University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Fund Hosts Suite Tasting
8/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Minneapolis, Minn. - TCF Bank Stadium was abuzz this afternoon as suite holders got to experience the game-day menu in the premium suites, in an event hosted by the Golden Gopher Fund.
The Suite Tasting began on the 500 level as the suites were open to walk though and experience, with four displaying possible game-day menu options. With catering courtesy of Aramark, the four menu options included Backyard Barbeque, Midwest, Italian and a Brunch menu for 11:00 am kickoffs. Each individual suite is able to choose their menu.
After the walk through of the suites, the attention shifted upstairs to the 600 level and the Indoor Club Room. There, the group was treated to each of the game day menus that the Indoor Club Room will feature this fall. On display was the Southern menu for Sept. 12 against Air Force, West Coast for Sept. 19 against California, Heartland for Oct. 3 against Wisconsin, Florribean (a combination of Florida and the Caribbean) for Oct. 10 against Purdue, Northeastern for Oct. 31 against Michigan State, Deep South for Nov. 7 against Illinois, and Southwestern for Nov. 14 against South Dakota State.
After viewing the menu options, University of Minnesota Director of Athletics Joel Maturi said a few words of welcome and thanks, and spoke of how TCF Bank Stadium would impact those in attendance. "People always ask me, 'What is the new stadium going to do for the University of Minnesota,'" said Maturi. "And I tell them, that their game day experience is going to be improved. Our fans our going to have the best game day experience available."
Following Maturi, Aramark director Larry Weger also spoke, again thanking those who came, but also offered his thoughts on the season ahead. Weger said, "Our goal is to give each of you the best experience possible from a culinary standpoint, to further enhance your game-day experience."
After the speakers, each of the seven menus on display was open for sampling, and guests were free to eat mingle, and get a taste of what game day at TCF Bank Stadium can be like. Two of the guests in attendance were Lee and Louise Sundet. "I think it really a wonderful event, I think they did a tremendous job, and of course I sat in the old stadium," said Lee Sundet, class of 1951. "I've been involved in a lot of meetings, and they've done a marvelous job of planning and they've achieved - to my knowledge - what people have asked for."
We were here for the hard hat event, and when they turn the first spade over you wonder what this place is going to look like, and you wonder how, architecturally it's going to pan out," said Louise Sundet. "It worked so beautifully and exceeded all our expectations, and the design of it, it's marvelous, a wonderful job."
The Golden Gopher Fund will be hosting their next event for premium seat holders on Aug. 20. All season ticket holders will then have the chance to preview game-like action in TCF Bank Stadium when it hosts the Golden Gopher Football preview on Aug. 22. Then, it will time for the real thing, when Minnesota hosts Air Force in the stadium opener on Sept. 12.
