FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

Congratulations to the MIAC on a great season. I agree the MIAC should take the #1 conference ranking for 2018.

I'm hoping for a St. John's victory at UMHB. The Johnnie's O is so dynamic it's hard to envision UMHB shutting it down. My concern is the 2016 and 2017 playoff results- UMHB held every offense down. In two games they limited Mt to 12 points. No doubt the Johnnies know what they are in for- I hope they can be the Ohio State to UMHB's Michigan.

[DuffMan]

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Uhhh, no way.

[faunch]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

Nice.  The Target Field thing was cool but this is infinitely better than shoehorning a football field into a baseball stadium.

Agreed. That was cool for a one-time thing. This seems like it could be a semi-permanent solution for this particular game. I'm looking forward to it.

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Pitt State & NW Mizz St had a similar setup with Arrowhead stadium for a while.

Definitely easier to seat 15k+ peeps ... but I think you lose something if you never have it on either campus anymore.

Technically 2017 was not a neutral site game. U$T counted it as a home game. I don't believe SJU has any interest playing away from the "Natural Bowl."

[AO]

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Pitt State & NW Mizz St had a similar setup with Arrowhead stadium for a while.

Definitely easier to seat 15k+ peeps ... but I think you lose something if you never have it on either campus anymore.

Isn't it about time for some permanent seating upgrades at Clemens? 

[DuffMan]

Isn't it about time for some permanent seating upgrades at Clemens?

No, that would just give them a reason to increase the price of my season tix.

[MiacMan]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

Nice.  The Target Field thing was cool but this is infinitely better than shoehorning a football field into a baseball stadium.

Agreed. That was cool for a one-time thing. This seems like it could be a semi-permanent solution for this particular game. I'm looking forward to it.

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Pitt State & NW Mizz St had a similar setup with Arrowhead stadium for a while.

Definitely easier to seat 15k+ peeps ... but I think you lose something if you never have it on either campus anymore.

Technically 2017 was not a neutral site game. U$T counted it as a home game. I don't believe SJU has any interest playing away from the "Natural Bowl."

Agreed, and nor should they be. It's too bad O'Gara's shut down. I could envision a St. Pat's day type tailgate with both schools and large contingents of fans walking across the 94 bridge to the game.

[repete]

One factor that hasn't been taken into account is the TX weather.  Sure, 70s will be nice as a fan, but these Johnnie's are used to playing in the mid-20s.  That's a big swing when your body isn't acclimated to it.  I know, I know, they'll be practicing in the Gagliardi Dome this week, but 3-4 days of warmer practice isn't gonna do a whole lot. 

I guess it's out of our control, though.

I wish I could make the trek!

I don't know. When I go to Cali in the winter, it takes me about 5 minutes to start enjoying 70 degree weather after spending a couple months at or below freezing. My golf game doesn't suffer in that weather.

My game is weatherproof ...  S----- everytime I tee it up.

[jamtod]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

Nice.  The Target Field thing was cool but this is infinitely better than shoehorning a football field into a baseball stadium.

Agreed. That was cool for a one-time thing. This seems like it could be a semi-permanent solution for this particular game. I'm looking forward to it.

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Pitt State & NW Mizz St had a similar setup with Arrowhead stadium for a while.

Definitely easier to seat 15k+ peeps ... but I think you lose something if you never have it on either campus anymore.

Definitely only for UST home games. SJU doesn't face the same logistical challenges at their place.

[AO]

Just an FYI,

As I speculated in a post a couple of months ago, I have now verified from a very reliable source that next years 2019 Tommie/Johnnie Game will take place in Allianz Stadium on Snelling and 94. It will be the first football game to take place in that stadium. Look for it to be officially announced shortly after the first of the year.

Nice.  The Target Field thing was cool but this is infinitely better than shoehorning a football field into a baseball stadium.

Agreed. That was cool for a one-time thing. This seems like it could be a semi-permanent solution for this particular game. I'm looking forward to it.

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Pitt State & NW Mizz St had a similar setup with Arrowhead stadium for a while.

Definitely easier to seat 15k+ peeps ... but I think you lose something if you never have it on either campus anymore.

Definitely only for UST home games. SJU doesn't face the same logistical challenges at their place.

Haven't you experienced the fun of sitting in traffic on 94, or parking in a field a mile from the stadium?  Then after you take a school bus the rest of the way, the excitement when you can claim a patch of dirt 150 feet from the field?

[hazzben]

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Uhhh, no way.

Yeah, I figured SJU wouldn't be keen on giving up the natural bowl. I wouldn't want to see it either.

[miac952]

semi-permanent when UST hosts the game, or is SJU willing to go in on a permanent neutral site setting going forward?

Uhhh, no way.

