FanShot

Gopher Stadium Apparently Not Built to Accomodate Old Man Winter

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Don't get me wrong: I LOVE TCF Bank Stadium, and am so glad that Gopher football gets to play there instead of the Metrodome. But with news coming today that The Bank may not be able to accomodate winter football is just plain baffling to me. I still haven't heard a good explanation as to why there aren't cash registers at the concessions, probably because there is NOT a good reason. Well, other than being cheap and trying to save costs at the expense of customer service. But with this latest report, it looks like that's not the only place the U tried to cut costs. Two baffling facts... In addition to the tons of snowdrifts throughout the Gophers' roofless stadium, cold temperatures have frozen the playing surface and there is no heating element under the field to thaw it during the game. Um, what? An outdoor football stadium was built in Minnesota without a way to thaw and heat the field? I know the plan was only to use the stadium for the college football season from August-November, but last time I checked, this IS Minnesota right? Like a cold snap in November is not out of the realm of possibility, right? I remember the Purdue homecoming game two years ago- in EARLY OCTOBER!!!!!- being about 15 degrees at kickoff. Baffling fact #2: The bathrooms and concession stands are also concerns. The concessions must be insulated because it's safe to work in those stands only if it is over 30 degrees and bathrooms in the stadium have an open entry and aren't heated, meaning the pipes could freeze. Again- IT'S MINNESOTA!!! It gets damn cold in November, and even October!!! How in the h-e--double-hockey-sticks can you not have heating in the freaking bathrooms and concession areas?!?!?!? I can see them not needing such basic things are heat and a heated field in places like California, Arizona, Texas, and SEC Country. But here? Again, don't get me wrong- I'm very glad to have TCF Bank Stadium as the home of the Gophers. But doesn't this just screams of a gigantic FAIL for what would seem to be basic and obvious needs of an outdoor football stadium in Minnesota.?