In Reply to: Re: Win percents for 2026 (Updated Sept 14) posted by TheHappyBurgermeister on September 14, 2026 at 10:39:17
When they built a new stadium in 2009, they intentionally didn't build a dome.
"Minnesota football has deep cultural roots in cold‑weather, outdoor games. For decades, surveys, public hearings, and legislative feedback all showed that fans overwhelmingly wanted the Gophers to play outside, not in a shared indoor stadium.
"Outdoor football was seen as part of the identity of the program — a competitive advantage, a tradition, and a point of pride. When the university began planning a new stadium in the early 2000s, fan input consistently leaned toward open‑air."
Apparently wind is a big factor when playing outdoors in Minneapolis. Of course, adding wind to low temperatures makes for a low wind-chill factor, something us SoCal folks don't think about.