NDSU Adds Applied Digital to Football Helmets
North Dakota State University's new sponsorship puts the data center developer's brand on football helmet bumpers and the Scheels Center court floor.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Data Centers
North Dakota State University announced a sponsorship partnership with Applied Digital, a data center developer. The Applied Digital brand will appear on the bumper of all NDSU football helmets and on the floor of the Scheels Center court.
Why it matters
The deal ties a Fargo university's athletic program to a company that builds and operates data centers across the United States, including two in North Dakota. For Fargo readers, it is a visible example of how the data center industry is reaching into local institutions.
Applied Digital operates data centers across the United States, with two in North Dakota: an Ellendale facility that began operating in 2023 and a Harwood facility whose construction started in 2025. The financial value of the NDSU sponsorship has not been disclosed.
The players
North Dakota State University
A public research university in Fargo, North Dakota, whose athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I and are known as the Bison.
Applied Digital
A data center developer that builds and operates data centers across the United States, with facilities in North Dakota.
The details
North Dakota State University will display the Applied Digital brand on the bumper of every football helmet and on the floor of the Scheels Center court. The partnership was announced on November 13, 2026, and the source does not describe any additional terms.
Timeline
2023: Applied Digital's Ellendale data center began operating.
2025: Construction started on the company's second North Dakota data center near Harwood.
November 13, 2026: NDSU announced the Applied Digital sponsorship partnership.
Tech Race
Applied Digital's North Dakota facilities in Ellendale and Harwood reflect the broader buildout of data centers in rural parts of the state. Its sponsorship of NDSU brings that infrastructure push into the public visibility of a Fargo university's athletic program.
For Fargo residents, the sponsorship changes what they see at NDSU football and basketball games, with the Applied Digital name on helmets and the court floor. The announcement does not indicate any change to ticket prices, team schedules, or the data center sites themselves.
The takeaway
Sponsorship deals like this one show how data center companies are seeking visibility in the communities where they build. Readers who follow local business news can watch whether similar partnerships appear across the region.
Further reading
For more on the infrastructure behind companies like this, see Data Centers coverage for Fargo readers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO.
