TCF Bank Stadium

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TCF Bank Stadium
Location 2009 University Ave S.E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Broke ground September 30, 2006
Opened
Owner University of Minnesota
Operator University of Minnesota
Surface Artificial Turf
Construction cost US$288.5 million
Architect HOK Sport
Tenants
Minnesota Golden Gophers football (NCAA) (2009–)
Capacity
50,200

TCF Bank Stadium is the future football stadium for the Minnesota Golden Gophers college football team at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By enrollment, the university is the fourth largest college campus in the United States.[1] The 50,000 seat on-campus "horseshoe" style stadium is under construction and planned to be built in time for the 2009 football season. The first game in the stadium is scheduled to be against the Air Force Falcons.[2] The stadium will be designed to support future expansion to seat up to 80,000 people. The Gophers compete in the Big Ten Conference.

TCF Bank Stadium is the first of three stadiums being built or considered for the major tenants of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome–the Gophers and two professional teams, the Minnesota Twins baseball and Minnesota Vikings football teams.[3][4] Served by existing and proposed light rail, the three stadiums are located within a 1.2-mile (2 km) radius loosely centered at the Guthrie Theater on the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis.

Contents

[edit] History

Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul. Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the TCF Bank Stadium bill in May 2006 at the University of Minnesota McNamara Alumni Center.
Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul. Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the TCF Bank Stadium bill in May 2006 at the University of Minnesota McNamara Alumni Center.[5]

The push for a new on-campus stadium for the Golden Gopher football team began in the fall of 2000. 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.[6][7] A plan for a joint Minnesota Vikings/University of Minnesota football stadium was proposed in 2002, but differences over how the stadium would be design and run, as well as state budget constraints, led to the plan's failure.[8] 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.[9] The university unveiled preliminary stadium drawings and a general plan to seek state money and donations in December of 2003. 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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[10] 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.[12] 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.[11]

Part of UMore Park in Rosemount will belong to the state of Minnesota in 2032. The sale will cover 45 percent of the university's TCF Bank Stadium expenses.
Part of UMore Park in Rosemount will belong to the state of Minnesota in 2032. The sale will cover 45 percent of the university's TCF Bank Stadium expenses.

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.[13] The house bill was nearly identical to what the university was proposing and had full university support.[14] However on May 9, 2006, the Minnesota Senate passed a radically different version of the bill on a 34–32 vote.[15] 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).[3] Governor Tim Pawlenty stated he supported the House version.[16]

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.[17] 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.[18][19][20]

The stadium was planned as the centerpiece of a 75-acre research park called the East Gateway District on the East Bank side of the Twin Cities campus, expanding an existing precinct and adding a new Medical Biosciences Building. Sketches for the regents were available in December 2006 and, pending approval by the Minnesota Legislature, as of June 2007, biosciences was scheduled for completion in Fall 2009.[21][22]

[edit] Funding

The stadium's logo was unveiled as part of a July 2007 ceremony marking the start of stadium construction.
The stadium's logo was unveiled as part of a July 2007 ceremony marking the start of stadium construction.[23]

The stadium's cost totals $288.5 million of which the university will pay 52 percent and the state of Minnesota the remaining 48 percent. Including interest the state's cost is about $10 million per year or about $1.7 million per game for twenty-five years.[24] About $50 million of the state's portion goes to the purchase of 2840 acres (11.5 km²) of undeveloped university land, part of the Rosemount Research Center in Dakota County, over twenty-five years by the state of Minnesota who will assume responsibility for risks if the site requires environmental cleanup.[25][26] The university retains its right to use the land for its "research, education and engagement mission" in perpetuity.[27]

The university's share is $111 million[20] or 48 percent.[28] TCF Financial Corporation of Wayzata, Minnesota is contributing $35 million over twenty-five years in exchange for the TCF Bank naming rights and other agreements. The university projected earnings of $2.5 million per year or $96 million over the life of agreements with TCF that will include marketing debit cards to alumni and ticketholders.[29][30] If unable to fulfill its contractual obligations, TCF Financial Corporation must propose an alternate name subject to the approval of the university.[31]

Other corporate donations have been pledged as well, including Best Buy ($3 million),[32] Dairy Queen ($2.5 million),[33] Target Corporation ($2 million),[34] Federated Insurance, General Mills and Norwest Equity Partners.[35]

A gift of the Shakopee Mdewakanton, matched by the U of M, created a $5 million academic scholarship endowment for low-income students.
A gift of the Shakopee Mdewakanton, matched by the U of M, created a $5 million academic scholarship endowment for low-income students.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community agreed to donate USD $10 million for stadium construction, the largest gift Gopher athletics has ever received. The university will match an additional USD $2.5 million to create a $5 million endowment for scholarships for American Indian and low-income students. The hospitality plaza on the stadium's west side and the scholarship will be named to honor the community, and the plaza designed to "celebrate the history, presence, and cultural contributions of all eleven Indian tribes in Minnesota".[36][37]

