Dacotah Field, originally located north of Festival Hall (where today is the mall, the area to the east of the Memorial Student Union), had its beginnings in 1910. Plans called for the field to be encircled with a very substantial and artistic fence donated by Mr. C.F. Leonard, representing the American Steel and Wire Fence Company. At about a distance of eight feet to the inside and paralleling the fence, the planners planted a hedge that added to the general attractiveness of the field screened it from the view of those who seek something for nothing. Until the hedge grew to an effective height a canvas wall was employed for this purpose. Work begun on the erection of the fence in the early fall of 1910 but it was not expected that the field will be ready for that year's fall athletic events (Beacon Across the Prairie, p. 71; The Weekly Spectrum, October 25, 1910, p. 1).
By 1912, the white fence surrounding the field was complete. It covered three sides with the south side being roped off when the season opened. White bleachers with a capacity of about six hundred presented a fine appearance as they loomed up on the north side of the enclosure. The hedges, which were planted on all sides of the woven fence surrounding the entire field, grew nicely and were expected to hide the enclosure from outside view. The field's entrance was located at the back of the Armory (Festival Hall). The first game on the new playing field saw the A.C. "Farmers" defeat the Wahpeton "Indians" by the astronomical score of 123 to 0 (The Weekly Spectrum, September 24, 1912; Hunter, p.71).
The need for a modern athletic facility became glaring in the 1920s, but it was not until the mid-1930s that the NDAC Athletic Board of Control was able to act on this need. Through the federal government's Works Progress Administration (WPA) community construction projects were available. NDAC was successful in securing WPA services for the project. From November 1937 through the summer of 1938, the WPA provided men and material (to the tune of $28,000). NDAC invested $20,000 and the result was a 7,000 seat modern stadium including a quarter-mile cinder track (Souvenir Program, Dedication of New Dacotah Field, October, 1938).
As NDAC grew, it became necessary to move Dacotah Field further north. In 1949 the process began and the field was moved just north of the North Court Housing Units (today the site of the Bison Sports Arena), and its present location. The move was completed by the start of the 1950 football season (Spectrum, September 16, 1949, p.2).
After the move in 1949-1950, Dacotah Field underwent several changes. In 1952, two-thirds of the north stands were destroyed by fire. In 1972, a new 7,000 seat grandstand, purchased from the New England Patriots, replaced the old wooden bleachers. The new bleachers increased the stadium's seating capacity from 10,000 to 13,000 and contained 3,000 individual chair seats, a 4,000 bleacher style area, a combination built-in press box and other features. In 1975, artificial turf replaced the grass field and floodlights were added (Spectrum, October, 17 1952, p. 1; Spectrum, March 14, 1975, p. 11).
In 1992, the NDSU football team played its last regular season game on Dacotah Field. The construction of the Fargodome and the agreement between the Dome Authority and NDSU meant that all football home games would be played in the Fargodome. The Bison were victorious in the last game played at Dacotah Field defeating Morningside by a score of 24 to 7. Today Dacotah Field is used by the college for practice; the local high schools for practices and games; and the University for physical education classes.