What do you miss most about Gopher games at the Metrodome?

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I have a friend who knew the old liquor store owner near the dome (was on Washington?).

Anyways, we always had a great tailgating spot there, and on those classic fall days, with a bluebird sky, cooling temps, a bunch of friends, a grill going with tons of snacks, throwing the football around, you know, the classic ideal of tailgating. It was about as good as it could get.

And then, I'd look at my watch, and then my friends, and say "Well...I guess it's time to go inside". And it just sucked the air out of the moment. We were all resigned to leaving this idyllic scene, and go sit in a lifeless sports studio.
 



--always knew the game would be played no matter what the weather was like. not too hot, not too cold.

--most of the time, you could pretty much sit anywhere you wanted.

-- The Dome Dog. reasonably tasty and a good deal for a cheapskate like me.

--going to season openers where they handed out free Gopher t-shirts. I still have several long-sleeve t-shirts that I wear all the time.

--in my radio days, I got to cover several HS football semi-final games and the Prep Bowl. that place could get loud even with a smallish crowd for a HS game. also got to broadcast a regular season HS non-conference baseball game that started at (I think) about 11:00pm or something like that. they played games in there at some pretty wacky hours.

Look, I know it wasn't a perfect stadium. But I'm old enough that I went to a lot of games - baseball and football - at Met Stadium. dealing with the weather and the lack of amenities. So walking into the Dome for the 1st time, there was a sense of "wow - a new stadium!"

--forgot to add: "Walks will Haunt!"
 
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The early dome video board graphics where Goldy Gopher looked a lot like Hardware Hank.
 

Mason era unis.

Oddly enough I never saw a Gopher football game in the dome but I did see the MBB team take on Cal in the dome. Shariff Abdul Rahim played for Cal and I believe Bobby Jackson made his first Gopher appearance, coming off the bench after recovering from a preaseason injury.
 

I miss nothing. Those were wasted years. And my first student season tickets were for the last year in Memorial Stadium.
 



Gold Vision said:
My fondest memories of the Dome were all Twins Baseball. Two World Series Championships! How could you beat $3 student tickets and $1 dog nights on Wednesdays?
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I was going to post the exact same thing about the prices! As a freshman in college, it was amazing to have a 5 dollar bill in your pocket, and be able to see a major league baseball game and have two dome dogs for supper.
 

My best gopher football memory at the dome was winning Floyd in 2006. It was a mediocre season that saw Glen Mason get fires, but little did I know that seeing that game as a freshman is the only time I would experience us winning a trophy game during all four years of college.

And the tailgating setup was sweet. Much more organic than what the U does since we moved on campus.
 

Ah the Dome!! My fave moments at the Dome were the Lou Holtz years where we went from the absolute rock bottom to a ray of hope to a minor bowl in 2 years. College years and I had season tickets in the front row. Seeing the athletes of Rickey Foggie, Darrell Thompson, Lawrence Maroney and Marion Barber play were my fave memories.
 




FredCoxRocks said:
Nothing.
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jonnyganas said:
Not a goddamn thing.
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wdgold said:
Absolutely Nothing
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Ewert86PC said:
I miss nothing. Those were wasted years. And my first student season tickets were for the last year in Memorial Stadium.
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So everyone is looking at you now and paying attention. What's your grown-up answer?

Mine is our second deck, first row season tickets staring straight down the "third base line". Maroney's 93 yard run. Beating Purdue in OT. Lloyd's winning FG.
 

I miss sneaking into the Gopher VIP tailgate next to the dome. Awesome food spread and free booze. Your ticket was one of those "Hello My Name Is" sticker and write in your first name :ROFLMAO:
 

I have a nostalgic memory of the smell of the Dome. It was a mix of beer, peanuts, hot dog water, and tears, but most of us can probably still picture it.

We had some really fun RBs during our Dome years and they looked really cool running on that carpet.

The Dome could get really loud.
 