The university is also accepting donations from individuals. Initially donations were only being sought from "high-end" donors (those contributing $100,000 or more), but in June 2008 the university expanded the fundraising effort to gather smaller donations as well.[38][39][40] As of November 14, 2007, $75.5 million of the University of Minnesota's $86 million contribution had been pledged.[41]

The remainder of the university's portion will come from a $12.50 per semester student fee[25] ($25 per year) and game day parking revenue.

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.[42] 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.[34]

[edit] Location

The TCF Bank Stadium site is located on the northeast side of the Minneapolis campus, near the site of the former Memorial Stadium. The new stadium's site had been the location of the Huron Boulevard Parking Complex, where the university's four largest parking lots were located.[43] The address will be 2009 University Ave S.E.[23]

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.[44] 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.[45]

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.[46]

[edit] Design

A conceptual drawing of the completed TCF Bank Stadium
A conceptual drawing of the completed TCF Bank Stadium

TCF Bank Stadium will be a horseshoe-style stadium which organizers say will have a "traditional collegiate look and feel".[42] 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.[47] 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.[44] The new stadium will also incorporate a tribute to the university's veterans.[48]

[edit] Construction

On June 8, 2006, the university announced that it had selected HOK Architects to design TCF Bank stadium.[49] 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.[50][51] Schematic designs of the stadium were presented to the public on January 3, 2007.[52]

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.[53][54] Site preparation and foundation work continued through the summer and fall of 2007, with work on the stadium's steel skeleton beginning January 28, 2008.[55] 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.[56]

[edit] Other 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.[57]

