Alerus Center

It is not an old place, but it has lived through something that moved the whole city. The Flood of 1997 pushed Grand Forks to rebuild everything, and the public vote in 1995 set the ground for the centre that now sits at 1200 South 42nd Street. It opened in February 2001, and the city wanted a space that could host events of different sizes without changing its shape.

The primary tenant is the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, who have played there since the doors opened. The surface is artificial turf, a permanent pitch that was laid down for the 2020 season.

It was originally called 'The Aurora' during construction, before Alerus Financial bought the naming rights in 2000. The name stuck, and the building has not changed its official title since. The capacity for football is 12,283, a number that has not moved since the opening. Basketball configurations are smaller, and concerts can take more space, but the pitch stays the same. In September 2025 a $6.4 million conference centre renovation was finished, the first major facelift since the centre opened.