Minnesota or Michigan State? Have done OSU and Michigan the last two years. Trying to decide for next year, and curious to hear from Big 10 fans who have been to both.
Better Big 10 road trip?
- Thread starter BrunswickBob
- Start date
Minnesota has the brand new stadium. It's nice, but quaint. Capacity is around 53K or so. They've just recently started to fill it (or come close to) consistently, but I would call the atmosphere somewhat lacking (unless they're playing a big-time opponent, or one of their natural rivals; no offense). Their fans are friendly enough as long as you don't root for Iowa or Wisconsin. Another aspect of their set-up is that there is no available public parking in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. They have some public lots a few miles away, then you take a shuttle bus to the stadium.
I've always had fun there, but that's because tons of Iowa fans go. I would imagine a small RU contingent, so that might affect things as well. Final point is that Minneapolis is a large and fairly vibrant city, so if you're into "Big City" sightseeing and entertainment options, that's a point in their favor. Not really a college town kind of feel, as the Gophers are well behind the pro sports franchises in the area in terms of public interest. Not like other Big Ten campuses where a football weekend is the main attraction in the immediate surrounding areas.
MSU is a smaller town and will have less to do outside of the football stuff. They're really good now, so I would imagine interest and intensity in the surrounding community is fairly high. Stadium is really cool with lots of character. Lots of famous games and players have competed there, if you're into college football history. The visitor's section is in the upper deck, and while the seats were fine, the ramps coming down onto the main concourse after the game had some of the worst congestion that I have ever seen. People literally standing in line for 20 minutes or so as multiple lines of people intersect at the same point. Just horrible. We went back and watched the band and waited for everyone to clear out.
Somehow through various connections we ended up with a parking pass in the donor lot right next to the stadium. Not exactly sure what the general public parking/tailgating set-up is like. I do know that their admin had set up some kind of "time limit" on tailgating at like 2-3 hours or something like that, based on some previous misbehavior. Basically, if it's a later game, you can't just park in the morning and tailgate all day long, or at least that was my impression. Their fans were cool the time I went, but the very next year several Iowa fans went and came back with horror stories about how awful the experience was, so YMMV. I don't think an RU fan would have similar troubles, though.
So to summarize, if you're looking for a more "big time" college football atmosphere, in a smaller town where college sports are king and they take things rather seriously, then MSU would be my choice. If you're looking for a broader experience and an excuse to visit a major American city and all that that entails (Mall of America! Hard Rock Cafe! Maybe an MLB or NBA game, depending on the time of year), with a smaller, more intimate stadium surrounded by people that typically place college football well down the list of things that are important to them, Minnesota is for you.
I've always had fun there, but that's because tons of Iowa fans go. I would imagine a small RU contingent, so that might affect things as well. Final point is that Minneapolis is a large and fairly vibrant city, so if you're into "Big City" sightseeing and entertainment options, that's a point in their favor. Not really a college town kind of feel, as the Gophers are well behind the pro sports franchises in the area in terms of public interest. Not like other Big Ten campuses where a football weekend is the main attraction in the immediate surrounding areas.
MSU is a smaller town and will have less to do outside of the football stuff. They're really good now, so I would imagine interest and intensity in the surrounding community is fairly high. Stadium is really cool with lots of character. Lots of famous games and players have competed there, if you're into college football history. The visitor's section is in the upper deck, and while the seats were fine, the ramps coming down onto the main concourse after the game had some of the worst congestion that I have ever seen. People literally standing in line for 20 minutes or so as multiple lines of people intersect at the same point. Just horrible. We went back and watched the band and waited for everyone to clear out.
Somehow through various connections we ended up with a parking pass in the donor lot right next to the stadium. Not exactly sure what the general public parking/tailgating set-up is like. I do know that their admin had set up some kind of "time limit" on tailgating at like 2-3 hours or something like that, based on some previous misbehavior. Basically, if it's a later game, you can't just park in the morning and tailgate all day long, or at least that was my impression. Their fans were cool the time I went, but the very next year several Iowa fans went and came back with horror stories about how awful the experience was, so YMMV. I don't think an RU fan would have similar troubles, though.
So to summarize, if you're looking for a more "big time" college football atmosphere, in a smaller town where college sports are king and they take things rather seriously, then MSU would be my choice. If you're looking for a broader experience and an excuse to visit a major American city and all that that entails (Mall of America! Hard Rock Cafe! Maybe an MLB or NBA game, depending on the time of year), with a smaller, more intimate stadium surrounded by people that typically place college football well down the list of things that are important to them, Minnesota is for you.