Logistics for Johnnies are much easier to manage. As Duffman notes, would hate to see it leave campus. Plus, there isnt a great nearby location providing anything better in Central MN. Unless, we want to trek a little ways and take Tommie Johnnie to Brainerd Intl.  . There was a game at Bristol last year.

Allianz will be the perfect size venue with great sightlines. I just hope the stupid scarf thing doesn't carry over from MLS. NO SCARVES for the GAME. Should be a MIAC rule.

[jamtod]

Definitely only for UST home games. SJU doesn't face the same logistical challenges at their place.

Haven't you experienced the fun of sitting in traffic on 94, or parking in a field a mile from the stadium?  Then after you take a school bus the rest of the way, the excitement when you can claim a patch of dirt 150 feet from the field?

I've been to 3 games at SJU and never had an issue with the traffic on 94, but I also arrived early enough to tailgate, which was great (and this year I was coming from the opposite direction which helped). Wasn't far enough to deal with the shuttle. Also was able to find plenty of seating on the visitor's stands.

Sounds like you need to plan ahead a little better AO.

[AO]

Definitely only for UST home games. SJU doesn't face the same logistical challenges at their place.

Haven't you experienced the fun of sitting in traffic on 94, or parking in a field a mile from the stadium?  Then after you take a school bus the rest of the way, the excitement when you can claim a patch of dirt 150 feet from the field?

I've been to 3 games at SJU and never had an issue with the traffic on 94, but I also arrived early enough to tailgate, which was great (and this year I was coming from the opposite direction which helped). Wasn't far enough to deal with the shuttle. Also was able to find plenty of seating on the visitor's stands.

Sounds like you need to plan ahead a little better AO.

I've taken a similar early arrival strategy in the past but that doesn't work for everyone.  I've sat in the East and South stands as well as the berm on the West side.  Their might be 10,000 seats in Clemens now with the reduced North side bleachers?  As Duff noted, if they can make some more money by building some new seating I'd bet they do it.  I'd imagine many fans would pay $30-$50 to have a guaranteed seat somewhere.

[jamtod]

Definitely only for UST home games. SJU doesn't face the same logistical challenges at their place.

Haven't you experienced the fun of sitting in traffic on 94, or parking in a field a mile from the stadium?  Then after you take a school bus the rest of the way, the excitement when you can claim a patch of dirt 150 feet from the field?

I've been to 3 games at SJU and never had an issue with the traffic on 94, but I also arrived early enough to tailgate, which was great (and this year I was coming from the opposite direction which helped). Wasn't far enough to deal with the shuttle. Also was able to find plenty of seating on the visitor's stands.

Sounds like you need to plan ahead a little better AO.

I've taken a similar early arrival strategy in the past but that doesn't work for everyone.  I've sat in the East and South stands as well as the berm on the West side.  Their might be 10,000 seats in Clemens now with the reduced North side bleachers?  As Duff noted, if they can make some more money by building some new seating I'd bet they do it.  I'd imagine many fans would pay $30-$50 to have a guaranteed seat somewhere.

I am actually sympathetic to that scenario though, which I didn't really convey. But I've had friends meet me for the game that arrived basically at gametime. And they didn't seem to have significant issues. I'm sure some have had problems and that's a real thing.

[MiacMan]

Definitely only for UST home games. SJU doesn't face the same logistical challenges at their place.

Haven't you experienced the fun of sitting in traffic on 94, or parking in a field a mile from the stadium?  Then after you take a school bus the rest of the way, the excitement when you can claim a patch of dirt 150 feet from the field?

I've been to 3 games at SJU and never had an issue with the traffic on 94, but I also arrived early enough to tailgate, which was great (and this year I was coming from the opposite direction which helped). Wasn't far enough to deal with the shuttle. Also was able to find plenty of seating on the visitor's stands.

Sounds like you need to plan ahead a little better AO.

I've taken a similar early arrival strategy in the past but that doesn't work for everyone.  I've sat in the East and South stands as well as the berm on the West side.  Their might be 10,000 seats in Clemens now with the reduced North side bleachers?  As Duff noted, if they can make some more money by building some new seating I'd bet they do it.  I'd imagine many fans would pay $30-$50 to have a guaranteed seat somewhere.

I am actually sympathetic to that scenario though, which I didn't really convey. But I've had friends meet me for the game that arrived basically at gametime. And they didn't seem to have significant issues. I'm sure some have had problems and that's a real thing.

I could be wrong here. If someone knows different feel free to speak up, but I don't see much parking around Allianz stadium. I'm pretty sure in the infinite wisdom of our city government they planned this venue to be primarily accessed utilizing the light rail  with pre/post-game festivities to take place at the surrounding businesses on University Ave.