{"id":6575,"date":"2014-11-17T17:13:33","date_gmt":"2014-11-18T00:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blackhandproductions.com\/?p=6575"},"modified":"2014-11-17T17:13:33","modified_gmt":"2014-11-18T00:13:33","slug":"minneapolis-ohio-state-vs-minnesota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blackhandproductions.com\/?p=6575","title":{"rendered":"Minneapolis: Ohio State vs. Minnesota"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nI’ve been trying to make it to Minnesota for a football game since they built\u00a0their on campus stadium in 2009:\u00a0TCF Bank Stadium<\/a>. \u00a0TCF Bank Stadium is the first new stadium built by a Big Ten school since 1960 (Penn State’s Beaver Stadium). Minnesota went into the game with a 7-2 record and ranked #25 by the College Football Playoff Committee against #8 Ohio State. I thought it was an all-around great game, granted I’m not one to mind snow when it comes to football. \u00a0It was\u00a015 degrees\u00a0which is the lowest temperature ever at\u00a0TCF Bank Stadium\u00a0and the lowest temperature the\u00a0Buckeyes have played in going\u00a0back more than a half-century. \u00a0Ohio State had some turnover troubles throughout the game but was never really in trouble and went on to win 31-24<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TFC Bank Stadium<\/strong>
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\nI always enjoy visiting different stadiums and seeing a new large scale college stadium is rather unique. \u00a0The large concourses were\u00a0able to hold most of the fans during halftime. \u00a0When we arrived, the greeters were handing out towels and hand warmers. \u00a0TCF Bank Stadium is also unique among Big Ten stadiums as they sell beer at the stadium.<\/p>\n

Grumpy’s & Dinner<\/strong>
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\nAfter getting situated on Friday, we headed a couple of blocks from our hotel to Grumpy’s<\/a> downtown bar and on the way we stumbled upon Day Block Brewing Company<\/a> so we gave it a go. \u00a0The food at Day Block was excellent (garlic knots and a flight of bacon) but the beer was a little too out there for me. \u00a0Nearly all of it was a spice of some sort, chili peppers in beer is not my thing. \u00a0After a couple of beers we headed over to Grumpy’s. \u00a0I wasn’t able to make it to Grumpy’s the last time I was in Minneapolis so I’m glad our hotel was near one of their bars. \u00a0The burger looked amazing.<\/p>\n

Butcher & The Boar<\/strong>
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\nFor dinner we had reservations at\u00a0Butcher &\u00a0The Boar<\/a>\u00a0where we managed to get seated at the bar before hand. \u00a0The food was great, my ‘double pork chop’ was a little over the top (it had three bones, not the two that a double would imply). \u00a0The wild boar sausage was great as well. \u00a0Really just a great place, the service was top notch.<\/p>\n

Transportation<\/b>
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\nTransportation into and around Minneapolis couldn’t have been easier. \u00a0We took the METRO<\/a> Blue Line from the airport to within a couple of blocks of our hotel and then were able to take the Green Line to the University of Minnesota campus and back.<\/p>\n

Campus & Dinkytown<\/strong>
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\nAfter taking the train, we walked through a decent portion of campus on the way over to Dinkytown<\/a> for breakfast. \u00a0Minnesota’s campus<\/a> is similar to all Big Ten campuses: massive. \u00a0Very quiet for a Saturday morning game day. \u00a0We headed over to Tony’s Diner<\/a> for breakfast which was a happening place and then made our way to the game.<\/p>\n

Neye’s Polonaise\u00a0Room<\/strong>
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\nAfter the game we headed to\u00a0Nye’s Polonaise Room<\/a>\u00a0for dinner and culture. \u00a0Nye’s is basically a steakhouse\/dive bar with a house Polka band. \u00a0A combination that is hard to beat. \u00a0In 2006 Esquire magazine named Nye’s the Best Bar in America<\/a>. \u00a0As we entered the band was\u00a0playing Johnny Cash, it\u00a0was\u00a0everything I imagined and I had the ribeye.<\/p>\n

Side Notes:<\/strong>
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\n* The Minnesota Vikings new stadium (tentatively named Viking Stadium<\/a> until the naming rights are sold) currently under construction in downtown Minneapolis.<\/p>\n