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University of Minnesota Athletics
Improvements, Updates for 2024 Gopher Football
8/23/2024 10:55:00 AM | Football
Minnesota hosts North Carolina at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Huntington Bank Stadium
The University of Minnesota football team will open its season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Huntington Bank Stadium when the Gophers host North Carolina on FOX and the Gopher Radio Network.
This past offseason has seen a number of new enhancements and initiatives at the stadium that Gopher fans can look forward to this year. Single-game tickets are available for Minnesota's 2024 home schedule. Tickets start as low as $25 and are on-sale here.
Game Themes
The 2024 Gopher Football season will feature a variety of unique game themes at all seven home games in Huntington Bank Stadium. The season starts with the return of the popular Gold Out on Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina. The Maroon Out game will be on Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Iowa and Stripe the Bank will return against USC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Additional game themes include High School Band, Cheer, and Dance Day, F.A.M.I.L.Y Day, Celebrate Ag & Food Day, Homecoming, Salute to Service Members, and more. The full schedule of game themes can be found here.
Expanded Food & Beverage Offerings & Concessions Experience
Fans will be able to enjoy a variety of new food & beverage offerings throughout the stadium this season. New food options will include a barbeque bacon dog, sous vide chicken sandwich, a walking sundae and more. Beverage options have expanded to include ready-to-drink canned cocktails (High Noon, Jack Daniels, etc.), batch cocktails (Bank Bomba Juice featuring Grey Duck Vodka, Golden Margarita, Minnesota Mule, etc.), as well as additional beer, wine, and hard seltzers including 16 oz. Duck Duck Beer.
Fans will also enjoy increased speed of service and ordering efficiencies from new concession stands and additional portable beverage kiosks on the main concourse. Hall of Favs on the north and south sides of the main concourse will feature an open market concept where fans can select hot food, beverages, snacks, and more prior to checking out. All stands also have upgraded digital menu boards and new exterior signage.
Credit Up! Season Ticket Holder Benefit
This unique benefit is available to all Gopher Football season ticket holders as part of the Gopher Ticket Utilization program. This program allows season ticket holders to return their tickets to the athletics department for any games they are unable to attend in exchange for credit that can be applied toward their season ticket renewal or converted into a tax-deductible donation to support Gopher Athletics. Information on this program can be found here.
Parking & Transportation Updates
Fans parking in the Maroon Lot will have reserved spaces to increase efficiency and experience in one of the closest tailgate lots to Huntington Bank Stadium. Additionally, the University completed another parking facility enhancement project with additional entry/exit lanes added at the Gopher Lot and Prospect Park Ramp. Lot 54, located to the east of Huntington Bank Stadium, was added as a single-game (tailgating permitted) location however all passes must be purchased in advance for this lot.
Fans will notice ongoing construction impacting traffic flow on 4th Street between Oak Street and I-35W as part of a county project. This area will be reduced to two lanes and will lead to delays affecting egress traffic departing Huntington Bank Stadium. Fans are encouraged to allocate more time if traveling on 4th Street.
Huntington Bank Stadium Facility Enhancements
Investments were made to Tribal Nations Plaza, which encompasses the main western entrance to the stadium. The bases to each of the 11 sky markers were replaced and LED lighting was installed to allow for enhanced display. The 18-foot tall sky markers honor the 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota. Each sky marker displays tribal flags, a map, images and historical information specific to each community. Tribal Nations Plaza was made possible by the generosity of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community when the stadium opened in 2009.
Two new Mamava lactation pods have been added to support nursing mothers in attendance on game day. Individuals can find these dedicated spaces on the main concourse in the elevator lobby near Gate A or the 4th floor loge level (utilizing elevators near Guest Services at Gate E).
Big Ten / NCAA Rule Changes
The 2024 season will include the implementation of coach-to-player helmet communications and a new two-minute rule that mirrors the current time system utilized by the NFL. Coaches will be allowed to communicate with one player, identified by a green dot on the back of their helmet, on the field. That line of communication will be turned off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever occurs first. Two-minute warnings will occur near the end of each half resulting in a brief stoppage of play. Additionally, the location of the media timeout clock will be relocated to a mobile digital countdown clock on the field of play during all media timeouts.
