on may 26, 1998, league president gino gasparini awarded sioux falls a franchise to begin play in september 1999. the city finalized a deal that would upgrade the existing sioux falls arena for an estimated $1 million funded between the city and team. in choosing the team name, the ownership group set up a telephone line fans called to make suggestions. on september 30, 1998, after more than 140 name submissions were filed, the official name stampede and american bison logo were unveiled to represent the new sioux falls franchise.