Maturi says TCF COULD host Bears vs Vikes Next Monday Night

[Stan The Caddy]

So let's ask the obvious question. Does the Bank get a temporary liquor license? Is that even possible?
They weren't going to sell beer at the U2 concert that got postponed.

I can't really see the Vikings rubes showing up without the ability to drink. That's 90% of the reason people go to games it seems.

This is an interesting question. When there are private functions at the club rooms of TCF, beer and liquor are available. They are available for University functions there too. So, there is some sort of license in place. The question would be if that license differs from one that allows beer to be sold outside of the club areas during an event.

 

[Gopher07]

I don't think they have the systems in place to pour beer. You could feasibly bring in the plastic bottles for sale but you'd have to bring in a LOT of them. My guess is they'd go without it.

 

[MNfootballfan]

So let's ask the obvious question. Does the Bank get a temporary liquor license? Is that even possible?
They weren't going to sell beer at the U2 concert that got postponed.

I can't really see the Vikings rubes showing up without the ability to drink. That's 90% of the reason people go to games it seems.

90% of the people go for $7 beers???

I don't know where your from, but that isn't very good drink specials for a $80 cover charge.

 

[Schnauzer]

90% of the people go for $7 beers???

I don't know where your from, but that isn't very good drink specials for a $80 cover charge.

Gotta give credit where credit is due... this made me laugh!

 

[glovedgopher]

I don't think they have the systems in place to pour beer. You could feasibly bring in the plastic bottles for sale but you'd have to bring in a LOT of them. My guess is they'd go without it.

Might be about the same amount they would bring in for the Dome. 14,000 less people and cold Beer might not be a great choice when it is that cold outside. They would make it work.

 

[glovedgopher]

So let's ask the obvious question. Does the Bank get a temporary liquor license? Is that even possible?
They weren't going to sell beer at the U2 concert that got postponed.

I can't really see the Vikings rubes showing up without the ability to drink. That's 90% of the reason people go to games it seems.

You're thinking of Twins games. Most of the drinking at a Vikings game happens outside the Dome.

 

[disco]

I don't think they have the systems in place to pour beer. You could feasibly bring in the plastic bottles for sale but you'd have to bring in a LOT of them. My guess is they'd go without it.

The Bears brought in temporary beer stands when they played in Champaign while Soldier Field was being reconstructed.

Could be that a lot of the drinking goes on outside, but I'd say over 50% of the crowd at a Vikes game is pretty well into their cups during the game. Not to mention the revenue from beer sales for a Vikes game has to be huge. It might actually make more financial sense for the Vikings to play elsewhere from a revenue standpoint if they make that much money and the U says no to beer.

I suspect that in the event that the Vikings would have to play there for a year or two while a new stadium is being built, that there would be liquor sales.

 

[Swede]

So let's ask the obvious question. Does the Bank get a temporary liquor license? Is that even possible?
They weren't going to sell beer at the U2 concert that got postponed.

I can't really see the Vikings rubes showing up without the ability to drink. That's 90% of the reason people go to games it seems.

Liquor licensing is not my forte, but I wonder why the Vikings (or their concessions management outfit) couldn't bring their license with them from the Dome? I don't think a license is necessarily cemented to a physical address and I've been involved in organizations that hold events at non-licenses facilities but bring in a bar or caterer with their strong drink (and license) with them to facilitate consumption.

As far as facilities for serving beer, tap trailers parked on the Indian plaza would probably suffice in a pinch.

 

[Dr.Don]

What a lot of people do NOT realize is that this would be GREAT National Exposure for the U of M, given all of the circumstances. I say...GO GOPHERS!!! GOPHER IT! Who gives a rat's a$$ over the cost, because the NFL/Vikings would cover that plus a ton more of $$$$$$$

 

[Word]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet and I'm too lazy to go back and read all the pages, but Mike Wilbon referenced TCF on PTI today and gave it a compliment...can't remember the exact words.
So, yes, this could be some nice national exposure.

 

[TAW]

I think this would be great exposure for TCF and that potential issues could be overcome. However, as far as pre-season NFL games go, the Packer game in Camp Randall worked because:

1) Many Madison/UW ticket holders have never been able to get into Lambeau; it was an oddity.
2) CR, at that time, was the largest stadium in Wisconsin. I think it still is, but with the Lambeau expansion, probably not as much.

One of my favorite memories of that game, Favre's 2nd or 3rd season - when he was still quite erratic - was he threw a ball away into the team bench and the crowd cheered for his good judgment.

I think the exposure would help your recruiting.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

Target would have a bigger issue b/c they have a smaller (maybe the smallest) field footprint in the majors. Basically no foul territory. Not saying they couldn't, but if they couldn't that would be the primary reason I'm guessing.

Dave St. Peter was on Reusse & Mackay today and said that Target Field has a configuration and could fit both football and (gasp) soccer fields inside.

He did say they would face the same issues at the U in regards to Monday night because the stadium has also be winterized. They have not been contacted by the Vikes or the NFL.

He then said Larry DiVeto would have a stroke if they told him they were going to host the game Monday night.

So, according to the Twins, a football field could fit.

