d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452660&Signature=C20USFV9Rq6PyG3NCYhlZH8RWlKHfF4VjvODjwKhRuTG6~BKnA3kAbw2d6IVtmMoJ4wshC1iPpqPQgRpQDOpx5SQ~7joYBpvlYA7HsXTn~3BegKPmHrBXEX~xHSCcdsbTCV9OnU9-qBZJc8OvlU6mqxxuOJpkUBOrapswapBi67gLfFoRednBzwXufshXCFFF5Ug0wvhRfML~5VQRUNI0OsVaemwdpsgO1~9mmkRo9hy5QHeLoMQlZ5thqbRKr4TICcz7RmITuZJVXKpTjEOyVivG6dCiS1VHuomfg9IKECr7a3HC-D5eLMd8VcNReGnbclAtduvJbWnmR~Uiq~k9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The City of Fargo","date","2025-08-30T08:12:35Z","article","The Fargo Dome Authority presented a proposal to site a new convention center adjacent to the Fargo Dome and to develop a connected hotel and entertainment district in phases, leveraging existing utilities, parking and the Dome’s event operations.

Dave Supas and Rich Wimpkin of RLE Architects and Perkins & Will described a design that places a roughly 50,000‑square‑foot exhibition hall adjacent to the Dome, with pre‑function spaces wrapped on three sides and a prominent northeast “knuckle” pre‑function lobby designed to allow the convention center to operate independently or to connect into the Fargo Dome for very large events. Wimpkin said the site’s advantages include ready access to interstates, proximity to NDSU and existing parking and utilities, which the presenters argued could shorten the start‑up schedule.

The team proposed a three‑phase approach: build the convention center first (phase 1); run an RFP and add a hotel on leased NDSU land in phase 2; and develop an entertainment and food‑and‑beverage district on the southeast corner of the Fargo Dome property in phase 3 in coordination with North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the NDSU Foundation. The presenters said the Dome is on a 100‑year land lease with NDSU for $1 and that some land‑lease amendments would be necessary for the hotel and later phases.

Operational and logistics details presented included:

- Back‑of‑house and loading: the team proposed approximately seven truck docks to support fast turnarounds and a large, flexible service area.

- Existing exhibit inventory: presenters said the dome site currently offers about 80,000 square feet of exhibit space on the field level, plus roughly 70,000 square feet on concourse levels that can be used in conjunction with a new convention facility.

- Parking: RLE said the Fargo Dome currently controls about 4,000 parking spaces on site and acknowledged a projected net loss of roughly 350 parking spots due to new construction; the team pointed to another approximately 4,500 parking spaces within a three‑to‑four block radius controlled by partners such as NDSU, the research park and other nearby facilities.

- Kitchens and catering: the convention kitchen was sized around 7,000 square feet in the proposal; the presenters noted an existing 2,500‑square‑foot kitchen in the Dome could be used to supplement operations.

Financing and operations: the Fargo Dome Authority explained the convention center would be city‑owned and operated by Fargo Dome staff, augmented as needed; the Dome Authority also said a $45,000,000 permanent fund is available and that the RFP’s $40,000,000 “sandbox” figure is the baseline for the convention center budget, with the Authority prepared to supplement that fund if necessary.

The team said they expect the hotel and convention center planning to proceed concurrently if their proposal is selected: “If awarded the convention center … you don’t want to wait until the convention center [is] done and then start on the hotel,” one presenter said. The Authority emphasized multiple use cases — simultaneous events at the Dome and the convention center, or combined large events — and noted that its long experience operating the Dome provides a staffing base for the proposed convention center.

No formal vote occurred. Committee members asked detailed questions about parking, phasing, the land‑lease arrangement with NDSU and how staff and catering would be managed during overlapping events.

