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Huntington Bank Stadium

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Template:Future stadium

TCF Bank Stadium
File:Gopher Stadium.jpg
Map
LocationOak and 4th Street SE
Minneapolis, Minnesota
OwnerUniversity of Minnesota
OperatorUniversity of Minnesota
Capacity50,200
SurfaceArtificial Turf
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 30 2006
OpenedSeptember 12 2009 (projected)
Construction cost$288.5 million
ArchitectHOK Sport
Tenants
Minnesota Golden Gophers football (NCAA) (2009-)

TCF Bank Stadium is the future football stadium for the University of Minnesota college football team in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Plans call for a 50,000 seat on-campus "horseshoe" style stadium to be built in time for the 2009 football season. The stadium will be designed to support future expansion to seat up to 80,000 people.

The estimated cost of the project originated at $248.7 million, but has since risen to $288.5 million. The state of Minnesota will be paying approximately 52% of the cost, while the university will fund the remaining amount. Of the university's share, $35 million will be provided from naming rights by TCF Bank, $10 million will be generated by the sale of 2840 acres (11.5 km²) of university land back to the state, and the remaining will be raised through a combination of private donations and a $25 per year student fee.

Funding

The push for a new on-campus stadium for the Golden Gopher football team began in the fall of 2003. The university cited poor revenue and lack of a college football atmosphere at the off-campus Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as their main reasons for wanting to move back.[1][2] By that December, the university had unveiled drawings and a general plan to seek state money and donations. In September of 2003 a highly publicized attempt was made by T. Denny Sanford to be the lead donor for the project, but in early 2004 the plan fell through when the two parties were unable to come to an agreement on the financial terms.[3] Finally on March 24, 2005, the university and TCF Bank announced a deal that would have the bank contribute $35 million towards the project which would give them naming rights.[4] The deal was given an expiration date of December 31, 2005; time enough for the Minnesota Legislature to provide the bulk of funding needed to make the project a reality.[5]

State of Minnesota

During the remainder of 2005 the university concentrated on drafting a stadium proposal that would draw the support of state politicians. The final plan proposed that the state of Minnesota would contribute 40% of the stadium cost while the university would raise the remaining 60% on its own. Portions of that 60% were to be funded by the TCF naming rights, while the remainder would come from a $50 per semester student fee, private donations, the sale of 2840 acres (11.5 km²) of university land in rural Dakota County back to the state, and game day parking revenue.[4] Even though the university proposal drew widespread legislative support, the stadium effort suffered a setback when the 2005 legislative session ended before the stadium bill could be heard.[6] Late in 2005 when it became evident that this would happen, the university and TCF Bank announced that it had extended the naming rights deal to June 30, 2006.[5]

Despite the 2005 session having ended with the bill not even coming to a vote, the stadium effort did not lose momentum in the legislature and was introduced quickly in the 2006 session. On April 6, 2006, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the stadium bill on a 103–30 vote.[7] The house bill was nearly identical to what the university was proposing and had full university support.[8] However on May 9, 2006, the Minnesota Senate passed a radically different version of the bill on a 34–32 vote.[9] The Senate version would have removed the TCF naming rights deal, the student fees, and the purchase of the university owned land. The proposed funding that was removed was to be replaced with a state wide tax on sports memorabilia. It also would have required the stadium to be named Veterans Memorial Stadium (which would be similar to the previous on-campus football stadium Memorial Stadium, which was last used in 1981 and then demolished in 1992).[10] Governor Tim Pawlenty stated he supported the House version.[11]

Even though the differences between the house and senate bills were major, the details were ironed out and approved on May 19, 2006 in a House–Senate conference committee. The TCF Bank naming rights and land sale remained in the bill, as did a scaled down $25 per year student fee. The tax on sports memorabilia as well as the Veterans Memorial Stadium name were voted out. The committee also voted to increase the state contribution to the project to compensate for the smaller student fees.[12] The compromised bill was then approved by both the full house and senate on May 20, 2006, and was signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty on May 24, 2006.[13][14][15]

University of Minnesota

File:TCF Bank Stadium logo.jpg
The stadium's logo was unveiled as part of a July 2007 ceremony marking the start of stadium construction.[16]

