Idaho State University announces transformational gift from ICCU for new basketball, community event arena

POCATELLO — Idaho State University announced an extraordinary new chapter in its longstanding partnership with ICCU on Thursday. ICCU has committed to a transformational gift through the ISU Foundation that will help make a new, state-of-the-art basketball arena and multi-purpose facility on the Pocatello campus a reality. The project is projected to cost between $70-80M and will be fully funded through private fundraising, in addition to ICCU’s gift.

The future ICCU Bengal Arena will serve Bengals Athletics teams, along with being a premier venue for university events and a gathering place for the entire region. The arena will be constructed on the north side of the ICCU Dome. The long-anticipated facility will create a dynamic athletics and community environment that will reshape the region and the experience of Idaho State students, student-athletes, alumni, fans, and visitors for generations to come.

ICCU’s gift, taking place over a period of years, represents a landmark investment in the future of Idaho State University. Expected to seat approximately 4,500 spectators, the ICCU Bengal Arena will be a versatile venue capable of more than just practice and competition. Other types of university and community events, such as concerts, high school state tournaments, trade shows, commencement ceremonies, and other engagements will make the facility a hub of activity in the region.

“This is what transformational partnership looks like,” said ISU President Robert Wagner. “ICCU has believed in Idaho State for more than a decade, and once again they have stepped forward now, when our university and our community are ready to dream even bigger.”

The ICCU Bengal Arena will provide a modern home for Idaho State Athletics and create a versatile space capable of hosting university programs, community events, concerts, celebrations and other major gatherings. Much like the iconic ICCU Dome, the arena is envisioned as an architectural landmark along the I-15 corridor. Its location will establish a highly visible gateway to the university and Pocatello, reinforcing the connection between Idaho State, ICCU, and the communities they serve.

“ICCU believes in Idaho State University, and we are incredibly proud of our partnership and the impact we have been able to make together,” said Brenda Worrell, ICCU president/CEO and ISU alumna. “We have many team members and ICCU members who are alumni of ISU. Our headquarters are here in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area and it’s part of who we are as a credit union to invest in the communities where our members live and work.”

The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for Idaho State University and the ISU Foundation. With growing momentum across Bengal Athletics and renewed enthusiasm among alumni and friends to grow philanthropic support at ISU, the university believes the time is right for our community to move the arena project from vision to reality. The leadership gift propels this project forward and will inspire other supporters throughout Idaho and beyond in making the project possible.

ICCU Bengal Arena will include traditional as well as premium seating spaces, concession areas, a practice and competition floor, and is intended to offer a versatile venue that will be able to accommodate other types of events. This facility has long been a significant need, as constraints on space in the current venue of Reed Gymnasium dramatically limit use, and the seating capacity has limited access for the community and region to participate as fans.

“Great things happen when people are willing to lead,” said ISU Director of Athletics Pauline Thiros. “ICCU has done exactly that. They have stepped up in a significant way, and we are incredibly grateful. Our student-athletes deserve facilities that match their ambition. Our fans deserve a place they can be proud of. And our community deserves a venue that brings people together. We are going to build something special in a community we all love.”

The future arena will represent far more than a new athletic facility. It will provide a stage for championship moments, a gathering place for Bengal Nation and a regional destination capable of serving the university and the broader community. ICCU’s gift establishes a powerful opening commitment for that effort and is expected to inspire additional philanthropic support for the arena and priorities across Idaho State. Further, the ICCU Bengal Arena will offer Idaho State a significant opportunity to generate revenue and elevate its intercollegiate athletics programs.

“We are not simply celebrating what Idaho State has accomplished. We are building what comes next,” Thiros said. “This is a big, bold project, and it is going to take Bengals showing up. ICCU showed up first. Now it is our turn to rally around this type of leadership and build something that our region will be proud of for decades.”

Several additional naming opportunities will be available inside the arena, and many donors have already asked how they can help support this project. Construction and project timelines will be announced as planning, design, and additional fundraising progress.

“The vision is no longer just a vision. We are building it,” said Thiros.

To learn more about the ICCU Bengal Arena and opportunities to contribute to the success of the project, visit isu.edu/iccubengalarena — here.