Provenance: drawn from the RLE / Perkins & Will / Fargo Dome Authority presentation and Q&A during the selection committee session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fargo City Convention Center Committee - 08.29.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Fargo Dome Authority proposed a convention center integrated at the Fargo Dome site, emphasizing reuse of existing infrastructure, a connected hotel and a three‑phase plan that would preserve operations at the Dome while adding exhibition space, additional meeting rooms and a potential entertainment district developed with NDSU.","taxTitle","Fargo , Cass County, North Dakota","taxId",2742,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132780,"Downtown team pitches ready‑to‑go convention center tied to Radisson and skyway",2004,1870000,3874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5714801-02dc32dac1ce11c05952cb2ca245af4a&start=1870&end=3874","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5714801-02dc32dac1ce11c05952cb2ca245af4a/thumbnail_1870000.jpg","/articles/6132780/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Downtown-team-pitches-readytogo-convention-center-tied-to-Radisson-and-skyway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132780-d6053b71e7a1069e39ae64fcf8f0844e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452660&Signature=IH1e6XDrhIu-rWWxcH9HLw2rhqc6DHzlHqcY80RV~XHvDrTqpm~WH8jcHdnxM0w48Mz0un77wy1RzimNLEmcYB0RViMrqPGT2d1O2ZjFaE0C4nipI3dOX1qn1Vtplw~mOpmzNN3qA9PpVmD~8kSp5mn6r2atLdCzBCBHyours5AQvIMyrqoQhn4gaQGk4cVsc2E3R5~gLft3M0NeQZnIkkVNRa4Tpqs5XijgEwW5Bq1qfJRh~JOyQcLAdR6u999SU5UyEH8eHtZiurhPaUJb7yECelhtbfCqxH2b8ZMFxjoOuhddlOLnBL4PkiO~VD1aS6v2WayrQDa2etnnl4ij3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A team led by the Kilborn Group, EAPC Architects Engineers and ASM Global presented a downtown Fargo concept for a city‑owned convention center that would connect to the Radisson Blu via the skyway system and rely on existing downtown parking and businesses to serve guests.

Mike Almendinger of the Kilborn Group opened the presentation by saying, “Why downtown? This project is ready to go. There's no land acquisition. There's no TIF. There's no fundraising needed.” He added the site is adjacent to existing businesses, parking garages and Broadway Square, which the team said would allow quick activation of downtown public spaces.

EAPC President Alan Dostert said the team's design is 85,000 square feet, plus or minus, and stressed connectivity as the proposal’s core idea. “If you can come away with one thought,” Dostert said, “it's the connectivity of this project.” The plan wraps pre‑function space around the north and east sides of the building to face green space and the river, and it included multiple options for an enclosed or graded connection into the existing civic center and skyway.

ASM Global staff described operations and sales plans. Harry Khan, ASM, said the firm manages hundreds of public assembly venues and presented comparable secondary‑market convention centers it operates. Anna Nash, ASM senior vice president for market development, outlined sales strategies that leverage ASM’s network and emphasized experiential trends, saying signature outdoor spaces and dynamic meeting environments are priorities for meeting planners.

Key project details raised during the presentation and committee Q&A:

- Size and ownership: The team described the concept as roughly 85,000 square feet and said the city would own the convention center while ASM would operate it. EAPC called the footprint “85,000 square feet plus or minus.”

- Parking and access: The team pointed to existing downtown parking assets — city garages and privately owned lots — and proposed wayfinding and real‑time parking tools to manage flow. The presenters compared distances for walkability: they said University Drive to the Fargo Dome is about 600 feet and Broadway Square to the civic center is about 750 feet.

- Hotel and operations: The downtown team said it was not proposing a new full‑service headquarters hotel. Instead, its plan relies on the existing Radisson Blu and hotel community; the Radisson owner has discussed adding a 75‑room Marriott Moxy on top of the Radisson. The team said corporate operators such as Marriott or Hilton could manage both hotel and convention operations when needed, but no brand was finalized.

- Finance and incentives: Mike Almendinger said the site is in the riverfront TIF district but the team is not proposing to use riverfront TIF funds for the convention center itself. He said other connectivity projects (skyways, pedestrian bridges) could be funded from TIF or other budgets, at the city's discretion.

The committee asked about the enclosure type for the link into the civic center; Dostert said the team had studied overhead, grade‑level and lowered (semi‑subterranean) options and had not settled on a single approach. No formal vote or commitment was taken during the session.

