Gopher basketball tips off at home in the first week of November, and the 2026-27 slate has a few nights worth building a trip around. If you are coming to Minneapolis for a game at The Barn (the arena most people still call Williams Arena), 300 Clifton is a historic Georgian mansion in Loring Park where you can sleep in a real room with a story instead of a chain-hotel box. Here are the home dates on the official Gophers schedule, with plenty of lead time to book.
Gopher men’s basketball home games, Nov. 2 to Dec. 29
Every date below is a home game at The Barn, per the Gophers’ official 2026-27 schedule. Times are Central and can change, so confirm before you buy tickets.
- Mon., Nov. 2, 8 p.m.: North Dakota (exhibition)
- Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m.: St. Thomas
- Thu., Nov. 12, 7 p.m.: Southern
- Mon., Nov. 16, 7 p.m.: Western Illinois
- Tue., Dec. 8, 6 p.m.: Illinois
- Wed., Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m.: Texas Southern
- Sun., Dec. 20, 1 p.m.: Alcorn State
- Tue., Dec. 29, 7 p.m.: UTSA
The Gophers also play an exhibition against Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 15, and then hit the road and the Charleston Classic in late November, so the home stand above is the stretch to plan around. Big Ten play begins in January, but this guide sticks to the dates you can book now.
Which game is worth a weekend?
If you want the full college-basketball atmosphere, circle Tuesday, Dec. 8 against Illinois, the best-known opponent on the home calendar before the new year. If you would rather pair a game with a relaxed getaway, Friday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 20 (a 1 p.m. tip-off) leave you the rest of the weekend free. A Sunday afternoon game is also the easiest way to turn a night out into a two-night stay without rushing.
A word about The Barn
The arena opened in 1928 as the University of Minnesota Field House and is now listed at a capacity of 14,625, according to the Gophers’ facilities page. Between 1950 and 1971 it held more fans than any other college basketball arena in the country. It is a loud, old-fashioned building, which is exactly why a game there feels like an event.
Getting to the game from Loring Park
The Barn is on the University of Minnesota campus, and game-day parking depends on the sport, so start with the university’s Gopher gameday parking page. Rather than guess at a route, plug your own start point into the Metro Transit trip planner, or take a rideshare and let someone else hunt for a spot. We are happy to point you the right way when you check in.
Why stay at 300 Clifton after a game
The Loring Park location puts you in a quiet, leafy neighborhood on the edge of downtown, and the house itself is the rest of the trip. After the final buzzer you can:
- Soak under the stars in the four-season garden hot tub, which is the best thing that can happen to tired legs in a Minnesota November.
- Settle into the haunted video lounge for a movie in heated reclining seats, or follow the Dead & Breakfast ghost-hunting package if you want your sports weekend with a little spook.
- Choose a room with character, from the Crystal Mansion to the Georgian Room and the Grand Edwardian.
Direct bookings also include two perks on our vouchers page: a $20 dining voucher per stay at the Pillsbury Club, the mansion-turned-club where Minneapolis Trolley Tours departs, and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher per stay. Staying downtown instead? Our sister property, Oakland’s on 9th, offers furnished studios by the night, week or month.
Book early for the big dates
Game weekends in Minneapolis share the calendar with concerts, Timberwolves games and holiday shows, and a mansion has a limited number of rooms. Booking early gives you the pick of rooms for the Illinois game on Dec. 8 and the Thanksgiving stretch. Looking at a longer trip? See our guides to Thanksgiving weekend in Minneapolis and Gopher hockey at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Ready to plan your Gopher game weekend? Book your stay at 300 Clifton and we will have the hot tub warm when you get back.
Keep reading: Where Should You Stay for Minnesota Frost Home Games in 2026-27? Dec. 13 Opener Through February