Sanford Pentagon On Schedule For Completion

Construction crews are busy at the new event center site and the Sioux Falls Pentagon.

General Manager Eric Larsen says building is coming along very smoothly and the project is still on track to be fully opened by the fall.

"The Field House has been open since September and we have a number of activities that go on in this building," Larsen said.

With the Sanford Field House up and running, Larsen says it's booked 24-7. The Field House has hosted soccer tournaments, Boy Scout activities and this coming weekend gymnastics.

Across the street, crews are busy building the Sanford Pentagon. The facility with nine basketball courts will be the new home for the Skyforce and other events like volleyball. It should be ready by September.

"The complex as a whole is in it's infancy right now. We have several other building projects going on. One of them being the hotel," Larsen said.

The 82 room Fairfield Inn and Suites is also scheduled for a grand opening in the fall and that's not all.

"Youth football fields that are already up and running and it will also include the tennis association facility that will have seven indoor tennis courts and it will also include the Scheels IcePlex," Larsen said.

All of that should be ready by 2014. A restaurant is also scheduled to open this fall with the hotel.

When it's finished, Sanford expects a million and a half visitors each year to the complex.