What to see on Saturday

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firstandgoal34

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Hi everyone,

I was going through your posts; doing some research on Minnesota traditions/etc, as I'm planning on visiting all 11 BIG TEN schools this season. For 11 straight weekends, I'll travel to a different school to tailgate, watch football, and take in the sights and sounds of campus. I'll share it all with the world at www.THEbig10tour.com.

We'll be in Minnesota on 9/19 against Cal. Can any of you advise me on what the must see's are? I know having gameday on campus will be a new experience for you all (new stadium looks sweet by the way), but what do I have to do to really soak in the football Saturday experience at Minnesota? I lived in Minneapolis for a couple of years, but never spent much time on campus. Any feedback is appreciated.

Oh yeah, this is going to be really really really expensive...so if you know of anyone selling tickets at a reasonable price, could you fill me in? I haven't yet scoped out the ticket exchange on this site, is it a pretty good resource?

Thanks for any info you can give me

Dan

www.THEbig10tour.com
 

wow what a cool idea. i can't wait to follow the blog and hear about your season.
 


It is impossible to predict the "can't miss" parts of the on campus experience because no one has experienced it yet. If I were a betting man, I'd probably go to Stadium Village, the area along Washington Avenue at about Oak Street.

The places I would not miss:
Big Ten (awesome subs)
Stub and Herbs (will have a truck full of Surly beer - a fantastic local brew)
Sally's - a solid bar/grill option

Good luck! That is a cool idea - I wish I could swing something like that!
 



I made this map in response to a similar question on another site. I tried to list the major areas of town and hot spots around campus. I highlighted most of the bars near campus and the State Fair tailgate lots as well as some areas of the city that are fun to visit too.

Gameday Google Map Places of Interest
 

firstandgoal34 said:
Hi everyone,

Oh yeah, this is going to be really really really expensive...so if you know of anyone selling tickets at a reasonable price, could you fill me in? I haven't yet scoped out the ticket exchange on this site, is it a pretty good resource?

Thanks for any info you can give me

Dan

www.THEbig10tour.com
Click to expand...

Sounds fun. Since you are traveling with 2 Hawkeye fans, my ticket price will go up very quickly. ;) You'll get a "nicer" experience leaving the black/gold colors in Milwaukee too....
 

Micro-Brews on Gameday

firstandgoal34 said:
Hi everyone,

I was going through your posts; doing some research on Minnesota traditions/etc, as I'm planning on visiting all 11 BIG TEN schools this season. For 11 straight weekends, I'll travel to a different school to tailgate, watch football, and take in the sights and sounds of campus. I'll share it all with the world at www.THEbig10tour.com.

We'll be in Minnesota on 9/19 against Cal. Can any of you advise me on what the must see's are? I know having gameday on campus will be a new experience for you all (new stadium looks sweet by the way), but what do I have to do to really soak in the football Saturday experience at Minnesota? I lived in Minneapolis for a couple of years, but never spent much time on campus. Any feedback is appreciated.

Oh yeah, this is going to be really really really expensive...so if you know of anyone selling tickets at a reasonable price, could you fill me in? I haven't yet scoped out the ticket exchange on this site, is it a pretty good resource?

Thanks for any info you can give me

Dan

www.THEbig10tour.com
Click to expand...
One of your guys has a goal listed about having a quality micro-brew in each state. If that's the case than it is imperative that you try Surly. It was voted best craft brewery in America a year or so ago. Check out what they're saying about it on BeerAdvocate http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13014
Surly is the exclusive beer provider on gamdeday at Stub and Herbs, like a poster before mentioned.

Be sure to check back here during the week prior to your trip here because with the stadium being on campus for the first time in 29 years we don't have a clue how insane different places and traffic are going to be yet. We'll likely know more then.
 

firstandgoal34 said:
Hi everyone,

I was going through your posts; doing some research on Minnesota traditions/etc, as I'm planning on visiting all 11 BIG TEN schools this season. For 11 straight weekends, I'll travel to a different school to tailgate, watch football, and take in the sights and sounds of campus. I'll share it all with the world at www.THEbig10tour.com.