 

[GoAUpher]

Dave St. Peter was on Reusse & Mackay today and said that Target Field has a configuration and could fit both football and (gasp) soccer fields inside.

He did say they would face the same issues at the U in regards to Monday night because the stadium has also be winterized. They have not been contacted by the Vikes or the NFL.

He then said Larry DiVeto would have a stroke if they told him they were going to host the game Monday night.

So, according to the Twins, a football field could fit.

Good to know! Good ears Stan.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Has there been any word yet? I thought the U of M said they would need to know by today if they want to play at TCF on Monday.

 

[Gopher07]

Has there been any word yet? I thought the U of M said they would need to know by today if they want to play at TCF on Monday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5916964

Decision upcoming:

If the Metrodome cannot be repaired in time, Monday night's Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings game will be played at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.

The stadium's Teflon roof gave way early Sunday after a storm pounded the region, dumping 17 inches of snow on the city -- the fifth-heaviest snowfall in state history.

Roy Terwilliger, president of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which owns and operates the Metrodome, said the Vikings and the NFL are working on a dual plan for the two sites as crews work on damage assessments. A decision is expected Tuesday night.

 

[13 Lined Ground Squirrel]

Hopefully they'll play in either TCF or Target Field and hopefully they'll wear their throwback unis for the game.

This is a good opportunity to remind Minnesota of what the Vikings should be.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

Hopefully they'll play in either TCF or Target Field and hopefully they'll wear their throwback unis for the game.

This is a good opportunity to remind Minnesota of what the Vikings should be.

They wore their throwbacks for Miami earlier this year. NFL allows two games for throwbacks. With this being the last home game and the 50th anniversary celebration, you can almost guarantee they WILL wear the throwbacks with the gray facemasks.

Also, most signs are pointing to the game being at TCF with an official announcement coming within 24 hours.

 

[Flatfoot]

Are they clearing the snow out of the stadium as a contingency right now or is it going to be announced?

 

[RodentRampage]

They painted a Vikings logo at midfield and in the end zones at Ford Field in Detroit. Would they paint over our logos if they played at TCF? I'd much rather they leave our logos in place, besides, it would probably take a lot of paint to cover that Maroon, and I don't know how well the painting would go in the cold.

 

[year of the gopher]

They painted a Vikings logo at midfield and in the end zones at Ford Field in Detroit. Would they paint over our logos if they played at TCF? I'd much rather they leave our logos in place, besides, it would probably take a lot of paint to cover that Maroon, and I don't know how well the painting would go in the cold.

I would want them to leave the big M mid-field. Other than that, they can decorate the place how they want...though I don't like the thought of plastic vikings banners covering up the brick at field level either.

The block M is important as a constant reminder to viewers of whose beautiful facility they're playing in.

 

[Ski U Mah 55]

I would want them to leave the big M mid-field. Other than that, they can decorate the place how they want...though I don't like the thought of plastic vikings banners covering up the brick at field level either.

The block M is important as a constant reminder to viewers of whose beautiful facility they're playing in.

The endzones and field graphics are sewn into the field so they aren't removable, and I don't think it would be very easy to cover them with paint. It would probably take so much that the field would be really slick.

 

[GoAUpher]

I'm guessing that for this week the Gophers stuff would stay in place for the reasons already mentioned.

 

[RodentRampage]

With all that has to be done in such a short time, painting the field would be something that should be skipped. The deal I would give the Vikings is that they pay the costs of getting the stadium ready before and after, and we let them use it without rent, they handle concessions themselves. We keep the parking revenue. And of course we would get some revenue from Goldy's Locker Room. Max this out for publicity. Sell tickets for the other Gopher sports. Give people information on getting 2011 football season tickets. Offer free admission to a non-revenue game with a Vikings ticket stub. Have the PA guy push Gopher sports. Great way to advertise to a group of people who are already inclined to spend money on tickets.

 

[goldybobblehead]

If the game is at TCF, I think the field would be painted just like it was in Detroit. They have obligations with their sponsors to put up all the banners and recreate the game-day look and feel as best as they can. With the 50 year program happening, they would want the pictures on the field to look like it was a vikings game. In addition, no matter what, they would have to put the NFL logo over the Big Ten logo, so if they do that I would suspect they would do it all.

 

[RodentRampage]

The paint job at Ford Field didn't look very good, I can't imagine it would look too good here, where it not only has to be outdoors in winter, but where it has to cover up maroon, which is not easy to cover over. They didn't have to do much to get Ford Field ready, but there is so much to for this, that painting the field would be the least of the priorities. Besides, having our logos on the field might boost interest, a lot of people will be watching just because of the whole roof collapse drama, which means that you can highten that drama by not trying to make it appear as if this game is being played at a Vikings stadium.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

I was also told by somebody in the know that there was a design flaw with TCF. The main area where the Gophers and vehicles enter the filed is two inches too small to fit dump trucks out to the field. So, when all the snow is shoveled out onto the field, it has to be hauled out of there in much smaller trucks, adding to the time it would take to clear the field.

Well...my source on that was WRONG. -1 for Stan The Caddy.

Those certainly looked like full-sized dump trucks in there today...