Gophers Game Day: Getting to Huntington Bank Stadium and 3M Arena at Mariucci
TL;DR: Getting to University of Minnesota games at Huntington Bank Stadium (football) and 3M Arena at Mariucci (hockey). Campus parking and transit options for Gophers game days.
The University of Minnesota campus sits between downtown Minneapolis and the river, straddling I-35W and University Avenue. On Gopher football Saturdays, the area around Huntington Bank Stadium turns into a sea of maroon and gold. For hockey, 3M Arena at Mariucci is smaller and more manageable - but campus parking is campus parking.
Gopher Football - Huntington Bank Stadium
Huntington Bank Stadium (the outdoor football stadium, opened 2009) holds about 50,000 fans. It's on the east bank of campus, right off I-35W.
Parking: The university opens several campus lots and parking structures on game day. Season ticket holders can purchase season-long parking passes through the Golden Gopher Fund. Single-game parking is available in campus ramps and nearby lots, typically $15-30.
The lots open several hours before kickoff for tailgating - one of the few Minnesota venues that supports real tailgating culture. The lots along Oak Street and University Avenue are the main tailgate spots.
The I-35W problem: Every Gopher football game creates a traffic bottleneck on I-35W between downtown and the campus exits. Northbound before the game, southbound after. If you're coming from the south metro, budget an extra 20-30 minutes for the approach.
Metro Transit: Several bus routes serve the campus, and the Green Line stops at East Bank Station, about a 10-minute walk to the stadium. Game day express buses run from Park & Ride locations. Check Metro Transit for routes.
Car service advantage: Drop-off on University Avenue or 4th Street SE, skip the parking lot entirely. After the game, your driver stages outside the congestion zone and you walk two blocks to meet them. Avoids the 30-45 minute parking lot exodus entirely.
For tailgating groups, the move is a car service both ways. Nobody has to skip the tailgate because they're driving. The Suburban pulls up, everyone gets in, everyone gets home safe.
Gopher Hockey - 3M Arena at Mariucci
Mariucci Arena is the crown jewel of college hockey. The men's program draws 8,000+ fans consistently, and the women's program (playing at Ridder Arena next door) has been growing fast.
Parking: Campus ramps (4th Street Ramp, Washington Avenue Ramp) are your best bet. Rates are lower than football game days - usually $8-15. Street parking on campus is restricted, but surrounding neighborhoods have some availability on weekday evenings.
Friday night hockey is the classic Mariucci experience. 7 PM puck drop, the arena is electric, and afterward the crowd spills into Dinkytown or Stadium Village for postgame. A car service that picks you up in Dinkytown after a beer or two is the ideal Friday night play.
Women's hockey at Ridder Arena is the same parking situation, smaller crowd, easier in and out. But the hockey is outstanding - back-to-back national championships aren't a fluke.
For Both Venues
The University of Minnesota campus is not designed for 50,000 people to arrive and leave at the same time. The streets are narrow, the one-way patterns are confusing if you don't know them, and construction on campus is a way of life.
A driver who knows the campus layout - which streets to use, which are closed on game day, where the traffic clears fastest - saves real time. We're not talking a couple minutes. On a big football Saturday, the difference between knowing the back way out along the river road versus sitting in the Oak Street lot line is 30+ minutes.
| Venue | Capacity | Parking Range | Transit Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Bank Stadium | ~50,000 | $15-30 | Green Line + walk |
| 3M Arena at Mariucci | ~10,000 | $8-15 | Campus ramps |
| Ridder Arena | ~3,400 | $8-15 | Campus ramps |
Tips Locals Know
Park in Dinkytown and walk. The small lots and ramps in Dinkytown (4th Street SE area) are a 5-10 minute walk to both Huntington Bank and Mariucci. On football Saturdays, they fill up early - arrive 3+ hours before kickoff if you want a Dinkytown spot.
The East River Road approach. If you're coming from the south, take East River Road north along the Mississippi instead of fighting I-35W. It runs right past campus with less traffic and connects to the parking areas on the east side of the stadium.
Friday night hockey at Mariucci is the best value in Minnesota sports. Student tickets are cheap, the atmosphere rivals any pro venue in the state, and parking is easy because most campus commuters are gone by 7 PM. If you've never been, go.
Gopher football tailgating is real. Unlike U.S. Bank Stadium, the campus lots support tailgating. Lot 37 and the lots along Oak Street are the epicenter. Grills, games, the whole setup. Gates open 4+ hours before kickoff for major games. This is why car service works for football - nobody wants to be the sober driver at the tailgate.
NS Limo provides game day transportation to University of Minnesota venues and across the Twin Cities. Book online or call (320) 223-8146.
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Minnesota or the NCAA.