Fargo Dome Authority - July 28, 2026 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE FARGO DOME AUTHORITY MEETING
A regular meeting of the Fargo Dome Authority was held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. in the FARGODOME Administrative Conference Room with President Rick Steen presiding.
Members present: Rick Steen, David Suppes, Blake Nelson, Todd Olson and Troy Goergen.
Members absent: Dan Armbrust and Michael Ellingson.
Others present: Chad Peterson – Fargo City Commission; Tyler Haehn – City of Fargo; Sarah Dykema, Director of Marketing and Sales – FARGODOME; Bernie Larson, Assistant General Manager - FARGODOME; Kacie Erickson – Director of Food & Beverage – FARGODOME; Amanda Muellenbach, Director of Administration – FARGODOME and Rob Sobolik, General Manager – FARGODOME.
Media present: None
President Rick Steen called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
Rick added FARGODOME Improvement Options to the agenda under Additional Items.
David Suppes made a motion, seconded by Blake Nelson, to approve the agenda of the July 28, 2026 Fargo Dome Authority meeting as amended. Motion carried.
David Suppes made a motion, seconded by Todd Olson, to approve the minutes from the June 30, 2026 Fargo Dome Authority meeting. Motion carried.
Rick introduced Chad Peterson to the board and FARGODOME staff. Chad is the new City Commission liaison for FARGODOME.
Rob Sobolik presented the General Manager’s report as follows:
• Year-to-Date Net Income through June 2026 is stated at $399,254, which is a positive variance (to budget) of $236,007.
• David Suppes made a motion, seconded by Troy Goergen, to approve the June Financial statements as presented.
On call of the roll, Goergen, Nelson, Olson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Armbrust and Ellingson.
The motion was declared carried.
• Past and Upcoming Events: USA Wrestling on July 9-18, 2026. Fiber Arts Festival on August 1-2, 2026. United Way School Supply Drive on August 3-14, 2026. Shinedown on August 20, 2026.
Troy Goergen presented the Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committee report. The Fargo Dome Authority Building and Finance Committees met on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Items discussed included:
• June 2026 Financial Statements: The June 2026 Financial Statements were reviewed by the Finance Committee at the meeting on July 22, 2026.
• Project and Capital Budget Updates:
o Replacement of the football turf is tentatively being scheduled for 2027.
o FARGODOME is completing a few cosmetic upgrades to the press box area, including replacing the countertops and repainting the walls. This project should be finished prior to the first home NDSU Football game.
o FARGODOME staff continues to work with RLE on the lighting and signage upgrades. This project has been approved by the Fargo Dome Authority, but still needs final approval from the City Commission.
• Escrow Balance & Performance Reports: The FARGODOME permanent fund performance, year-to-date, through April 2026 is 13.25%. Please see attachments.
Troy Goergen made a motion to approve the Building and Finance Committee report as presented.
On call of the roll, Goergen, Nelson, Olson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Armbrust and Ellingson.
The motion was declared carried.
NDSU Operating Lease Agreement: Rob reported that the NDSU Operating Lease Agreement has been reviewed and returned by NDSU. The new agreement will have a one-year term, with all other terms remaining the same as last year’s agreement.
David Suppes made a motion, seconded by Todd Olson, to approve the NDSU Operating Lease Agreement as presented.
On call of the roll, Goergen, Nelson, Olson, Steen and Suppes voted aye.
Absent and not voting: Armbrust and Ellingson.
The motion was declared carried.
Additional Items:
• Rick noted that David, Rob and himself have been working with RLE on improvement options for FARGODOME. Please see attachment. The options include estimated costs, along with items that have been tentatively scheduled and a priority list for remaining improvements. This item will be further discussed at upcoming meetings.
The next Fargo Dome Authority meeting will be on August 25, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

Rick Steen, President

Amanda Muellenbach, Director of Administration