The largest portion of the university's contributions to the stadium cost will come from TCF Bank, which is contributing $35 million in exchange for among other things, stadium naming rights.[17] Other corporate donations have been pledged as well, including Best Buy ($3 million),[18] Target Corporation ($2 million),[19] Federated Insurance, General Mills and Norwest Equity Partners.[20] The university is also accepting donations from individuals. Currently donations are being sought from "high-end" donors (those contributing $100,000 or more), and in 2008 the university will expand the fundraising effort to gather smaller donations.[21][22]

The remainder of the university's portion will come from a maximum $25 per year student fee, game day parking revenue, and the $10 million sale of 2840 acres (11.5 km²) of undeveloped university land in Dakota County back to the state. Even though the cost of building TCF Bank Stadium originated at $248.7 million, changes in the construction planning have raised the cost to $288.5 million.[23] The State of Minnesota will fund 52% of that amount and the university will contribute the remaining 48%.[24] The university has vowed that even if the stadium cost rises again, it will not seek more money from the state nor increase the student fees any further.[19]


Stadium logistics

Location

TCF Bank Stadium will be constructed on the northeast side of the Minneapolis campus, near the site of the former Memorial Stadium. The new stadium's site has been the location of the Huron Boulevard Parking Complex, where the university's four largest parking lots are located.[25]

The stadium is part of a 75 acre (.3 km²) expansion of the Twin Cities campus, the largest since the West Bank was built in the 1960s. Current plans for the area call for the construction of as many as 10 new academic buildings by 2015.[26] The proposed Central Corridor light rail transit line is expected to run near the stadium, with a station in Stadium Village serving the facility. Construction of the Central Corridor is scheduled to begin in 2010 and be completed by 2014.[27]

Design

TCF Bank Stadium will be a horseshoe-style stadium which organizers say will have a "traditional collegiate look and feel".[23] The first phase of the construction will include approximately 50,200 seats, with the design able to support future expansion to 80,000 seats. There will be 39 suites, 59 loge boxes and 300 indoor club seats.[28] On December 7, 2006, the university announced that the stadium's field will be laid out in an east-west configuration, with the open end of the stadium facing campus. This layout, similar to that of Memorial Stadium, will provide a view of downtown Minneapolis.[26]

File:Gopher stadium site plan.jpg
Site plan for TCF Bank Stadium.

Construction

An environmental impact assessment of the stadium site was conducted by the university between December of 2004 and March of 2006 at a cost of $1.5 million. The results were approved by the Board of Regents on March 27, 2006.[29]

On June 8, 2006, the university announced that it had selected HOK Architects to design TCF Bank stadium.[30] HOK Architects was one of the three finalists, along with HNTB Architects and Crawford Architects, that made presentations to the university on May 24, 2006. The local firm working on the project is Minneapolis based Architectural Alliance, and M.A. Mortenson Company is the general contractor.[31][32] Schematic designs of the stadium were presented to the public on January 3, 2007[33]

Infrastructure work at the stadium site began in late June, 2006, and a ceremonial groundbreaking took place at the stadium site on September 30, 2006. The beginning of construction on the stadium itself along with the unveiling of the stadium's logo took place on July 11, 2007.[34][35] Site preparation and foundation work will continue through the summer and fall of 2007, with work on the stadium's steel skeleton beginning the following winter. It is anticipated that the stadium's external structure will be completed in the fall of 2008, leaving just under a year to complete internal finishing, landscaping, and lighting.[36]

Other potential uses

While TCF Bank Stadium will be the game day venue of the Golden Gophers football team, the university has identified a number of other anticipated uses for the facility. The stadium will replace Northrop Auditorium as the home of the University of Minnesota Marching Band, providing the band with new storage, rehearsal and locker facilities. The university also expects to use the stadium for intramural sports, career fairs, and graduation ceremonies.[37]

Potential non-university uses include Minnesota State High School League state tournaments, concerts, and marching band and drum corps competitions.[38]

If Chicago wins the bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, it is possible that TCF Bank Stadium will host preliminary Olympic soccer matches.[39]

