OK, the band/ U Ave issue still annoys me,

[oak_street1981]

but I have witnessed a few things that give me hope for the pre game atmosphere.

If the whole band actually plays a few songs on the McNamera Plaza before the victory walk and makes powerful entrance of some sort that will do a lot to eliminate my complaint.

If the band follows the players to the main plaza after the victory walk as the alumni band did, that will be good as well, but I'd rather see them head west and march past frat row after a short show on the Mall, but that is a lost cause.

In Saturday, I saw the band assemble in front of gate B (by their quarters/ north side), and practice marching around the east side of the stadium to the Clearwater county sign vicinity where the new "plaza" show will happen. This will be a good pregame experience, and will be much better when that ugly late '70's office building on the corner goes away for good.

My final question is, will the band march around the west side of the stadium before entering the east tunnel for pregame, or will they return from where they came?

I ask, since it will dicate my pregame movements.

I suspect many on this board thought the "plaza show" would be on the plaza by Williams/ Mariucci; it will not be there based upone what I saw on Saturday.

 

[book]

I'm thinking that maybe if the traffic on University isn't as bad as the Mpls. officials think it will be = maybe in the future they will allow a 10 minute disruption of traffic!

 

[the accomplice]

Maturi is still working on this

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see the band get to do the real march in the near future. While I doubt it will be this year, next year seems very realistic.

 

[AeroGopher]

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see the band get to do the real march in the near future. While I doubt it will be this year, next year seems very realistic.

Keep dreaming....

or better yet, get over it

 

[Gopherdrummer]

The first plaza show on Saturday will be where you described, just east of the Ticket office. This spot is not ideal but it is the location advertised to season ticket holders. But for the rest of the season it will most likely be moved. Obviously if athletics does not agree then it will stay the same. The reason for moving is easy, the original design did not have trees or a fence in place. But that is exactly what was installed. Some ideas of a new plaza show location near the scoreboard area just north of the waterfall/plaza. That is the only other area that can hold 5 - 10,000 people without closing a street.

The Victory Walk will have a slightly smaller band than usual. There will also be small groups going through the tailgate lots during the Victory Walk. It sounds like McNamera will have a beer garden set up, thus the down sizing.

 

[forestlaker]

Why not just stay at McNamara and have the pregame concert there. Maybe try and have the Alumni Band March down University Ave. on the sidewalks.

 

[GoAUpher]

Why not just stay at McNamara and have the pregame concert there. Maybe try and have the Alumni Band March down University Ave. on the sidewalks.

Space? McNamara is being used for quite a few things as part of the "Game Day Party" that the U has created. Here's the blurb:

Pre-Game Party on McNamara Plaza:
Located across University Avenue from TCF Bank Stadium, the alumni center will be open 3 hours prior to home game kick-offs selling food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. This Game Day Party, both inside and out on the plaza, is free and open to everyone! Other party activities include interactive games, face painting, live music, visits by the spirit squad and Goldy. For those without football tickets, the McNamara Alumni Center will show the Gopher game LIVE on the jumbo screen in Memorial Hall.​