The Bismarck Bucks, members of the Indoor Football League (IFL), announced today that the team will remain inactive for the 2024 season. The team is looking at options to move to Fargo as well as the possibility of remaining in Bismarck.

In the interim, the team announced that they will host the first-ever Fargo-IFL Gridiron Classic on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Scheels Arena in Fargo. The game will feature the Sioux Falls Storm taking on the Massachusetts Pirates.

“The Bucks have always been one of the best family-friendly entertainment options in North Dakota and we are committed to ensuring our football team becomes a long-term asset to our communities,” says Derrick Bulawa, CEO of BEK Communications Cooperative, owner of the Bismarck Bucks.

In addition to hosting the Fargo-IFL Gridiron Classic, the Bucks are also in discussions with the RoughRider Center in Watford City to host their 2025 pre-season training camp and one regular season home game.

Talks are also ongoing with Scheels Arena in Fargo and the Bismarck Event Center, which are both potential home venue locations for the Bucks in the 2025 season. The team says they are hoping to find a venue that will allow them to provide the best possible experience for their fans.

The Bucks are also pursuing new ownership prospects and partnerships as they prepare to return to the field in 2025. The team says they are confident that they can build a sustainable and successful professional football franchise in North Dakota.