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November 19, 2008
Arches
I like to walk around campus. For ten years I have walked around every nook and cranny I can find on this campus and I still haven't discovered half of the interesting things to see. This is especially true since they started construction on TCF Bank Stadium. In fact, I can't seem to walk around anything but the construction site since they started building.
One thing I have recently noticed is that they have started to hang the arches around the main entrances to the stadium. When you look at the virtual tour of the exterior of the stadium you will note five different areas where there is a big arch and a white overhang. The virtual tour simply doesn't do these arches any justice. They are simply majestic.
Unfortunately, these pictures won't do them any justice either. But at least I tried.
When you look at the stadium from Williams Arena you should immediately see the big arch being constructed on the south side of the horse-shoe:
Here is a close up of that arch. Note the immensity of it, the carved "Minnesota" curved around the top, the ginourmous staircase on the inside ... it is really quite spectacular:
There are (or will be) four other big arches like this one around the exterior of the stadium. This is the arch at the southeast end. Again, it features the word "Minnesota" around the top:
The next arch is probably the most special as it is the student entrance. It can be found on the northeast side of the stadium and it features the carving "Hats Off to Thee" around the top:
Again, note the huge staircase going up to the field. If you are in a wheel chair or if you have trouble walking up stairs, it probably sucks, but to look at it ... well it looks pretty slick. This arch also features a column in the middle with a "Ski-U-Mah" carving and two other columns with carvings that thank the students for their contributions.
Finally, at the west end of the horse shoe, one of the arches is still in the process of being hung. It looks like they use some pretty hefty duty braces to help hold the stones up:
Again, I wish these pictures could do justice to these entrances. No other college football stadium in the country will hold a candle to how majestic this place will be. Of course, that is only my opinion (and I'm a Minnesota fan to boot) but every detail seems to be important at this place, from the sidewalks, to the facade, to the scoreboard, to the seats, to the locker room, to ... well ... the arches.
Until next time...
Posted by snackeru at November 19, 2008 6:31 PM
Comments
I guess you could say that TCF Bank Stadium has a nice arch.
Posted by: Freealonzo at November 20, 2008 12:40 PM
I have historically not been a Gopher football fan, but even I was in awe of the stadium when I visited in September. It will truly be amazing.
Curt in Grand Forks
Posted by: Curt Hanson at November 21, 2008 9:26 AM
OMG, are those arches pretty!
I have been admiring from my car as I drive past it to campus or my fraternity but I think I'm gonna have to take a walk around the area soon.
Posted by: Snyder at November 21, 2008 12:56 PM
So I got my Gopher Points statement and I have 429.2. Paying off my UMAA life membership early moved me up 1,306 spots. Pretty good for something I was gonna pay for either way. :-)
Posted by: Snyder at November 22, 2008 8:21 AM
Hey Snyder for having to sit through those Michigan and Iowa "games" you should get an additional 500 hazard points.
Posted by: Freealonzo at November 24, 2008 9:12 AM
I actually did not sit through the Iowa game, but I'll take 250 for sitting through Michigan...
Posted by: Snyder at November 24, 2008 2:17 PM
The new stadium is truly going to be an amazing place, cant wait till the season starts.
Posted by: List of Mortgage Lenders at April 7, 2009 11:50 PM
