AMES, Iowa -- Affirming the generosity of Steve and Debbie Bergstrom and other members of the university community, Iowa State University and the ISU athletics department will dedicate the Steve and Debbie Bergstrom Indoor Training Facility at 4 p.m. on Sept. 3 in the building.
The $9 million, 92,000 gross square-foot facility is located just west of the Jacobson Athletic Building on the ISU campus. The building was funded entirely by private gifts. It is used by the football, soccer and other ISU teams for practice, training and conditioning. The new facility includes a 120-yard NCAA regulation artificial football field.
"This new facility will help Iowa State's student-athletes be even more competitive and successful in the Big 12 Conference and nationally," Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy said. "We are very grateful to the many alumni, friends and Cyclone fans, led by Steve and Debbie Bergstrom, who provided the funding for it."
ISU Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde underscored the legacy created with the dedication of the building.
"We greatly appreciate the support of Steve and Debbie Bergstrom and their willingness to provide the leadership gift for a facility that is one of the finest in the country and a true commitment to the success of our athletics programs at Iowa State University," Van De Velde said. "This building will have a long history and is the legacy left by the Bergstroms to future ISU student-athletes."
Steve Bergstrom is a 1979 graduate of Iowa State with a bachelor's degree in industrial administration. He is an ISU Foundation governor and member of the College of Business Dean's Advisory Council. Steve and Debbie are members of the National Cyclone Club, the ISU Foundation's Order of the Knoll and the ISU Alumni Association. The couple is originally from Clarion, Iowa, and currently lives in Montgomery, Texas.
"Debbie and I are pleased to be able to give back to Iowa State for a project that will help take Cyclone football to even higher levels," Steve Bergstrom said. "This facility will benefit all student-athletes for years to come, and we are glad to be a part of it."
Iowa State Head Football Coach Dan McCarney says the Bergstrom facility puts the Cyclone football program on the same level as other schools with similar buildings in the nation's toughest collegiate football conference.
"It is hard to put into words our appreciation for what Steve and Debbie and other supporters have done for this football program," McCarney said. "This building puts us among the elite football programs nationally. The transformation of our football facilities in the last decade is truly amazing and speaks volumes about the ISU community's commitment to competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics."