Since 1924, Minnesota had been playing on campus in the rustic, yet deteriorating Memorial Stadium. Due to its need for renovation and the lack of state funding, the university chose to abandon the classic old stadium and move the Gopher football program into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome being built in downtown Minneapolis. Since 1982, Minnesota has been playing its games in the oversized bubble surrounded by steel and concrete. The move seemed ingenious at the time. For starters, the state of Minnesota delivers temperatures that forces Jack Frost to bundle up, therefore concerns about weather conditions vanish. In addition, the structure was to house the Vikings and the Twins as well, so it would bring Gopher football right into the heart of city action. However, the plan had a reverse affect. Being downtown sterilized the program and caused a slow steady drop in enthusiasm. Stripping the fans of a college atmosphere actually reduced the action and left Gopher football stale. Students are forced to bus to the stadium while alumni are unable to reminisce in traditional fashion. Detaching a stadium from its campus is like holding a Harley convention at church festival. The traditions will simply not be the same. Tailgating is altered, campus parties are cut short, and attendance decreases. The dome is an impressive structure holding just over 60,000 - still significantly less than most of Minnesota's Big Ten brethren. The arena is very comfortable and can get extremely loud, especially when a major rival comes to town. Despite the overplayed, yet rousing "Minnesota Rouser," the surroundings are just not right for college football. I recall a game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison when the Gophers were playing the Badgers. Camp Randall Stadium is the ideal college atmosphere and quite the contrast to Minnesota's, so it was not shocking to see slues of Gopher fans swarming the campus. It's like they have to travel to other campuses to get the feeling they crave from their own. I remember walking toward the stadium that day in front of a pack of maroon and gold fans. One stated, "This venue is what college football is all about." Minnesota fans clearly are starving for the old days. The good news is that their bubble dome will be popping soon. The cries have been heard and the state finally found funding for a new stadium. TCF Bank Stadium is being designed at this very moment and will be Minnesota's new home in 2009. Gopher football will return to campus breathing life back into autumn Saturdays. The metrodome is the only stadium that I have been to in which I do not have a picture of myself included. This only provides further reason to add TCF Bank Stadium as part of a future tour.
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