Golden Gophers Trade Land for New Football Stadium

The Minnesota Legislature recently approved a bill that calls for a new $248 million, 50,000-seat TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota. As part of the legislation, the university will exchange 2,840 acres of undeveloped land in Dakota County with the state for use as a metropolitan area nature preserve. That brings the total state share of the stadium cost to 55%. The university will raise private funds and implement a student fee to pay for the rest. TCF Bank Stadium will have an open-air horseshoe design. The university is in negotiations to hire a project architect and hopes to have the stadium ready for the 2009 college football season.