We'll be in Minnesota on 9/19 against Cal. Can any of you advise me on what the must see's are? I know having gameday on campus will be a new experience for you all (new stadium looks sweet by the way), but what do I have to do to really soak in the football Saturday experience at Minnesota? I lived in Minneapolis for a couple of years, but never spent much time on campus. Any feedback is appreciated.

Oh yeah, this is going to be really really really expensive...so if you know of anyone selling tickets at a reasonable price, could you fill me in? I haven't yet scoped out the ticket exchange on this site, is it a pretty good resource?

Thanks for any info you can give me

Dan

www.THEbig10tour.com
Click to expand...

So, a few thoughts:

Catch Breakfast at Al's Breakfast in Dinkytown. Get there early, as the place is small and with the return of football to campus, I expect business to be even better for them.

Walk across the bridge over the Mississippi River between the east and west bank campuses. It The bridge ain't all that, but the view is good up and down the river valley and you won't freeze your nuts off like you would on a January morning as a student making the same walk. {Side Note: Contrary to popular belief, at least when I was a student at the U, if you piss off the bridge, you won't stop before it hits the water -- tested many times trekking to games at the Metrodome, something I'm thrilled I'll never have to contemplate again}. If you're staying downtown (or park there), the walk from there to campus isn't short, but it isn't too long. You could come over the bridge which drops you into the heart of the East Bank campus just past the oft talked about Art Museum -- the mall with the Union (Coffman Memorial Union, much nicer than when I was in school, but still nothing spectacular) on one end and Northrup Auditorium on the other.

If you head through the mall towards Northrup and veer to the West of Northrup it will take you to the old part of campus and up to University ave/the heart of Dinkytown. From there a right onto University will take you past Fraternity Row to the stadium. As mentioned earlier, without a game day atmosphere on campus for so many years, don't know what this will look like, but should be lively.

For an after game meal, the Big Ten ain't the dive it used to be, but is close to the stadium and has a nice atmosphere on hockey and b-ball game days and should do well for football. The subs are great and its an institution.

The bar scene i think has been covered, but these are a few ideas on getting a feel for the campus and a couple of decent places to get something to eat.

Great idea. Good luck.
 



froggopher

Hello everyone,
I just joined up on this site. There has been some really great posts and some average ones. anyway I am curious to know when the open public will be able to get into the new stadium?
I am correct that it is August 22nd?:clap:
Thanks in advance!!:pig:
 

froggopher said:
Hello everyone,
I just joined up on this site. There has been some really great posts and some average ones. anyway I am curious to know when the open public will be able to get into the new stadium?
I am correct that it is August 22nd?:clap:
Thanks in advance!!:pig:
Click to expand...

The August 22nd event is for season ticket holders only.

There is an open-to-the-public event scheduled for Sunday, October 4 (which I think is the first chance for non-ticket holders to get inside).

Oh, and welcome to the site!
 

Gopher07 said:
The August 22nd event is for season ticket holders only.

There is an open-to-the-public event scheduled for Sunday, October 4 (which I think is the first chance for non-ticket holders to get inside).

Oh, and welcome to the site!
Click to expand...

correct. assuming you are not a season ticket holder the stadium open-house event you want to mark on your calendar is on 10/4/09 from 1pm-4pm. admission is free and no r.s.v.p. is required.
 

firstandgoal34 said:
Hi everyone,

I was going through your posts; doing some research on Minnesota traditions/etc, as I'm planning on visiting all 11 BIG TEN schools this season. For 11 straight weekends, I'll travel to a different school to tailgate, watch football, and take in the sights and sounds of campus. I'll share it all with the world at www.THEbig10tour.com.

We'll be in Minnesota on 9/19 against Cal. Can any of you advise me on what the must see's are? I know having gameday on campus will be a new experience for you all (new stadium looks sweet by the way), but what do I have to do to really soak in the football Saturday experience at Minnesota? I lived in Minneapolis for a couple of years, but never spent much time on campus. Any feedback is appreciated.

