ISU’s new indoor track at ICCU Dome will be ready for action in early 2027

The following is a news release from Idaho State University.

POCATELLO – The new state-of-the-art track at the ICCU Dome will be ready for action in early 2027 – just in time for the 47th annual Simplot Games.

The project was made possible through philanthropic support from the Simplot Company Foundation and Idaho State University Alumni Dick and Connie Luebke.

The privately funded project will replace the ICCU Dome’s approximately 50-year-old wooden track with a state-of-the-art indoor track and field system designed to provide a safer, higher-performing environment for Simplot Games and Bengal student-athletes while preserving the ICCU Dome’s important role as a multi-use facility for the University and the broader community.

“We’ve loved the iconic history and charm of the existing track which has served so many high school athletes, including many who went on to the Olympic Games,” said Kristi Borgholthaus, Executive Director of the Simplot Games. “Now it’s time for an upgrade and we couldn’t be happier to be on the new track when we host this year’s Simplot Games.”

A modern, high-performance indoor track is critical to the long-term viability and continued growth of the Simplot Games. The new facility will honor the tradition of the iconic banked 200-meter track while providing athletes with a modern competition surface and an environment capable of supporting the next generation of the event.

“We’ve had such a long and fruitful relationship with Idaho State University, not only through the Simplot Games, but through a large number of partnerships both athletically and academically,” said Karin Hart, Senior Vice President of Global Business Solutions for Simplot. “This new track is another example of our partnership with ISU and our shared commitment to the people and communities in eastern Idaho.”

For nearly 50 years, Idaho State University and the Simplot Company have partnered to host the Simplot Games, widely recognized as one of the premier indoor high school track and field competitions in North America. The annual event brings thousands of athletes, coaches, and family members to Pocatello from across the country and around the world. The Simplot Games has helped establish the community as a national destination for emerging track and field talent.

The new project was developed following an extensive review of leading collegiate indoor track and field facilities across the country. The resulting design combines a permanent flat track with a portable 200-meter banked oval, allowing the ICCU Dome to accommodate both elite track and field competition as well as the diverse events that have made the facility an important regional venue for decades.

The permanent installation will feature a high-performance synthetic surface across the ICCU Dome event floor, with sprint lanes, a throwing ring, and other integrated elements. The permanent floor preparation is designed to meet modern NCAA and World Athletics standards.

The project includes two phases. The first phase will include the state-of-the-art portable 200-meter banked track, available for the 2027 Simplot Games. The existing wooden sprint lanes and jump pits will still be used.

Phase two will take place with the construction and installation of the permanent Mondo surface on the event floor, with completion expected by August 1, 2027. All venue elements are expected to be fully completed in time for the Simplot Games in spring 2028.