Provenance: material drawn from the Kilborn / EAPC / ASM presentation to the selection committee and the subsequent Q&A.","A downtown proposal led by Kilborn Group, EAPC and ASM Global urged the selection committee to place a city‑owned convention center in Downtown Fargo citing no land acquisition, existing parking and a planned Skyway connection to Radisson Blu; ASM would operate the center, and the Radisson owner plans a 75‑room Marriott Moxy addition.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132785,"Garfield team pitches interstate gateway site for Fargo convention center",1175,76000,1251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5714801-02dc32dac1ce11c05952cb2ca245af4a&start=76&end=1251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5714801-02dc32dac1ce11c05952cb2ca245af4a/thumbnail_76000.jpg","/articles/6132785/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Garfield-team-pitches-interstate-gateway-site-for-Fargo-convention-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132785-6a10f71da5e7405e09345f72dd7070dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452660&Signature=k~P69~PAxVq96VNyXAWTyR7V5duRq~3SAwec3Ouwq~i~KjQnhe3nMJkMSAkSev93mNdsAERBO8xPhBgbihXYhxYzmE3hdRdIW7ca7aqmo5vl7oPiGfuazues3x2sDHuiPP-JkJTazO2fOjZb9DfWA3dP3s8Le5P8YiLnFCBVm4vYKn55V0Og1LYDYAvs9Vve~5UUYtqGtsOC0GOtxGfd-yTP4rD66t8~xKvIZtOpTzfGKoKneaLJB~WxxrNxrQiThUB1wv4qiAY3Ug1l~zFAokKhvpflxoirTNtj2QW1~NijFmMJU1MSPW8o3~IQDX1FaY78gtw09XzuTElBx8aZYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Garfield Public Private and local partners presented a convention center concept on the southwest quadrant of Interstate 29 and Interstate 94 during a Fargo selection committee meeting, emphasizing the site’s highway visibility and a plan that pairs a full‑service headquarters hotel with the convention facility.

The proposal’s lead, Ray Garfield, said the development team includes Garfield Public Private, McShane Development, DLR (architecture) and Orion companies for construction, and noted the group’s multi‑decade experience in large mixed hospitality projects. Garfield said the project would be tailored to Fargo and tied to the RFP the city issued.

The Garfield team argued the site’s traffic and visibility make it a strong candidate. Tim McShane, McShane Development, described the location as “the only site in North Dakota that has two interstate crossing[s],” and said the team’s analysis shows about 44,000,000 cars per year would pass the proposed site. The team said that visibility and interstate access would support a headquarters hotel and additional private development they estimated could generate roughly $100,000,000 of new development near the site.

Why it matters: the presenters emphasized that convention centers generally operate more sustainably when they are paired with an attached, full‑service headquarters hotel that coordinates bookings and catering. Ray Garfield summarized that principle by quoting an outside study: “Tom Mazinski ... stated 150 to 200 key headquarters hotel,” and added the team’s experience shows an attached hotel reduces duplicated back‑of‑house costs such as separate kitchens and loading docks.

Garfield’s finance and operations remarks noted that building an attached headquarters hotel increases capital complexity and typically requires some municipal subsidy or public–private finance work. Ray Garfield said his group often pursues naming rights, foundation grants and other fundraising strategies to leverage public contributions and that they prefer structures that allow favorable tax and financing treatment for the combined facilities.

Discussion points included expansion flexibility, walkability and brand selection. Committee members asked about expansion scenarios and how the team would design for future growth; Garfield said the team would plan optional expansion pads and room towers so the complex could grow by additional meeting space or hotel keys when needed. The team also said they have letters of interest from national brands, including Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt, but that they would collaborate with Fargo on final brand decisions.

No formal action or vote occurred during the presentation. The committee moved to a question period after the Garfield team finished and thanked the presenters.

Provenance: Excerpted from the Garfield presentation to the selection committee (presentation opening through Q&A).","A Garfield Public Private-led team proposed a convention center and attached headquarters hotel on the southwest quadrant of I‑29 and I‑94, highlighting high visibility, interstate access and a plan that pairs an attached full‑service hotel with the convention facility to improve long‑term operations and revenue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fargo Dome Authority presents Fargo Dome site plan with exhibition hall, hotel and entertainment phases

Downtown team pitches ready‑to‑go convention center tied to Radisson and skyway

Garfield team pitches interstate gateway site for Fargo convention center