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A planning update for the opening of TCF Bank Stadium

In this update:
1. Background
2. Benefits extend beyond football
3. Construction is nearing completion
4. Planning for game day operations
5. Game day traditions
6. NCAA Healthy Choices grant
7. Sportsmanship initiative
8. Homecoming
9. Game day policies and procedures

1. Background

The last time the Minnesota Golden Gophers played football on the University of Minnesota campus was November 21, 1981. The game was a late-scoring victory against Wisconsin. The Gophers moved to the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis in 1982 and have played there since.

On September 12, 2009, a new era will begin when the Gophers play the United States Air Force Academy in the inaugural game back on campus in TCF Bank Stadium.

Twenty-seven football seasons will have passed between that final game at Memorial Stadium and the first game at the new TCF Bank Stadium. A lot has changed on campus in that time, and come September 12 campus life as we know it today will be dramatically different for seven Saturdays each fall.

Season tickets for the inaugural season have been sold out since last fall, most premium seating is nearly sold out, and 10,000 season tickets are now on sale for students.

2. Benefits extend beyond football

The new stadium will benefit the entire University by serving as a venue for many events and programs, including the marching band, recreational sports, kinesiology classes, and large campus events such as graduation. Areas within the stadium such as the clubrooms will be available for meetings and to rent for special events. TCF Bank Stadium is generating awareness of, and support for, the U's academic mission. In fact, the fundraising for the stadium has already resulted in $44 million in companion gifts for academic purposes.

3. Construction is nearing completion

The completion of the stadium is scheduled for this summer. Currently, crews are putting finishing touches on exterior masonry and canopies over the main entrances. The glass has been installed on the south wall facing University Avenue and on the suites in the upper tiers of the stadium.

Finishing touches are being made to both scoreboards on the east and west sides of the stadium. The display panels and marquee at the main scoreboard were completed in February, and framing is now complete as well. When completed, the main scoreboard will be the third largest in college sports.

Interior finishing is also well under way. Walls and doors are in, as are flooring, countertops, and lighting fixtures. Work on the elevators continues, and final adjustments to the escalators have begun. The concession equipment is being installed on the main concourse. All player lockers are now in place and bathroom fixtures installed. Finishing touches are under way in the premium seating areas, including suites, the DQ Club Room, and the home team locker room.

The University of Minnesota Marching Band will occupy approximately 20,000 square feet on the ground floor of the stadium. The band's locker rooms and storage areas are completed and tile has been installed in the entrance lobby. Painting and other work continue in the main rehearsal hall.

Site work around the stadium is underway. Besides landscaping, there will be a large public plaza on the west side, across from Williams Arena. The Minnesota Tribal Nations Plaza, a tribute to Minnesota's 11 tribal nations, will include 11 glass sculptures and a water feature. The west end of the stadium will also feature a tribute to Minnesota veterans. The playing field will be installed in late June.

4. Planning for game day operations

In January 2008, President Bruininks charged a Game Day Operations steering committee with planning for all aspects of operating the stadium and the campus on game days. This enormous effort, which began over a year ago and includes a steering committee and six subcommittees, is cochaired by Joel Maturi, director of athletics, and Laurie Scheich, associate vice president for auxiliary services.

The primary purpose of this effort is to develop a comprehensive game day operations plan to ensure that operations are smooth and successful, that game day activities enrich campus life, and that the campus community and surrounding neighborhoods are prepared.

Teams of U employees have studied the game day experiences on other campuses--some even making visits to other campuses similar in size and location (urban) in the Big Ten and elsewhere--to see what works best and what might be improved on in Minnesota.

The game day operations committees had a broad representation of stakeholders, including neighborhood and business representatives; alumni, students, faculty, and staff; and representatives from local municipalities. The effort stretches across a host of related University departments, including Athletics, Student Affairs, the Alumni Association, Parking and Transportation Services, Facilities Management, UMPD, the Provost's Office, University Services, and University Relations.

Ongoing consultation with key University governance committees, campus neighbors, local businesses, local units of government, and other stakeholders has been an important aspect of the planning process.

Some of the issues that have been addressed or are under consideration as part of this planning process include contract parking on game days, parking for season ticket holders, tailgating, game day traditions, and the celebration of Homecoming.

5. Game day traditions

One of the most exciting aspects of bringing football back to campus is the opportunity to create new traditions while retaining and resurrecting some from the past. Dozens of University staff, students, and community leaders have been brainstorming ideas for new traditions, from chants and songs to décor around campus and uniquely Minnesotan food fare.

Colleges, alumni groups, students, and others have plans under way to make the most of game day festivities through special events and gatherings. Watch for more details as opening day approaches.

6. NCAA Healthy Choices grant

Golden Gophers Make Golden Choices
This is a new initiative that has been funded by a three-year $30,000 grant from the NCAA. The main purpose of Golden Gophers Make Golden Choices is to help create a campuswide environment that empowers students and fans to make healthy, legal, low risk decisions related to alcohol. Golden Gophers Make Golden Choices will achieve this purpose through three primary objectives:

• Creating and delivering messages to promote responsible behavior and increase awareness about expectations regarding alcohol and fan behavior.
• Creating pregame activities, events, etc., that are targeted at first-year students, Greeks, and student-athletes and that reinforce those messages.
• Enhancing the existing alcohol peer education program by involving student-athletes to help deliver presentations to other student-athletes, Greeks, residence hall students, and first-year students during a mandatory Welcome Week program.

A key element of this initiative is the We Are... Minnesota Spirit Initiative.

