Status: draft
Idaho State University announced on Thursday a major financial commitment from Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) to build a new multi-purpose basketball and community event arena. Projected to cost between $70 million and $80 million, the future ICCU Bengal Arena will be constructed on the north side of the ICCU Dome on the university’s Pocatello campus. The project is slated to be fully funded through ICCU’s multi-year gift and additional private philanthropic donations raised through the ISU Foundation.
The proposed arena is expected to seat approximately 4,500 spectators. Designed as a highly versatile venue, it will feature traditional and premium seating, concession areas, and a dedicated practice and competition floor. In addition to serving as the modern home for Bengals Athletics, the venue will host university events, concerts, high school state tournaments, trade shows, and commencement ceremonies. University officials noted the new facility will resolve long-standing capacity and scheduling constraints at ISU’s current venue, Reed Gymnasium, which has limited regional access to games.
ISU President Robert Wagner praised the long-term partnership with the credit union, describing the commitment as a transformational step forward at a time when the university and local community are ready to expand their goals. Brenda Worrell, the president and CEO of ICCU and an ISU alumna, emphasized the credit union’s deep roots in the Pocatello and Chubbuck area, noting that investing in local communities is core to the credit union’s mission.
Athletic Director Pauline Thiros highlighted the arena’s potential to elevate ISU’s athletic programs and generate new regional revenue. She stated that the venue will provide student-athletes with facilities matching their ambitions while serving as a prominent gathering space for the entire region. Thiros emphasized that ICCU’s contribution serves as a foundational leadership gift designed to inspire further philanthropic contributions from donors across Idaho and beyond to help move the project from vision to reality.
Specific construction and project timelines have not yet been finalized and will be announced as planning, design, and additional fundraising efforts progress. Established in 1901, Idaho State University is a comprehensive institution with campus locations in Pocatello, Meridian, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls. Its partner in the project, ICCU, was organized in 1940 and has grown to manage $16 billion in assets, serving more than 845,000 members across Idaho, Washington, and Arizona.