If the Minnesota Vikings successfully carry out a plan to have the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome demolished and have a new stadium built on the site, TCF Bank Stadium could possibly be temporary home to the Vikings until such a stadium is completed.[40]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Hippert, Rebecca (April 19, 2001). "STUDENT SENATE MINUTES". University of Minnesota Student Senate. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Pugmire, Tim (December 13, 2002). "U of M may go it alone in stadium chase". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Tibbetts, Than (October 19, 2004). "Officials: Stadium plan must progress". Minnesota Daily. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b "TCF Financial Corporation gives $35 million". University of Minnesota. March 24, 2005. Retrieved 2006-01-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Stadium sponsorship agreement with TCF extended". University of Minnesota. December 28, 2005. Retrieved 2005-12-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "At the Legislature". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  7. ^ "Unofficial Recorded Roll Call Floor Vote for H.F. NO. 263". Minnesota House of Representatives. April 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Lonetree, Anthony (March 29, 2006). "House panel adds its support to U stadium funding plan". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Permanent Journals of the 2006 Regular Session" (PDF). Journal of the Senate. 2005–2006 (Eighty-Fourth Legislature). Minnesota State Senate: 5332. May 9, 2006. Legislative Day 103. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Sheck, Tom (May 9, 2006). "Senate passes stadium bills for Twins, Gophers, and Vikings". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Kaszuba, Mike (May 9, 2006). "Gophers stadium plan passes Senate". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Stadium bill highlights". Minneapolis Star Tribune. May 20, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Unofficial Recorded Roll Call Floor Vote for S.F. NO. 2460". Minnesota State House of Representatives. May 20, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Permanent Journals of the 2006 Regular Session" (PDF). Journal of the Senate. 2005–2006 (Eighty-Fourth Legislature). Minnesota State Senate: 5780–5787. May 20, 2006. Legislative Day 111. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Pugmire, Tim (May 24, 2006). "Pawlenty signs one stadium bill; one to go". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "TCF Bank Stadium Logo Unveiling Signals Start of Construction Phase". University of Minnesota. July 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Kaszuba, Mike (July 6, 2006). "TCF perks go beyond stadium's name at U". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Weinmann, Karlee (October 12, 2006). "Fundraising for stadium on track". Minnesota Daily. Retrieved 2006-10-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ a b Haugen, Bryce (March 9, 2007). "Survey: Students split over stadium, predict fee increase". Minnesota Daily. Retrieved 2007-03-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "TCF Bank Stadium Groundbreaking" (.wmv). University of Minnesota. September 30, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "How Can I Help?". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  22. ^ Kaszuba, Mike (July 11, 2007). "U's stadium dream runs into financial reality". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ a b "Regents approve stadium design, new price tag". University of Minnesota. January 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "TCF Bank Stadium Financing". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  25. ^ "Stadium Location". University of Minnesota. July 18, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ a b Smetanka, Mary Jane (December 7, 2006). "Gophers' stadium costs expected to rise". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2006-12-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Central Corridor Light-Rail Transit Factsheet" (PDF). Metropolitan Council. December, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Stadium Features". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  29. ^ "Environmental Review Process". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  30. ^ Kazuba, Mike (June 8, 2006). "Kansas City firm chosen to design Gophers' new stadium". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 2006-06-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Back to Campus". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  32. ^ "University selects M.A. Mortenson Company as general contractor". University of Minnesota. February 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ "Designs for TCF Bank Stadium Released to the Public". Gophersports.com. January 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "TCF Bank Stadium logo unveiled to signal start of Gopher football stadium construction". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  35. ^ "TCF Bank Stadium™ Construction PHASE 3". University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  36. ^ "TCF Bank Stadium Construction Timeline". Gophersports.com. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  37. ^ Hopp, Deborah (February 28, 2006). "The U's new stadium is about more than football". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ University of Minnesota (2003). University of Minnesota On-Campus Football Stadium - Final EIS.
  39. ^ Yue, Loren (January 10, 2007). "Chicago 2016 turns to Minnesota for help". Chicago Business. Retrieved 2007-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ "Vikings Propose New Stadium On Site Of Metrodome". Associated Press. January 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Preceded by
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1982–present (2008 planned) 		Future home of the
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
Planned opening 2009 		Succeeded by
None
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