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University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Football Heading Back to Campus
5/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
“Bringing Gopher football back to campus will strengthen our university community and give Minnesotans even more pride in their flagship public research university,” said university President Robert Bruininks. “Our academic mission, the quality of our student life and community involvement in the U will all benefit greatly from today’s action. We’re grateful to all the legislators who have been with us on this plan and who gave it such overwhelming bipartisan support today.”
Athletics Director Joel Maturi added, “For years, we have been the only Big 10 school without an on-campus football stadium. This new facility will have a huge positive impact on our football program, recruiting and all of our athletic programs.”
The 50,000-seat open-air stadium will cost approximately $248 million. As part of the legislation, the university will exchange 2,840 acres of undeveloped land in Dakota County with the state for use as a metropolitan area nature preserve. That brings the total state share of the cost to 55 percent. The university will raise private funds and implement a student fee to pay for the rest.
“From the beginning, our plan has been hugely reliant upon private fundraising,” said Bruininks. “Passing the Legislature and being signed by the governor gives us enormous momentum to raise the dollars necessary to get this thing built. It’s an exciting time at the U.”
If signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the stadium, which would be called TCF Bank Stadium, is set to open in 2009. University officials said they will be meeting with architects already this week.