Oh yeah, this is going to be really really really expensive...so if you know of anyone selling tickets at a reasonable price, could you fill me in? I haven't yet scoped out the ticket exchange on this site, is it a pretty good resource?

Thanks for any info you can give me

Dan

www.THEbig10tour.com
Click to expand...

sounds like a cool idea. that being said i checked out your site and have one issue with something on there. considering you lived in minneapolis for a few years you should know that it is called the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis AND NOT Minnesota University in Minneapolis. what do you think this is?! the big 12?! seriously! ;)

link to what i am talking about on your site (week 3 - minnesota): http://www.thebig10tour.com/schedule.html#W3
 



This is some really good stuff. Thanks for all of the input. I have a few questions:

Gopher07 - How on earth did you manage to dig up a thread from over a month ago? You must have an impressive memory. Regardless it was a very applicable thread, thank you for posting.

I keep hearing go to Big 10. My girlfriend used to live in Hopkins and we went to the Big 10 there. Is it the same place? I don't recall being overly impressed.

Where is Surly beer produced? I don't recall trying it when I was in MN. Is it produced near campus?

Does anyone know what the parking situation looks like at the new stadium? I'm hoping for some good tailgating, since there was nothing doing for that at the dome (at least not much).

Bronko - Good callout, I am not the author of most of the verbiage on the website, and I will pass that on to Drew, he handles the web.
 

Bronko Nagurski Gopher said:
sounds like a cool idea. that being said i checked out your site and have one issue with something on there. considering you lived in minneapolis for a few years you should know that it is called the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis AND NOT Minnesota University in Minneapolis. what do you think this is?! the big 12?! seriously! ;)
Click to expand...

Bronko - how you disappoint me here! It's call the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, not the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Regardless (directed to our new friend), simply calling it the University of Minnesota suffices. No one will think you're referring to Duluth, Crookston or Morris. It's just like calling it the University of Wisconsin. No one thinks you're talking about Stout, Eau Claire or Superior. They know you're referring to Madison.
 

firstandgoal34 said:
I keep hearing go to Big 10. My girlfriend used to live in Hopkins and we went to the Big 10 there. Is it the same place? I don't recall being overly impressed.
Click to expand...

I believe they have the same owners, but no where near the same place. The one in Hopkins is just a suburban bar/restaurant. The one in Minneapolis has all the character.

firstandgoal34 said:
Where is Surly beer produced? I don't recall trying it when I was in MN. Is it produced near campus?
Click to expand...

Surly is produced in Brooklyn Center, which is a suburb directly northwest of Minneapolis. Your best bet, as another poster mentioned, of getting your hands on some within the game day experience will be to get it at Stub and Herbs, which is located just a block or two from the stadium. They'll have a trailer loaded with taps parked in their beer garden on Saturdays.

firstandgoal34 said:
Does anyone know what the parking situation looks like at the new stadium? I'm hoping for some good tailgating, since there was nothing doing for that at the dome (at least not much).
Click to expand...

This is a big TBD, perhaps these biggest TBD, of the new gameday. Lots around the stadium will have tailgating, but it's yet to be determined what balance of blue blood/blue collar you'll see in these lots based on the pricing of the lots.
 

If I may make a shameless plug, firstandgoal34, make sure you see the marching band's pregame show :)
 

Here is the University's official agenda of activities for that gameday:

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. California Golden Bears
Saturday, September 19, 2009
TCF Bank Stadium
Kick-off: 11:00am
Radio: WCCO 830
TV: ESPN/ESPN2
Game Day Activities:
Pre-Game Party on McNamara Plaza:
Begins 3 hours prior to kick off, includes food & beverages, interactive games, face painting, music, spirit squads Goldy and other guest appearances.

Gopher Victory Walk:
2 hours prior to kick off

Greet the players and coaches as they exit their team buses and walk to the stadium. Join the U of M Marching Band, Spirit Squads, Goldy and other Gopher Fans to form an exciting tunnel of maroon and gold for the team and gear them up for their big game!!!

