CLA Student Blogs

Yes, I said amazing. In the past, Gopher football was played at Memorial Stadium which was an on-campus football stadium. However, in 1982 the decision was made to move football inside. From 1982 to 2008 the Gopher football team played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (named after our former Minnesota senator) in downtown Minneapolis. However, this fall of 2009 the Gophers brought football back to campus by opening the new TCF Bank Stadium (which is near the same location of the former Memorial football Stadium). The only real complaint that I have heard regarding this transition to an outdoor stadium is that it is too cold to be watching football games outside when November rolls around in Minnesota. It may get a little chilly in November yet I feel having an outdoor stadium is well worth the cost of putting on a couple extra layers for the final games of the football season.

First of all, being able to watch the first football games in 70 degree sunshine during September is great. Football is meant to be played outside and the atmosphere and energy that an outdoor college football stadium provides is indescribable (so you will just have to come watch a game and experience it!). There are also a lot of on-campus events/activities going on during game days. From tailgating outside to attending the pre-game football party at McNamara Alumni Center, there are many things to do.

TCF Bank Stadium (AKA 'The Bank') currently seats around 50,000 people and has sold out ever seat so far this football season. The stadium was also designed so that it can expand to seat around 80,000 people in the future. The stadium is also designed in a horseshoe configuration where it opens up to show the Minneapolis skyline which was pretty spectacular the night of September 12th when we played our home opener against Air Force (which we won).

In addition to the Gophers new stadium, the Minnesota Twins will also be moving out of the Metrodome and will open up a new, outdoor baseball stadium this upcoming spring 2010 season.

It seems like outdoor stadiums are the new craze in Minnesota... come and check it out!
-Mike