Dickinson, ND – The new rivalry between the Badlands Big Sticks and Minot Hot Tots now has an official name: The Battle of the Badlands presented by Chord Energy. Fans were asked to nominate a rivalry name between April 30 and May 7. The top four names were selected for fans to vote on between May 7 and May 13.

“The oil and gas industry is the lifeblood of Minot and Dickinson, so partnering with Chord Energy to ignite a rivalry between our teams was a natural fit,” said Monica Hocking, General Manager of the Minot Hot Tots. “While the trophy design is still under wraps, I can reveal that the concept of ‘Teddy Roosevelt riding a bison’ helped seal the deal for the ‘Battle of the Badlands’ name. We’re thrilled to bring this exciting rivalry to life!”

The North Dakota badlands cover the western edge of the state following the route of the Little Missouri River. The river runs through Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, continuing north before heading east where the mouth of the river flows into Lake Sakakawea.

The Little Missouri began to carve the badlands about 600,000 years ago and, much more recently, in 1978, Theodore Roosevelt National Park was established.

“With the storied history of Teddy Roosevelt, and the natural beauty that make up the badlands, it was the clear choice that the rivalry name should honor that,” Big Sticks General Manager, Logan Hoff, said. “The badlands and the Missouri River are what directly separates Dickinson from Minot. It means a lot to both communities and to the entire state. The name is a great nod to our state’s amazing beauty, storied past, and bright future.”

The storied past of course is a reference to 1883 when then-New York assemblyman Theodore Roosevelt came to Medora, North Dakota. His mission was to hunt bison which led to him falling in love with the rugged lifestyle and “perfect freedom” of the Badlands of the West.

Roosevelt himself credited his time in the badlands as one of the foundational experiences of his life. His legacy still leads to a brighter future for the badlands. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is set to open on July 4, 2026 in Medora, North Dakota.

Regarding baseball ties, the two cities have dueled on the diamond in the past. In 1955 and 1956, the Dickinson Packers and Minot Mallards were both members of the Manitoba-Dakota League, an independent semi-professional league. During the 1955 season, Minot defeated Dickinson with a four-game series sweep to win the league championship.

For the Big Sticks franchise, this won’t be there first battle against a ballclub from Minot. During the first four years of the existence (2018-2021), the Big Sticks competed in the same league and division as the Minot based Souris Valley Sabre Dogs. The teams were fierce rivals each year as they each finished in the top two spots of the division all four years. The Big Sticks brought home the division title three out of the four years with the Sabre Dogs winning their lone division title in 2021.

The Minot Hot Tots were founded in 2022 and began their first season in the Northwoods League in 2023.

The first matchup between the teams in 2024 is scheduled for 6:35 PM MT on Saturday, June 15 in Dickinson at Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field.

The teams will play back-to-back games in Dickinson, with the first series at Corbett Field in Minot coming on June 29 and June 30.

Tickets for the first matchup in are $12 for a general admission ticket, and $15 for a reserved seat. Tickets can be purchased at: https://badlands-big-sticks.nwltickets.com/SingleGame/Tickets.