SOUTH BEND – The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend was the only bidder in an auction by the city of South Bend for a piece of property that St. Joseph’s High School wants to use to build a football stadium.

WSBT-TV reported that the diocese placed the minimum bid of $545,000 on Monday. The minimum bid was based on the $345,000 average of two appraisals plus the $200,000 the city paid to buy out the lease of the property owner.

The city had previously tried to sell the land to the diocese, but U.S. District Judge Robert Miller had ruled the bidding process included a stipulation favoring a religious organization. Four city taxpayers had challenged the original sale.