Yes, it was $5 million that the Scheels family gifted to NDSU today toward the BSA renovation. Sitting in the BSA Thursday night for the UC Davis game … it’s getting uglier by the day, I swear.

Anyway, the question now is: when will the first shovel go into the ground? Sanford gave $10 million in September and the Scheels gift makes those two combined at $15 million. In whole numbers, here is how the rest breaks down:

The arena renovation is about $30 million. The indoor track facility is $5 million and the completion of the football offices and locker room is about $2.8 million. This total project is $38 million, of which there is about $6 million remaining from the “Momentum” fundraising drive of a few years ago. That leaves $17 million yet to raise.

I’m guessing a chunk of that is at a pretty good “yes” stage or else I don’t think we would see the advanced architectural drawings that are out now. I would guess that these announcements are spaced apart so as to give the proper attention to them, although I have no knowledge of any future press conferences.

My vibe from talking with folks associated with the project is that a starting construction date this spring would be pushing it. Remember, the Board of Higher Education has a trigger finger on all projects these days so it’s best not to rush into anything. So, the guess here is an announcement will be made next summer at the earliest with a target date of homecoming.