|
| |
University Metrodome
University of Minnesota
The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team began playing in the Metrodome for
the 1982 season. Attendance was expected to increase over the old Memorial
Stadium attendance, especially for late fall games, due to the climate
controlled comfort. At the time it was also believed that the new NFL venue
would be a recruiting benefit for the Gophers. The Gopher teams have struggled
in the Big Ten Conference since the 1970s. Gopher football games rarely fill the
Metrodome to capacity except when nearby rivals visit, the Wisconsin Badgers and
Iowa Hawkeyes. Although, average attendance did increase over previous seasons
at Memorial Stadium. Students are taken by bus from the campus to the stadium.
The setting is also removed them from the traditional on-campus atmosphere.
The University of Minnesota plans on moving to TCF Bank Stadium for the 2009
football season. The University believes an on-campus stadium will pep up its
student base for increased ticket sales. An on-campus stadium would also benefit
athletic revenues, not only for the football program, but the non-revenue sports
as well. The University-only stadium is expected to cost less than half of a
NFL-quality football stadium. The new stadium will be built on surface parking
lots just a few blocks east of the former Memorial Stadium, with the naming
rights purchased by TCF Bank. The University of Minnesota is expected to raise
more than half the cost of the stadium via private donations. The Gopher stadium
bill was passed by both houses on May 20, 2006, the day before the Twins stadium
bill passed. On May 24, 2006, Governor Pawlenty signed the Gopher bill on the
University campus.
.
| |
|