1. The tailgates were great being downtown (as a student). Will never forget my first tailgate down there witnessing the octobong and Jesus dogs
2. The cannon blast after a Gopher score (really miss this one)
3. The "shoe" tradition, where we would hold up our shoe during a FG attempt

Other than that, not much. The Dome was sterile and the Bank is a complete and total upgrade
 

highwayman said:
So everyone is looking at you now and paying attention. What's your grown-up answer?

Mine is our second deck, first row season tickets staring straight down the "third base line". Maroney's 93 yard run. Beating Purdue in OT. Lloyd's winning FG.
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Sounds like those were great seats and I'm sure you miss them...but the Maroney run seems more like a memory of one game. With a thread title that reads "What do you miss most about Gopher games at the Metrodome", I take that to mean what do you miss about the entire game experience for any and all Gopher football games at the Metrodome - year in and year out; not necessarily game details but things like concessions, sound, jumbotron, bathroooms, atmosphere, etc.

Regardless, I will honor your request and provide a more grown-up answer, which is...absofuckinglutely nothing. May it rot in stadium hell for eternity.
 
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I mentioned this years ago. But my favorite memory was a Homecoming game vs Wisconsin. Goldy took the Wisconsin flag, wiped it on his backside, then held it upside down and ran toward the cheering Gopher fans.
The Wisconsin cheerleaders took back their W flag, and Goldy ran to the left field corner, where the Wisconsin fans section was, and he was pelted with hundreds of the yellow mini homecoming footballs. Goldy got pelted and stood proud. It was amazing to see.

Anyone have a video of this?
 

Better memories of twins baseball and two World Series. However it was a way better football stadium than baseball stadium. Best memory is probably Thompson’s long 98 yard run.
 


highwayman said:
So everyone is looking at you now and paying attention. What's your grown-up answer?

Mine is our second deck, first row season tickets staring straight down the "third base line". Maroney's 93 yard run. Beating Purdue in OT. Lloyd's winning FG.
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Giving it a proper farewell when we got torched 55-0 by Iowa. Good riddance.

There may have been some good wins that happened at the Dome (I saw us win the axe there twice) but the venue itself did not enhance the experience.
 

In addition to the others: 1996 - Tyrone Carter returns 2 fumbles for TDs vs. Syracuse, and 1998 the Gophers defeat Iowa 49-7. The Gopher D almost got the shutout, until Iowa scored with only 45 seconds remaining. One report said it was the Gopher's largest margin of victory in a BIG conference game since 1949, maybe someone knows for sure.
 

Captain Obvious said:
In addition to the others: 1996 - Tyrone Carter returns 2 fumbles for TDs vs. Syracuse, and 1998 the Gophers defeat Iowa 49-7. The Gopher D almost got the shutout, until Iowa scored with only 45 seconds remaining. One report said it was the Gopher's largest margin of victory in a BIG conference game since 1949, maybe someone knows for sure.
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I remember that game - if I remember correctly it was on ESPN 2 and shortly after ESPN 2 first aired.

Off topic, does anyone know what Tyrone Carter is up to? A few years ago he appeared to be going off the deep end - very outspoken about a variety of topics, got off social media, and vanished from the public eye.
 


rgv2 said:
More across the board than just the gophers, but knowing if I had a $20 that was going to get me 4 beers.
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3 more than now at the Bank.
 

I introduced both my kids to Gopher/college football there. It’s something that we all still share passionately both my son and daughter. They didn’t think it was a shithole when they were little it was awesome!! Dome Dogs were great— we still reminisce as we struggle at times to find something good to eat at TCF.
 

TheNorthernAmir said:
Love it or hate it, it's a Minnesota sports icon and had a distinct feel.

I was young when my family had season tickets, but I vaguely remember the entire student section "bouncing" during the 1st down chants.
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Theoretically, 3 heavy guys (and one lighter guy) can get the entire student section bouncing when jumping in unison because they were expandable seats. Theoretically, just 4 people could make the whole section bounce and theoretically it could really annoy the sober students. Theoretically with enough stress from bouncing, stuff can snap with audible uncomfortable sounds and a permanently slightly lower elevation by a couple inches or so. That's when you stop bouncing.
 

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