GRAND FORKS, N.D. ? The University of North Dakota signed a 10-year lease agreement today with the Alerus Center, the home of Fighting Sioux football since the 2001 season.

The contract, the first multi-year football lease between UND and the Alerus Center, was signed by UND President Dr. Robert Kelley, UND Director of Athletics Brian Faison, UND Interim Vice-President of Finance and Operations Alice Brekke, Alerus Center Commission Chairman Curt Kreun and Alerus Center Executive Director Steve Hyman at a press conference today at the Alerus Center.

“This new contract is a great evolution in our partnership with the Alerus Center,” said Kelley. “As the primary tenant, we have been pleased to call the Alerus Center the home of UND football. It has also become the home of UND's spring commencement, as well as other UND-related activities throughout the year.

“We look forward to a decade of exciting Division I football and an even closer relationship in the years to come.”

Added Hyman: “This is the beginning of a new relationship with UND and the signing of this lease speaks volumes to our partnership.”

In their first eight seasons in the Alerus Center, the Fighting Sioux have amassed a 50-7 (.877) home record that includes a perfect 10-0 postseason record and a school-record 23-game winning streak from 2002-05.

UND set a school single-season attendance record in 2008, averaging 10,167 fans in its five home games. The previous record of 10,023 was established in 2001, the first season in which UND played its home games in the Alerus Center.

A total of 542,679 fans have passed through the gates in UND's 57 home games since the Alerus Center opened prior to the 2001 season. UND ranked among the top 10 in NCAA Division II football in total attendance in each of its first seven seasons in the facility, leading the nation in 2003 and 2004.