New U of Minnesota Stadium

[Pelt]

Called TCF Bank Stadium. Looks a heck of a lot better than the Metrodome. It's a great addition to the Big Ten Stadiums.

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Good site for it - here (http://stadium.gophersports.com/)

[Dodgeboy]

Only a block from Memorial Stadium's site.
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It will seat 50,000 in a "split bowl," kind of like a split upper deck at new baseball parks. The concourse is open to the field as well.
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The exterior looks like an old horseshoe that had skyboxes added on along the south sideline.
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They say it's expandable to 80,000 but the WILL NOT close off the open end, so I guess they would add above the north sideline and the endzone, if need be.

The ironic part of it all? Glen Mason pushed hard for this stadium for a decade, and then was fired before the official groundbreaking.

[Dodgeboy]

Here's some construction picks from twinsballpark2010.com
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The arches have plaques for all 87 counties in MN.
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[brady_branch]

Looks pretty nice. A little generic (okay, a lot generic), but it's way better than the Metrodome.

[hofflalu]

Here's a link to the webcam located on Williams Arena, looking east towards the stadium:

http://160.94.69.151/en/JViewer.html?DB_OEM_ID=8400

[wvkeeper]

I like the fact that it is generic personally. Looks like a College Football stadium should...


Anyone know what UM gets for a game at the Metrodome?

[Dodgeboy]

Anyone know what UM gets for a game at the Metrodome?

Generally, somewhere around 40,000 to 50,000. Games against Wisconsin, Iowa, and (lately) NDSU are usually sellouts, due to visiting fans making the fairly short roadtrip, and their alumni already working in Minneapolis / St Paul.

I'm expecting sellouts starting next year.

One note: IF the Vikings get a new stadium approved for the Metrodome site, they would have to play at TCF for two or three years. Will nearly 55,000 season tickets alone, not to mention a lot more suites, etc, than at TCF, the Vike's might have to spring for a capacity expansion.

Also, there's talk of an NHL winter classic outdoor game in the stadium, possibly a hockey doubleheader with the Gophers playing Wisconsin or UND.

[wvkeeper]

Generally, somewhere around 40,000 to 50,000. Games against Wisconsin, Iowa, and (lately) NDSU are usually sellouts, due to visiting fans making the fairly short roadtrip, and their alumni already working in Minneapolis / St Paul.

I'm expecting sellouts starting next year.

One note: IF the Vikings get a new stadium approved for the Metrodome site, they would have to play at TCF for two or three years. Will nearly 55,000 season tickets alone, not to mention a lot more suites, etc, than at TCF, the Vike's might have to spring for a capacity expansion.

Also, there's talk of an NHL winter classic outdoor game in the stadium, possibly a hockey doubleheader with the Gophers playing Wisconsin or UND.

Thanks...:lookitup:

[Chevy114]

I like this, I was just at ucf's stadium and trust me putting a little bit of effort into a stadium goes a long way. UCF's satdium was horrible it shook and it look liked as if they had no room for expansion. This one will be a true gem! It loooks like citi field to me future home of the mets, which is a great thing to me!

[Chevy114]

I heard the vikings want to use it while they build a new stadium. Can anyone confirm this?

[efin98]

I heard the vikings want to use it while they build a new stadium. Can anyone confirm this?

See Dodgeboy's post above.

Looks like they could erect temporary stands in the south endzone getting a good 3-4,000 more seats if/when they use the stadium.

Wikipedia says that they could expand the stadium to aproximately 80,000 but for two years I highly doubt the Vikings kick in the money to do that so it's likely just temporary bleachers...

[HPGrant129]

See Dodgeboy's post above.

Looks like they could erect temporary stands in the south endzone getting a good 3-4,000 more seats if/when they use the stadium.

Wikipedia says that they could expand the stadium to aproximately 80,000 but for two years I highly doubt the Vikings kick in the money to do that so it's likely just temporary bleachers...

The Vikings would have to suffer I think. Unless the Gophers get SO good in the next 3 years that expansion (ala Beaver Stadium or McKinney<?> Stadium in Tennessee) of TCF Bank Stadium is beneficial for both teams, I don't see the University expanding to accomodate a temporary resident.

[Dodgeboy]

The ONLY way i see an expansion is if the Gophers sell out the nest few years AND the Vikings pay for it. Even then, I doubt it would be by more than 6,000 seats.

At least the 80,000 expansion ability would NOT enclose the open end of the horseshoe.

[Seattle1]

I think it's great. Will it be a grass field? :crossfingers:

[Dodgeboy]

I think it's great. Will it be a grass field? :crossfingers:

No. Fieldturf. :sigh: :ughh: :grouch:

[Pelt]

It will seat 50,000 in a "split bowl," kind of like a split upper deck at new baseball parks. The concourse is open to the field as well.
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The only thing that I see that I think would be better, is if they had the main concourse for the lower deck at street level, instead of having to walk up, what looks like stairs, to get to it.

But that's still minor. I like it either way.

[Seattle1]

No. Fieldturf. :sigh: :ughh: :grouch:

Aw, rats! :(

[hofflalu]

Video from the StarTribune, showing the first of maroon & gold seating now installed:

http://www.startribune.com/video/?vid=41239467&elr=KArksi8cyaiUo8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUHDYaGEP7eyckc Us

[Pelt]

Pics courtesy of BraceHemi on flickr:

[Pelt]

Let me try this again with jpgs instead... :p

[Chevy114]

Let me try this again with jpgs instead... :p

Man this place is nice! UCF should have taken a note!

[Prancer]

Pictures Courtesy of www.gophersports.com. Set 1

[Prancer]

Pictures courtesy of www.gophersports.com. Set 2

[Prancer]

Below is a link that has pictures of TCF Bank Stadium from a tour dated 8/4/2009. Pictures courtesy of Nadine Babu at www.gopherhole.com

http://www.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1013

[Prancer]

The U of M just dedicated the western plaza for TCF Bank Stadium. It is a tribute to the Minnesota Tribal Nations. I provided a link to the story courtesy of UM News.
http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/2009/UR_CONTENT_126225.html

Below are renderings of the plaza courtesy of the U of M.

[Chevy114]

Gorgeous pics thanks prancer!

[hofflalu]

Aerial photo from the Minneapolis StarTribune of the practice on August 22, 2009:

http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/stad0906cover4.jpg

[Seattle1]

Looks like a real nice place.

[Chevy114]

Im watching the replay of the game on the big 10 channel and it looks great live!

[boise49erfan]

nicer than the Dome!