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I wonder why the university/alumni/athletic haven't put together anything for this game?
If you are going, where are you staying?

Count me in! Probably just stopping to rest at a rest stop on the highway, or could contact brothers of mine at Wisconsin and see if we could stop in Madison for the night.

I am going, along with a few others. Not sure where we are staying. I forget. We are going to make a weekend out of it since no classes on Monday.
I am soo excited.

Let me know if I can be of any help getting your trips organized up to the land of 10k lakes.

Looking forward to the game, I really want to see the Brewster era under way already.

We're riding up, will arrive Friday. Staying at the HI Express-Bloomington (I stay there on business trips). Will use the Hiawatha light rail to get to the game. On the ride home, we're going to take the ferry out of Milwaukee.

Wish we could make it. That night is the brother in law's wedding reception in Vermillion. Plus we had to choose either Minny or MSU.

I'll be there along with three other BG band alums. We're leaving on Sat. morning, and staying near the Mall of America on Saturday night. I'm pumped!

bgbill has the right idea if you are staying by the airport or the Mall of America -- the light rail line is the best way to go to and from the game as it is quick, inexpensive, clean and safe. The stadium rail stop is literally just steps away from the visitors side entrances to the Metrodome. The downside -- you have to watch the time if you stay downtown to party a bit after the game as the rail does not run all night.

If you get in early enough on Friday (and are not a shopoholic on a pilgrimage to the MOA), the last light rail stop downtown is right on First Avenue which is one of the main nightclub areas in the city. If you want to see the U of M campus it's a short cab ride across the river -- Dinkytown at the north edge and Stadium Village at the southeast edge of campus have numerous college bars and restaurants.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the city, campus or stadium -- here is a link to information on the Hiawatha Light Rail Line: http://www.metrotransit.org/rail/index.asp

OK, I should've just clicked the link, BUT, does the light rail line go from the Mall down towards the stadium? If so, EXCELLENT. Jeffypoo loves his public transit... unlike the state of Ohio.

From the link he posted, the Mall and Metrodome are complete opposites on the line. You start at the furthest point south and go the furthest point north.

Sweet! This will definately be the preferred route to the game then.

The trip from the Mall of America to the stadium takes 30 minutes & trains run about every 10 - 15 minutes at that time on Saturday. The last train leaves downtown just after 1AM. Light rail is a popular way for fans to get to events at the Dome so it can get crowded right before & after the game. The fare is $1.50 on Saturdays, get your ticket from machines at the stations.

If you are flying in and staying downtown, the rail is a decent way to get close to your hotel. Cab fares from the airport to downtown are about $25; shared van is $15 one way; light rail is $2 rush hour or $1.50 other times with racks for luggage and will get you within walking distance or a short ($3 - 5) cab ride to the downtown or West Bank hotels.

Parking on game days varies from $15 - $20 (1-2 blocks away) to $5 (city ramps & surface lots 4-5 blocks away).

Please note a couple of things that are different than many stadiums, one bad and one good -- you may/will get patted down entering the stadium by someone of the same sex (damn!), but as a compensating factor for the shock of getting groped by grandpa, beer is on the menu at the stadium. It's expensive ($5.50 plastic bottle) and sales end at the end of the third quarter, but it's beer!

Thanks for all of the tips DWGinNE! We are staying at the Hyatt downtown, so it looks like we only have a short train ride (or walk) to the Metrodome. Sounds like we don't need a car, matter of fact, may be better off without one in Minneapolis!

I'm going to the game and watch the Falcons play my alma mater in my hometown. I haven't decided if I will tailgate. If so. I'll let you know so we can celebrate the Falcons vs. the Gophers.

The Hiawatha light rail is the best transportation in town. It runs from the Mall of America to the Airport and then downtown to the Metrodome and other stops.

For eating stops along the rail, you can try the following (listed in order from the South / Airport to the North / Downtown:

a) Cap's Grill (http://capsgrille.com) on 50th and Hiawatha (very popular spot and right next to the rail;
b) The Rail Station (http://www.railstationbarandgrill.com) on 37th and Minnehaha (get off on 38th street and walk east a block (?) to Minnehaha and go to 3675 Minnehaha (very popular place);
c) Cardinal Bar (http://www.cardinaltavern.com) on 38th and Hiawatha (get off at 38th St. station and it is right next to the rail; it was a neighborhood bar but it is now visited by downtowners who come for lunch on the light rail).

Suggested visits:

1) Minnehaha Falls - exit at 50th and Hiawatha on the light rail and walk across rail to the park. The falls and park are nice and you can walk to the Mississippi River.
2) Mall of America and Ikea store - light rail station is in lower level of the Mall. The Ikea store (Swedish company that sells good, inexpensive furniture) is across the street from MOA and it is always packed! There is also an Ikea in Michigan.
3) The downtown area has everything. From downtown, you can walk along the River Road which has been revitalized. The new Guthrie Theatre is on the River Road and the Mill City Museum is in an old mill. There are great views of the river at St. Anthony Falls. Walk across the old Stone Arch bridge to another area of restaurants (Pracna on Main, etc). The collapsed I-35W can be seen from the Stone Arch bridge.
4) The lakes. There is a chain of lakes in Minneapolis that is connected by a parkway for driving,cycling, inline skating, and walking. Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet are beautiful. The lakes are not near the light rail so other transportation will be needed but Mpls. has an excellent transit system.
5) The city has countless museums and art galleries.

Have fun in Mpls. It is a great city.

If you are flying in to MSP be very wary of people tapping their feet in the toilets!!