This past offseason has seen a number of new enhancements and initiatives at the stadium that Gopher fans can look forward to this year. Single-game tickets are available for Minnesota's 2024 home schedule. Tickets start as low as $25 and are on-sale here.
Game Themes
The 2024 Gopher Football season will feature a variety of unique game themes at all seven home games in Huntington Bank Stadium. The season starts with the return of the popular Gold Out on Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina. The Maroon Out game will be on Saturday, Sept. 21 vs. Iowa and Stripe the Bank will return against USC on Saturday, Oct. 5. Additional game themes include High School Band, Cheer, and Dance Day, F.A.M.I.L.Y Day, Celebrate Ag & Food Day, Homecoming, Salute to Service Members, and more. The full schedule of game themes can be found here.
Expanded Food & Beverage Offerings & Concessions Experience
Fans will be able to enjoy a variety of new food & beverage offerings throughout the stadium this season. New food options will include a barbeque bacon dog, sous vide chicken sandwich, a walking sundae and more. Beverage options have expanded to include ready-to-drink canned cocktails (High Noon, Jack Daniels, etc.), batch cocktails (Bank Bomba Juice featuring Grey Duck Vodka, Golden Margarita, Minnesota Mule, etc.), as well as additional beer, wine, and hard seltzers including 16 oz. Duck Duck Beer.
Fans will also enjoy increased speed of service and ordering efficiencies from new concession stands and additional portable beverage kiosks on the main concourse. Hall of Favs on the north and south sides of the main concourse will feature an open market concept where fans can select hot food, beverages, snacks, and more prior to checking out. All stands also have upgraded digital menu boards and new exterior signage.
Credit Up! Season Ticket Holder Benefit
This unique benefit is available to all Gopher Football season ticket holders as part of the Gopher Ticket Utilization program. This program allows season ticket holders to return their tickets to the athletics department for any games they are unable to attend in exchange for credit that can be applied toward their season ticket renewal or converted into a tax-deductible donation to support Gopher Athletics. Information on this program can be found here.
Parking & Transportation Updates
Fans parking in the Maroon Lot will have reserved spaces to increase efficiency and experience in one of the closest tailgate lots to Huntington Bank Stadium. Additionally, the University completed another parking facility enhancement project with additional entry/exit lanes added at the Gopher Lot and Prospect Park Ramp. Lot 54, located to the east of Huntington Bank Stadium, was added as a single-game (tailgating permitted) location however all passes must be purchased in advance for this lot.
Fans will notice ongoing construction impacting traffic flow on 4th Street between Oak Street and I-35W as part of a county project. This area will be reduced to two lanes and will lead to delays affecting egress traffic departing Huntington Bank Stadium. Fans are encouraged to allocate more time if traveling on 4th Street.
Huntington Bank Stadium Facility Enhancements
Investments were made to Tribal Nations Plaza, which encompasses the main western entrance to the stadium. The bases to each of the 11 sky markers were replaced and LED lighting was installed to allow for enhanced display. The 18-foot tall sky markers honor the 11 Tribal Nations in Minnesota. Each sky marker displays tribal flags, a map, images and historical information specific to each community. Tribal Nations Plaza was made possible by the generosity of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community when the stadium opened in 2009.
Two new Mamava lactation pods have been added to support nursing mothers in attendance on game day. Individuals can find these dedicated spaces on the main concourse in the elevator lobby near Gate A or the 4th floor loge level (utilizing elevators near Guest Services at Gate E).
Big Ten / NCAA Rule Changes
The 2024 season will include the implementation of coach-to-player helmet communications and a new two-minute rule that mirrors the current time system utilized by the NFL. Coaches will be allowed to communicate with one player, identified by a green dot on the back of their helmet, on the field. That line of communication will be turned off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever occurs first. Two-minute warnings will occur near the end of each half resulting in a brief stoppage of play. Additionally, the location of the media timeout clock will be relocated to a mobile digital countdown clock on the field of play during all media timeouts.
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