Ice Sports Could Get 300K Boost

The fundraising campaign for the new Sioux Falls ice facilities got a slap shot towards its goal Wednesday, when the Ice Sports Association announced a major gift from the Sioux Falls Stampede.

The Ice Sports Association is wrapping up a Chamber of Commerce fundraising campaign, trying to get more than $1.5 million pledged for the new Scheels IcePlex in Sioux Falls. The group raised more than 5 million before kicking of the latest campaign to raise money. This latest donation could have the organization seeing triple.

“We just could not be more thrilled to be a part of it. And it's great for the community; it's great for the people here,” Sioux Falls Sports President and CEO Tom Garrity said.

The Stampede is officially the extra man in a power play they hope pushes the Ice Sports Association even closer to a goal. They’re calling this latest challenge a hat-trick.

“It starts with a $100,000 donation from the Sioux Falls Stampede, from Sioux Falls Sports to the ice ink,” Ice Sports Association President Joe Zueger said.

The next step is finding business to match the donation to the tune of another $100,000 before the Stampede steps up again.

“They're going to come back with a third hundred-thousand dollar matching gift to the second 100,000,” Zueger said.

The $300,000 hat-trick doesn't end the organization’s fundraising effort though. The group has about a month to hit its goal, but won't say how much money it has yet to raise.

“It's the right thing to do,” Garrity said, “We couldn't be more proud to be a part of it. And trust me, we're going to continue to grow and grow with everybody in here. This is the least we could do to be a part of it.”

The ice sports association's community appeals campaign runs through March 29.