Gopher Victory Walk to be led by former Gopher Players and Palermo’s Honorary Captain with Goldy and the Tailgate Patrol

In-Game Activities:
Don’t miss the pre-game ceremonies and be in the stadium 30 minutes prior to kick off to view the pre-game band show on the field
Gopher Hall of Fame Inductees to be introduced during the game-“M” CLUB HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
• Mike Antonovich
• Men’s Hockey, 1970-1972
• Aaron Broten
• Men’s Hockey, 1980-1981
• Dennis Dale
• Men’s Swimming & Diving Coach, 1985-present
• Judy Knight
• Softball, 1978-1981
• Lori Townsend Monaghan
• Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field 1993-1996

LEGENDS
• Jack DeField
• Men’s Track & Field, 1941-1943
• Dale Hanson
• Wrestling, 1938-1940
• Andy Uram
• Football, 1935-1937

Student Giveaway: : DQ/Gopher Gold Stocking Hats
 

You are correct, the Stadium Village (now with Stadium!), Hopkins and Owatonna locations are all owned by the same people, and yes, the atmosphere is very different on Campus.

Go with the tomato cheese bread, Turkey or Italian Beef sub, and top it off with a Nelli-Mo bar for desert. And note, the Big10 is the local sub shop on campus which translates more into fond memories of time there than actual quisine. It isn't the best sub you'll ever eat, but it is damn good, and in a great setting, close to the action.

Having been to games in 9 of the 11 Big Ten stadia, I've eaten at all of "THE" dining establishments. Not all were as good as advertised, but I loved every one for the atmosphere and nostalgia they invoke to the students and alumnae. Burritos at La Bamba or Gyros at the Parthenon in Madison aren't great food (particularly La Bamba when you're sober) but you can't beat the atmosphere.
 

Perhaps a sticky thread is in order to inform visitors what there is to see and do in the metro area?
 

Minneapolis sites to see?

How about all those good strip joints in downtown Minneapolis?
Check them out as well!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Good luck Dan and enjoy your stay in the Twin Cities for the Cal football game!!
 

Hello everyone - my buddy Dan posted the start of this thread and can no longer attend, so I'm trying to pick up the slack


My friends & I are continuing on with our BIG 10 Tour this weekend with our 3rd stop - Minnesota!

If you check out our recap on Penn State
http://www.thebig10tour.com/penn-state.html
you'll see that we're looking for the best tailgate, the best fan, the best tshirt and more!

From what I've read in the blogs/newspapers - the parking at TCF Bank Stadium is tough, especially for fans that don't have season passes - so we're asking, would anyone be willing to let 3 guys spending their savings accounts to see every Big 10 Stadium over 11 straight weekends join their tailgate near the stadium? We'll buy your beer. We'll bring a MN Gopher Bean Bags game, a MN Gopher Ladder Toss game, a MN Gopher pong table, & even our own food. We want to be entrenched in the best Gopher fans - not miles away and having to take a shuttle.

If you could help out - please call me or send an email through the Contact Us portion of our website.

Thanks everyone - looking forward to the upset of the Bears!
Drew Cieszynski
The Big 10 Tour

www.THEbig10tour.com
 

Big 10 tour/Minnesota

The originator of this post is no longer able to attend the game so I'm picking up the slack....

My friends & I are continuing on with our BIG 10 Tour this weekend with our 3rd stop - Minnesota!

If you check out our recap on Penn State
http://www.thebig10tour.com/penn-state.html
you'll see that we're looking for the best tailgate, the best fan, the best tshirt and more!

From what I've read in the blogs/newspapers - the parking at TCF Bank Stadium is tough, especially for fans that don't have season passes - so we're asking, would anyone be willing to let 3 guys spending their savings accounts to see every Big 10 Stadium over 11 straight weekends join their tailgate near the stadium? We'll buy your beer. We'll bring a MN Gopher Bean Bags game, a MN Gopher Ladder Toss game, a MN Gopher pong table, & even our own food. We want to be entrenched in the best Gopher fans - not miles away and having to take a shuttle.

If you could help out - please call me or send an email through the Contact Us portion of our website.

Thanks everyone - looking forward to the upset of the Bears!
Drew Cieszynski
The Big 10 Tour

www.THEbig10tour.com
 

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