In preparation for the 2019 Final Four, U.S. Bank Stadium is planning to host a Gophers men's basketball game next year.
Michele Kelm-Helgen, chairwoman of Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), confirmed this week that discussions are taking place with the University of Minnesota for the team to play one game against an opponent to be determined in December 2017.
The Final Four in Minneapolis is scheduled for April 6-8, 2019. There is no NCAA regional set as a warmup in 2018, contrary to early assumptions. The Gophers will be the host school for the 2017 game and the Final Four.
"Prior to hosting the Final Four, we need to have a basketball event held in the stadium," Kelm-Helgen said. "We haven't settled on a final date. The university is interested in finding a [prominent] opponent to showcase the stadium and the Gophers and see how everything lays out."
The NCAA would attend the event to study the configuration and make sure the stadium meets its basketball standards.
"We are always looking to showcase the multipurpose nature of this stadium," Kelm-Helgen said, "so I think doing basketball would be great."
U.S. Bank Stadium isn't equipped with its own basketball floor; it would have to rent a floor through negotiations with the U. It's uncertain how the seats would be arranged and whether the entire 60,000-seat stadium would be used. The Final Four will bring its own seating system in 2019.
"We haven't really decided what the configuration would be, if we would go to one end or the middle," Kelm-Helgen said. "Obviously, it would be a much bigger venue than what the Gophers are playing at Williams Arena [14,625 capacity]. So it would be pretty exciting for that reason."
