Thursday Night Openers

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Stan The Caddy

Stan The Caddy

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OK- Now that we have learned the U is pushing to have the home openers the next 4 years on Thursday night, I would like to know how the die hards here at GH feel about it. I, for one, LOVE it. Since it is a home game, we know it will be broadcast on BTN. I like being one of a handful of teams to play on opening night. Being a rube fan, it is great not having to wait until Saturday. If you like to go out of town Labor Day weekend, well...you can have your cake and eat it too. Gopher Game Thursday Night and then head to the cabin Friday morning. PERFECT!

I honestly do not see any drawbacks. Of course I live 10 minutes from the stadium, so that travelling to the game is not an issue for me. If you are outstate, come to the game Thursday, take Friday off and head to the State Fair.

Oh...in case you did not know, we are now 36 hours from kickoff. Getting excited...
 

Yup. Everyone has PTO. What better way to take a day off than to go to a GOpher game. As long as it is announced in plenty of time for people to submit PTO.
 

This is a win/win for me. If they wouldn't do this, I'd be screwed out of going to the cabin on Labor Day weekend. That is a huge negative. With a Thursday night Gopher opener tradition, I can see my own tradition to include a half day off on Thursday to allow some pre-game fun, and a full day on Friday. As stated, I'd head to the cabin Friday morning. This is a much MUCH better situation compared to a Saturday game over the holiday weekend.

I would also like to see all 5K (or however many) freshman on campus for the frosh-week to be given free tickets and this event take the place of "inflated castle and soda pop night". Seems like a good way to hook some prospective student season ticket holders.

I could also see some creative single game ticket sales for the rest of the stadium to include a state fair ticket and a parking pass for one of the lots currently used for State Fair parking. This would potentially be an attractive package for outstate people that like to make a yearly trek to the fair. It might help to offset the outstate guy that was suggesting he'd let his season tickets go if the U scheduled home Thursday games.

Add all these things together and there is potential for a very nice opening night atmosphere - and a repeatable new traditional one at that.
 

Schnauzer-

I agree with all the points, especially the tie in with welcome week. It has been easy to go to the cabin the last few years with it being a road game an all, but I understand Coach Kill's desire to open at home and Thursday nights are a huge win-win. I bet University PTS does not like it, but screw them! They can figure a way to clear the lots and allow the tailgaters to set up at lunch time.
 

Schnauzer said:
This is a win/win for me. If they wouldn't do this, I'd be screwed out of going to the cabin on Labor Day weekend. That is a huge negative. With a Thursday night Gopher opener tradition, I can see my own tradition to include a half day off on Thursday to allow some pre-game fun, and a full day on Friday. As stated, I'd head to the cabin Friday morning. This is a much MUCH better situation compared to a Saturday game over the holiday weekend.

I would also like to see all 5K (or however many) freshman on campus for the frosh-week to be given free tickets and this event take the place of "inflated castle and soda pop night". Seems like a good way to hook some prospective student season ticket holders.

I could also see some creative single game ticket sales for the rest of the stadium to include a state fair ticket and a parking pass for one of the lots currently used for State Fair parking. This would potentially be an attractive package for outstate people that like to make a yearly trek to the fair. It might help to offset the outstate guy that was suggesting he'd let his season tickets go if the U scheduled home Thursday games.

Add all these things together and there is potential for a very nice opening night atmosphere - and a repeatable new traditional one at that.
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If Kill is able to turn the program around, you would not be able to give away free tickets to the freshman. Even if demand wasn't high next year, you wouldn't be able to give away the tickets for all of the freshman because the consistent 6K or so students who buy tickets would most likely show up to the game (no classes and the game is on thirsty Thursday). But the freshman could very much be involved in the experience, and Welcome week would most likely coordinate for that 9whether it is selling tickets to the game, offering more standing room seats were they ever to sell out, or a viewing party, etc.)

That said, it is a huge win for the Football program. Nationally TV aside, the team gets to have a long break between games. That is basically giving them a short BYE going into the next game to recover from camp and provide extra time to prepare for the next game. If wee are ever to play another top tier program for our second game down the road in the non-con schedule, this would be ideal.
 


No problem - just take Friday off...sets me up for a long weekend. @ TCF on Thursday night and State Fair on Friday.
 

I live in south Minneapolis, so I can get to the U in a few minutes, it will be even easier when the light rail line starts running. But I can see that for some people coming from well out of the Metro area, they might have to take not one but two days off. From my hometown in the northwestern part of the state, it's a 5 hour drive to get to the stadium, and that's driving non-stop. I suppose they could take half a day off on Thursday to make the trip.

On the other hand, I don't know how many people would come to a game from that long a distace, there can't be a lot of season ticket holders making that long a trip every weekend. More likely if people are making that long a trip to a Gophers game, it's maybe just for one game; they would just pick a different game to attend.

While there is a potential disadvantage for some, there are a number of advantages. There's a lot less competition for the football world's attention. And with the game on Thursday, people don't have to choose between Labor Day activities and going to the game. I typically visit my parents on Labor Day weekend, so a Thursday game works out for me,
 

I'd be all for a Thursday night Labor Day weekend opening tradition. That said, no other Thursday night games, ever.
 




Although I would still prefer Saturday, I can tolerate a Thursday night opening tradition. This is especially true considering we have to deal with the State Fair issue. I agree with Nate though. NO MORE THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES EVER!
 

Thursday before Labor Day weekend for home games would be great. Fully behind it.
 

If you look at almost every where else in the country, you have to ask what they do Labor Day Weekend. The answer, not work. In Minnesota, it is tradition to go to the cabin/lake. A Thursday night game would be a great way to kick off the Labor Day weekend.
 

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