Updated photos of the new Gopher Football stadium (aka TCF Bank Stadium) under construction on the University of Minnesota's East Bank campus. This will also serve as the temporary home of the Vikings when the Metrodome is replaced.

Opens on September 12, 2009. 50,000 seats, expandable to 80,000. $288.5 million. Also includes new facilities for the U of M Marching Band.

The design is based on the old Memorial Stadium (aka "the Brick House"), demolished in 1992.

The area is part of a 75-acre expansion of the campus and will include 10 additional classroom buildings.

View from SE showing brick colonnade:

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7831/umstadiumpan01cj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7222/umstadiumconstr01ck5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The names of all 87 Minnesota counties are inscribed in stone in the colonnade in alphabetical order:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2708/umstadiumconstr06qj2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The colonnade also contains arched entryways:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/813/umstadiumconstr04la1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The open (west) end of the bowl, showing the structure of the main scoreboard. The HD-X LED scoreboard will measure 48 x 108 feet - the 2nd-largest in college football. This is also the site of a new entry plaza made possible by a $10 million gift to the University by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8795/umstadiumpan02af8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Concrete seat decks are being installed:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6223/umstadiumconstr03ci0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Site Plan:

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5817/tcfstadiumsite01hk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

They should have put in a lake somewhere.....or a Loon.

Are renderings available? From the construction shots, it looks like a very nice classical design, a la the midwest "shrines" to college football: Ohio Stadium, Michigan Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium.

Are renderings available? From the construction shots, it looks like a very nice classical design, a la the midwest "shrines" to college football: Ohio Stadium, Michigan Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium.

View looking toward downtown Minneapolis:

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/5138/tcfstadiumah0.gif (http://imageshack.us)

View from opposite direction. Photo courtesy of the University of Minnesota:

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7154/gophertcfstadium02vr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Someone mentioned that there are plans for this stadium to be used by the Vikings when the Metrodome is torn down and while a new Vikings stadium is built in its place. Is that plan finalized? - or is it just the strategy that is currently being discussed?

^ Yes, that's merely the strategy. The operating commission for the Metrodome is currently accepting proposals for a new Vikings stadium (one has been made public so far). There are many hurdles to overcome in the state legislature, since the Twin Cities are already building two stadiums right now, and a 3rd (for soccer) is also expected to be proposed soon.

Very nice looking stadium. I'm glad to see when Big Ten schools update their facilities.

These photos are courtesy of member GoAUpher at the GopherHole forum. (http://www.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=842)

View toward the east, showing the framework for the scoreboard/screen:

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/381/tcfstadiumconstr00rj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

View of downtown Minneapolis from the middle deck level:

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6959/tcfstadiumconstr01th6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

View of the bowl. The stadium is designed to allow for an additional continuous deck above, bringing the total seating to 80,000. (The stadium was designed to trap the maximum amount of sound inside so that the fan experience is loud!)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2033/tcfstadiumconstr02qx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1861/tcfstadiumconstr03ww7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking west:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1783/tcfstadiumconstr04ds0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Plasterwork commences on the ceiling of the colonnade:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/8792/tcfstadiumconstr05et4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The main locker room is vast, with a giant LED-illuminated "M" set within a football-shaped ceiling:

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/775/tcfstadiumconstr06sq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Very nice! Compliments the architecture of the campus perfectly. So many big projects in Minneapolis! A soccer arena? Is there demand for that in the cities?

Will it just be for the Gophers, or are the Vikings going to share this stadium?

Will it just be for the Gophers, or are the Vikings going to share this stadium?

Just the Gophers.

The new TCF Bank Stadium is finished and open!

Here's a fun time-lapse video of the first game at the stadium. (http://xrl.us/bfkpwm)

Saw some of that first game on TV. Gotta admit, I was happy to see that GG fans finally have a proper place to watch football. It's such a better atmosphere than that god awful dome. When are they going to tear that place down and build something proper for the Vikings?