U of M band moves into new home at TCF stadium

TCF Stadium in July
The TCF football stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
MPR Photo/Tim Post

The University of Minnesota marching band will move into its new home at the TCF Bank football stadium Saturday.

Hundreds of band members will move hundreds of instruments and uniforms into the U's newly completed football stadium this morning.

Marching band director Tim Diem said the band never felt at home in the Metrodome, where the Gophers have played football since 1982.

"We were guests in the Metrodome," Diem said. "Having that stadium and being able to march in there everyday and play in there everyday that's quite a thing."

The band's new, 20,000-square-foot space includes rehearsal rooms, a music library, lockers and showers.

"We go from parts of using various buildings to having about 7,000 square feet total of shared space to having 20,000 square feet of our own space," Diem said. "So it's a first time the marching band will ever have their own home."

Diem said the band's new home in the stadium will be much more convenient for practices and performances. Up until now nine buses were needed to take the marching band from campus to the Metrodome.

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