Several potential non-university uses for the stadium have been discussed as well. Minnesota State High School League state tournaments, concerts, and marching band and drum corps competitions have all been considered.[58] TCF Bank Stadium has been named as a possible location to host preliminary soccer matches if Chicago wins its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.[59] Should the Minnesota Vikings successfully carry out a plan to build a new stadium on the current site of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, TCF Bank Stadium could provide a temporary home for the team until the new stadium is completed.[60]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ NCES Digest of Education Statistics (2005). Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
  2. ^ Gophers to Open TCF Bank Stadium vs. Air Force (November 14, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
  3. ^ a b Sheck, Tom. "Senate passes stadium bills for Twins, Gophers, and Vikings", Minnesota Public Radio, May 9, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  4. ^ Weiner, Jay. "Getting our Fix", Minnesota Monthly, Greenspring Media Group, November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  5. ^ Stadium Bill Signed at McNamara. Regents of the University of Minnesota via University of Minnesota Alumni Association (May 25, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
  6. ^ Hippert, Rebecca (April 19, 2001). STUDENT SENATE MINUTES. University of Minnesota Student Senate. Retrieved on 2007-07-08.
  7. ^ Pugmire, Tim. "U of M may go it alone in stadium chase", Minnesota Public Radio, December 13, 2002. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  8. ^ >Scheck, Tom. "Committee kills Vikings stadium plan", Minnesota Public Radio, February 18, 2002. 
  9. ^ Tibbetts, Than. "Officials: Stadium plan must progress", Minnesota Daily, October 19, 2004. 
  10. ^ a b TCF Financial Corporation gives $35 million. University of Minnesota (March 24, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-01-10.
  11. ^ a b Stadium sponsorship agreement with TCF extended. University of Minnesota (December 28, 2005). Retrieved on 2005-12-28.
  12. ^ At the Legislature. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  13. ^ Unofficial Recorded Roll Call Floor Vote for H.F. NO. 263. Minnesota House of Representatives (April 6, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  14. ^ Lonetree, Anthony. "House panel adds its support to U stadium funding plan", Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 29, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  15. ^ "Permanent Journals of the 2006 Regular Session" (May 9, 2006). Journal of the Senate 2005 - 2006 (Eighty-Fourth Legislature): 5332. Minnesota State Senate. Legislative Day 103. 
  16. ^ Kaszuba, Mike. "Gophers stadium plan passes Senate", Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 9, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. 
  17. ^ "Stadium bill highlights", Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  18. ^ Unofficial Recorded Roll Call Floor Vote for S.F. NO. 2460. Minnesota State House of Representatives (May 20, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  19. ^ "Permanent Journals of the 2006 Regular Session" (May 20, 2006). Journal of the Senate 2005 - 2006 (Eighty-Fourth Legislature): 5780 - 5787. Minnesota State Senate. Legislative Day 111. 
  20. ^ a b Pugmire, Tim. "Pawlenty signs one stadium bill; one to go", Minnesota Public Radio, May 24, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 
  21. ^ University of Minnesota Capital Planning and Project Management (4 June 2006). Medical Biosciences Building. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-10-21.
  22. ^ "About Campus", Minnesota, University of Minnesota Alumni Association, January-February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  23. ^ a b TCF Bank Stadium Logo Unveiling Signals Start of Construction Phase. University of Minnesota (July 11, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
  24. ^ "University of Minnesota Gophers football stadium", Minnesota Public Radio, ongoing. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  25. ^ a b Robson, Britt (7 June 2006). "Gopher Broke". City Pages 27 (1331). Village Voice Media. 
  26. ^ The U of M Rosemount Research Center is an EPA Superfund site that required more review and "Institutional Controls" as of June 2007. Third Five-Year Report for University of Minnesota Rosemount Research Center Site: Executive Summary (PDF) 5. United States Evironmental Protection Agency Region 5 (15 June 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-21.
  27. ^ Office of the Vice President, Statewide Strategic Resource Development, University of Minnesota (16 October 2006). Creating the Vision, The Future of UMore Park (PDF) 5. Regents of the University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-10-21.
  28. ^ TCF Bank Stadium Financing. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-07-08.
  29. ^ Kaszuba, Mike. "TCF perks go beyond stadium's name at U", Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. 
  30. ^ Moore, Rick. "Stadium agreement with TCF has extra perks", UMNnews, Regents of the University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. 
  31. ^ Grovum, Jake. "TCF Bank Stadium could be renamed", Minnesota Daily, November 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. 
  32. ^ Weinmann, Karlee. "Fundraising for stadium on track", Minnesota Daily, October 12, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-12. 
  33. ^ Grovum, Jake. "DQ to help fund TCF stadium", Minnesota Daily, November 14, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. 
  34. ^ a b Haugen, Bryce. "Survey: Students split over stadium, predict fee increase", Minnesota Daily, March 9, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-09. 
  35. ^ TCF Bank Stadium Groundbreaking (.wmv). University of Minnesota (September 30, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  36. ^ Hughes, Art. "Shakopee tribe's gift moves U closer to stadium fundraising goal", Minnesota Public Radio, 19 October 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-20. 
  37. ^ Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (19 October 2007). "SMSC Gift of $12.5 Million to University of Minnesota Will Help Fund New Stadium and Provide Scholarships for Students". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-10-21. and Regents of the University of Minnesota (19 October 2007). "U of M receives $12.5 million gift from Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-10-21.
  38. ^ "New Gophers stadium starts search for more cash", KARE11.com, June 3, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-03. 
  39. ^ How Can I Help?. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-07-08.
  40. ^ Kaszuba, Mike. "U’s stadium dream runs into financial reality", Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 11, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. 
  41. ^ U receives $12.5 million for stadium, scholarships. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-10-19.
  42. ^ a b Regents approve stadium design, new price tag. University of Minnesota (January 3, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-08.
  43. ^ Stadium Location. University of Minnesota (July 18, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  44. ^ a b Smetanka, Mary Jane. "Gophers' stadium costs expected to rise", Star Tribune, December 7, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-07. 
  45. ^ Central Corridor Light-Rail Transit Factsheet (PDF). Metropolitan Council (December, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  46. ^ Environmental Review Process. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  47. ^ Stadium Features. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  48. ^ Riggs, Liz. "Appreciation day honors U veterans", Minnesota Daily, November 15, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-12-08. 
  49. ^ Kazuba, Mike. "Kansas City firm chosen to design Gophers' new stadium", Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 8, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-08. (English) 
  50. ^ Back to Campus. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  51. ^ University selects M.A. Mortenson Company as general contractor. University of Minnesota (February 15, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
  52. ^ Designs for TCF Bank Stadium Released to the Public. Gophersports.com (January 3, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
  53. ^ TCF Bank Stadium logo unveiled to signal start of Gopher football stadium construction. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
  54. ^ TCF Bank Stadium Construction PHASE 3. University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  55. ^ Steel Set to Rise at TCF Bank Stadium. Gophersports.com (January 25, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  56. ^ TCF Bank Stadium Construction Timeline. Gophersports.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
  57. ^ Hopp, Deborah. "The U's new stadium is about more than football", St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  58. ^ University of Minnesota (2003). University of Minnesota On-Campus Football Stadium - Final EIS. 
  59. ^ Yue, Loren. "Chicago 2016 turns to Minnesota for help", Chicago Business, January 10, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  60. ^ "Vikings Propose New Stadium On Site Of Metrodome", Associated Press, January 19, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. 

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