I would go with none of the above and go with University of Washington. It's during Labor Day weekend, so one less day to take off from work. Plus Seattle is stunning during that time of the year. Plus you have the opportunity to tailgate on a boat. There is a music festival going on there too, if that is your thing:
http://bumbershoot.com/home
If you have to choose between Minnesota or Michigan State, I'd go with the Gophers, simply cause of frequency of play. You'll have the opportunity to check out MSU every other year, as opposed to Minnesota being in the west, I believe your next opportunity to see RU play there will be 2020. That is why we choose to go to the Wisconsin game this year as opposed to Michigan.
But in addition, Minnesotans are the nicest people in the country. And Minnesota in October will be better weather than Michigan in November. Also, at least Minnesota will be a competitive game (hopefully?!). You know Sparty will be a blowout with the current regime in charge. Also, to say a big F U to Paul Tagliabue:
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/11881/tagliabue-rips-big-tens-expansion-push
http://bumbershoot.com/home
If you have to choose between Minnesota or Michigan State, I'd go with the Gophers, simply cause of frequency of play. You'll have the opportunity to check out MSU every other year, as opposed to Minnesota being in the west, I believe your next opportunity to see RU play there will be 2020. That is why we choose to go to the Wisconsin game this year as opposed to Michigan.
But in addition, Minnesotans are the nicest people in the country. And Minnesota in October will be better weather than Michigan in November. Also, at least Minnesota will be a competitive game (hopefully?!). You know Sparty will be a blowout with the current regime in charge. Also, to say a big F U to Paul Tagliabue:
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/11881/tagliabue-rips-big-tens-expansion-push
I agree about the frequency of play and thus the number of opportunities to visit. That is why ideally I should have went to Madison this year and saved Ann Arbor until 2017 but it just did not work out that way. If truly undecided that could be the factor that pushes you to Minnesota. The other consideration could be cost. I assume one flies to Minneapolis versus the drive option to East Lansing.
As someone living in Minnesota, I'd vouch for what the Hawkeye fan wrote.
Minnesota in mid-October should be fairly pleasant weather-wise (you never quite know, but odds are reasonable for good, fall football weather (50s & sunny). Minneapolis is a fun city...not too large compared to NY, Chicago, etc., but plenty to do and not a total backwater if you want good food/music/events. The stadium is new and nice, but the campus isn't really one for tailgating and a real college football experience. Minneapolis is very much a pro-sports town, so the Gophers only get well covered if the team is decent, but they still fall behind the Vikings, Twins, Wild, and Timberwolves. Getting here shouldn't be too bad, with very inexpensive flights on Frontier from Trenton, also flights from EWR and LGA.
If given the choice between the Washington game in Seattle or the Gopher game, I'd go with Seattle, but vs. Michigan State, for the reasons mentioned by others (including being at Michigan State every other year), I'd go with the Gopher game.
Minnesota in mid-October should be fairly pleasant weather-wise (you never quite know, but odds are reasonable for good, fall football weather (50s & sunny). Minneapolis is a fun city...not too large compared to NY, Chicago, etc., but plenty to do and not a total backwater if you want good food/music/events. The stadium is new and nice, but the campus isn't really one for tailgating and a real college football experience. Minneapolis is very much a pro-sports town, so the Gophers only get well covered if the team is decent, but they still fall behind the Vikings, Twins, Wild, and Timberwolves. Getting here shouldn't be too bad, with very inexpensive flights on Frontier from Trenton, also flights from EWR and LGA.
If given the choice between the Washington game in Seattle or the Gopher game, I'd go with Seattle, but vs. Michigan State, for the reasons mentioned by others (including being at Michigan State every other year), I'd go with the Gopher game.
Minneapolis hands down.I am there on business once a month and unless you are there in the winter it truly has a lot going for it.Stay downtown and grab a cab to the game,great bars,restaurants and entertainment.If you want to be close snag a room at the commons and go to Sally's or Steb and Herbs.Punch Pizza or Pizza Luce.
I would say Minnesota.
The stadium atmosphere at MSU might be a notch higher, but Minneapolis will have much more to do.
Also, i saw Hard Rock Cafe mentioned above. I'm assuming that was in jest. You'll have much more interesting options in a city like Minneapolis.
The stadium atmosphere at MSU might be a notch higher, but Minneapolis will have much more to do.
Also, i saw Hard Rock Cafe mentioned above. I'm assuming that was in jest. You'll have much more interesting options in a city like Minneapolis.
There is no Hard Rock here...I'd be happy to suggest much better dining options for anyone that makes the trip.