There is a moment every year when Minneapolis changes key. The light goes lower and more golden, the State Fair is still running out at Como and Snelling, and suddenly the sidewalks along Washington Avenue fill with maroon and gold. Gopher football is back — and the 2026 home slate opens under the lights on Thursday, September 3.
If you’re coming into town for a game, the real question isn’t which section you’re sitting in. It’s where you land afterward, when the stadium empties and you’d rather not be standing in a chain-hotel lobby. May we suggest a historic mansion with a hot tub in the garden and a speakeasy in the cellar?
Gopher football home games at Huntington Bank Stadium — September 2026
Three home games open the season, all at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. Times below are from the official Gopher Athletics schedule:
- Thursday, September 3 — vs. Eastern Illinois, 7:00 p.m. The season opener, and a rare weeknight night game. Downtown will be busy.
- Saturday, September 12 — vs. Mississippi State, 2:30 p.m. An SEC visitor on national TV. This is the marquee non-conference date, and the one traveling fans should book first.
- Saturday, September 19 — vs. Akron, 11:00 a.m. An early kickoff, which makes staying close to the action considerably more civilized.
Single-game tickets and premium options are handled through Gopher Athletics ticketing. Dates and start times are subject to change, so confirm before you travel.
Book early: September 3 lands in the middle of the State Fair
Here’s the part most visitors miss. The home opener falls inside the Minnesota State Fair’s run, and Labor Day weekend arrives the following night. That’s a genuinely compressed week for Twin Cities lodging — fair-goers, football fans, and holiday travelers all reaching for the same rooms. If you’re eyeing that Thursday night game, pair it with our guide to Labor Day weekend 2026 in Minneapolis and book the whole stretch at once.
A mansion basecamp, not a motel
300 Clifton is the Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion, built in Loring Park and listed on the National Register of Historic Places — widely called the finest Georgian architecture in Minnesota. Hand-painted murals, carved fireplaces, English gardens, and a handful of very distinct guest rooms: the Crystal Mansion, the Georgian, the Grand Edwardian, the Coachman’s, the Blacksmith’s Forge, the Hayloft, and the Estate rooms.
The four-season garden hot tub is the closer. Three hours on a metal bleacher in September weather has a way of making a soak under the stars sound less like a luxury and more like a medical necessity.
Gertrude’s Cistern: the best seat for the game you’re not attending
Down in the old stone cistern is Gertrude’s — part speakeasy, part video lounge, entirely atmospheric, with heated reclining seats and a slightly haunted reputation the house has never bothered to deny. Saturdays in the fall it becomes exactly what you want it to be: a dark, warm room with a big screen and every other game on. Ask about the ghost stories. There are several.
Getting to Huntington Bank Stadium from Loring Park
The stadium sits about three miles east of the mansion — roughly a ten-minute drive without game traffic. The simpler play is transit: the METRO Green Line’s Stadium Village station is steps from the stadium, and the E Line and routes 2 and 3 serve campus as well. Metro Transit has been running rail maintenance through the summer, so check current service before you head out.
Driving? Day-of parking is credit-card only and first come, first served: the Oak Street, Church Street and Washington Avenue ramps run $30, East River Road Garage is $15, and the State Fairgrounds lot S108 in St. Paul is $15 with tailgating permitted and a continuous shuttle to the stadium. Full details are on the Gopher gameday information page.
Three things to know before kickoff
- Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. Tailgate lots open six hours prior — but no earlier than 7 a.m. on weekends and 2 p.m. on weekdays, which matters for that Thursday opener.
- Clear bag policy. Bags must be clear and no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, or a small clutch under 4.5″ x 6.5″. Complimentary bag check is in the Williams Arena lobby.
- Cashless, and no re-entry. All concessions take cards only, and once you’re out, you’re out. Campus is smoke-free.
Make a weekend of it
Loring Park puts you a short walk from the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden — see our Walker getaway guide — and the park itself is one of the loveliest stretches of the Minneapolis park system. For a wider tour of the city’s history, Minneapolis Trolley Tours boards right here at the mansion, and their things-to-do guides are a good place to start planning. Traveling with a bigger group? The Pillsbury Club and Oakland’s on 9th round out the options downtown. Meet Minneapolis keeps a running events calendar if you want to see what else lands on your weekend.
Book your game weekend
Seven distinct guest rooms means seven chances, and September in Minneapolis fills up fast. Have a look at our specials and packages, pick your room, and reserve early — especially for the Mississippi State weekend. Ski-U-Mah, and we’ll leave the hot tub on.
Keep reading: if you are in town earlier in the month, Surly Brewing Festival Field has three outdoor concerts in August 2026 — Young the Giant, Big Thief and two nights of Alabama Shakes — all a short ride from the mansion.