7. Sportsmanship initiative

We Are... Minnesota Spirit Initiative
In July 2008, students and staff attended the first Big Ten Sportsmanship Conference at The Ohio State University. Upon returning, several students took up the charge of creating a student-run, University-supported Sportsmanship Council. The mission of the new We Are... Minnesota Spirit Initiative is to "to lead the University of Minnesota community in fan participation, gopher spirit, and positive behavior. To do so, the council will: initiate new traditions, reward positive fan behavior, create a welcoming and exciting environment for all who attend a Gopher sporting events, and create a more unified body for student fans."

At each home football game this year, student fan ambassadors will greet fans at TCF Bank Stadium. In addition, students are working with the spirit squad and band to unify the student section and to promote good sportsmanship. They have also created public service announcements that will air on the scoreboard during all home games and are planning several events for fall semester that will introduce both returning and new students to Gopher football and positive fan behavior. Students run this new initiative, with guidance from staff in Intercollegiate Athletics and Student Unions & Activities.

8. Homecoming

Homecoming 2009
The Ultimate Homecoming will be filled with new traditions, many which focus on engaging academic units and increasing the visibility of the University’s core academic mission. For the past year, over 130 students, staff, faculty, and community members representing over 30 University departments and colleges have worked to create a schedule of Homecoming events that celebrate the University of Minnesota and provide unique, low cost opportunities for units, departments, or colleges to showcase themselves to a wide and varied audience. Homecoming 2009 is scheduled for the week of October 4-11, with the Homecoming football game scheduled for Saturday, October 10, against Purdue University.

One of the most significant changes to Homecoming 2009 is that the parade will now be held on Friday night. The 2009 Homecoming parade will eclipse all others as it travels down University Avenue to TCF Bank Stadium. The parade will begin at 7 p.m. and be followed by a pep fest at TCF Bank Stadium. Additional new event opportunities include a statewide open house at TCF Bank Stadium, special presentation of the College of Continuing Education's Great Conversations series, systemwide Public Engagement Day, Student Research Expo, and Alumni Awards Celebration. Visit the Homecoming site for additional information on Homecoming events.

9. Game day policies and procedures

As a result of the game day operations planning process, a number of policies, rules, and procedures have been developed. More information about these polices and procedures can be found on the TCF Bank Stadium Game Day Web page. Some key policies include:

Parking for ticket holders on game day
The University is in the process of selling game day parking for season ticket holders. Parking on campus and at the State Fair is categorized into four zones based on proximity to the stadium. The process for assigning the pre-sold parking is similar to that being used to assign seats inside TCF Bank Stadium. This process began in early April and will conclude by June.

Parking will be utilized on the East Bank, the West Bank, and the St. Paul campus. Game day fans will be allowed to park six hours before kickoff or 7 a.m., whichever is later. Fans will be encouraged to leave campus four hours after the game ends or midnight, whichever is earlier.

Shuttles will be available to transport fans to the stadium from the State Fair grounds, the West Bank, and the St. Paul campus.

Contract parking on game day
People with University parking contracts will be able to park on campus on game day, but not in their regular contract locations. Employees holding contracts on the East Bank will park in the East River Road Garage, West Bank contract holders will park in the 21st Avenue Ramp, and St. Paul contract holders will park in the Gortner Ramp.

Any extenuating circumstances to this arrangement must be submitted to and approved by the appropriate college dean or unit vice president and then sent to the executive director of Parking and Transportation Services at least one week prior to the requested date(s). All contract holders received information about game day parking arrangements in March 2009.

Tailgating
Since Gopher football has not been played on campus for 27 years, a policy for responsible tailgating on game days was developed to provide a framework that enhances the football game experience, promotes a safe campus environment, and preserves the beauty of the campus.

Tailgating will be allowed in more than two dozen surface parking lots on the East Bank and West Bank and in St. Paul (including at State Fair lots). No tailgating will be permitted in ramps and garages. Tailgating activities may begin six hours before kickoff or 7 a.m., whichever is later, but must end four hours after the end of the game or by midnight, whichever is earlier.

More information on tailgating, including specific policies and designated lots, can be viewed here. 

Alcohol
Alcohol consumption will be allowed in designated tailgate lots during tailgating hours on game day. Alcohol may also be served or sold at pregame events that are scheduled ahead of time and is consistent with University polices. It is not permissible to consume alcohol on campus outside of these designated areas.

Public safety
Before, during, and after football games, the University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) will coordinate public safety activities on campus, including activities in the stadium and tailgate lots. The UMPD will also manage traffic control operations in conjunction with the City of Minneapolis.

In addition, there will be party patrols in the campus area neighborhoods on Friday and Saturday nights of key home-game weekends.

Public safety and emergency management planning is coordinated extensively with police, fire, and emergency management personnel from each of the adjoining local jurisdictions and the State of Minnesota.

Traffic and transportation
With over 50,000 people coming to campus on game day, there will be traffic congestion. Parking lot hours have been extended in hopes that traffic will be spread out during the game-day time period.

The University, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, will implement an advance traffic control system on the East Bank, which will minimize delay at traffic signals, particularly during special events.

The University will operate a system of permanent and portable changeable message signs on the key roadways leading to TCF Bank Stadium.

Litter, recycling, and toilets
The University has a system of litter and recycling containers located throughout campus, which will be serviced pregame, during the game, and postgame. Litter and recycling collection will be provided at all tailgating and parking lots on campus.

In the first season, litter and recycling containers will be provided and serviced on game days along major pedestrian routes to and from the stadium. Portable toilets will be provided and serviced at all permitted tailgating locations and at other locations on campus.

Game day operations and opening day/week planning continues, and as the season approaches, additional information for ticket holders and the public will be posted on the TCF Bank Stadium Game Day Web page.

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