Can you imagine trying to get into the stadium when the security gaurd with the metal detector spends 2 minutes on every person because he doesn't understand the concept of metal zippers? People that were in line for an hour at the Wisconsin game would be even more pissed if they had to stand in an immobile line for an hour and 45 minutes to get 30K more through the gate!
That would be great in my opinion. It might be the only way we could get a home-and-home with some big name opponents.
I had by far my worst experience since the stadium opened at the Wisconsin game, at Gate D. I spent over an HOUR in the security line and missed Wisconsin's entire first possession. It was maddening. I get it that this wasn't the case at every gate, but it was infuriating to have such a wildly different experience compared to the Penn State game, where I arrived at the exact same time/place and was in my seat in time for the entire band pregame show.
I think they are good and bad entries. Middle plaza is consistently good, student section entrance is consistently good, entry on northwest corner consistently bad. Problem with Northwest entry is line gets so long and curls around that you can't see how much longer it is than other entries and by the time you can see, your close enough that switching won't help.
US Bank stadium has the same issues.
Ditto. Took me forever.
expansion as of right now or in the next 5 years, yes probably a disaster. Further down the road, who knows.
So one of the joys of working over nights when its -10 degrees out side in public safety you get a lot of down time to cruise the interwebs, not sure what brought me down this road tonight but I came across this gem of an article from back when PJ was first hired. It talks about his vision for the team and stadium in general and curious what others think now that things he is talking about are starting to happen....
"Fleck’s vision is that the Gophers would add 30,000 more seats to TCF Bank Stadium, which would put them in between the likes of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium (86,047 capacity) and Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium (80,321 capacity).
Even Iowa, which consistently sells out games, has a capacity of 70,585 at Kinnick Stadium.
Fleck said that in order to make that jump, Minnesota will have to get fans that don’t care about football to commit to regularly attending games."
Far as I know this is still a pipe dream as they are still trying to get those last few dollars found to help pay for the most recent upgrades to the Athletic Village. However if we are able to roll off several more 8, 9, 10+ seasons and a couple of west titles out right I could see the drum slowly start to be beat for this to happen.
P.J. Fleck has a lofty expansion goal for TCF Bank Stadium
The new Minnesota coach has big aspirations for the Gophers' home stadium.saturdaytradition.com
On that note, does anyone have any drawings of what an expanded Stadium might look like should that time ever come?
I’m looking forward to a day that we do. I love our stadium as it is, truly I do. There’s this part of me though that just really wants to see what 80,000 fans in maroon and gold would look like at TCF. I want to know what that noise level would sound like. Imagine the noise at the Penn State game, and then almost double that. Imagine 80,000 gold towels waving.How long until we see the "Minnesota Fans Clamoring for Stadium Expansion!" articles
If we added 30,000 seats, we would add another full-fledged concourse. That would actually help with crowding because it would split the crowd into 2 concourses. Having said that, I really don't see the day we would ever add 30,000 seats. Maybe 10-15,000. But if that means adding another enclosed concourse with concessions and facilities, I'd be for it.
Really...are you a Gopher Fan or just a pretender? We don't need negative 'f*cks like you'....Viking games are a better atmosphere? Hmmmm....comparing college to pro. Is that even intelligent?
I have been to Penn St and Notre Dame...I stand by what I previously posted. Have you been there?
The most disappointed I’ve ever been was at Notre Dame vs BC under Charlie Weiss. I’ve been two other times as well that we’re better but it was way overrated. Funny how they said they’d never have artificial turf.
I have been to Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and every other Big Ten games except Rutgers and Penn State, I have also seen another 35 stadia not on game day. Ohio State was the best game day, crowd, ambiance and surrounding football feel. Our game against Penn State, IMHO, was 7 compared to the Ohio State 10. Though our 7 was better than anything I have seen at the U in my 54 years as an adult fan. That game was a dream come true for me, but if you haven't been to Ohio State and seen it, felt it, walked around it, you havn't. Notre Dame is much the same. Iowa can be an 8, Madison an 8+. IMHO. All we can ever be is the best "us" we can be for now. PSU was that.
Can't do this regardless of what we do. I agree raising prices is a joke. With all the choices in the Twin Cities I say leave TCF the way it is. If we sell out etc. , we won't have to spend as much on advertising, creating mailers and so forth. Also eliminates people as we won't need people to do that.
Both are the worst.