Will TCF Bank Stadium Host a World Class Soccer Event?

University of Minnesota Athletic Director Joel Maturi talks to Inside Minnesota Soccer concerning soccer at TCF Bank Stadium

Just this past month we learned that Chicago lost out on a bid to host the 2016 Olympics. The University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium was on a short list to host Olympic soccer should Chicago have won that bid.

In August the Twin Cities were informed that they were no longer in contention for hosting soccer games should the US win the bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup games.

I recently caught up with University of Minnesota’s Athletic Director, Joel Maturi to get his feelings on losing the chance to host world class soccer at TCF Stadium. I also asked Mr. Maturi if the U of M is pursing other soccer events now that the Twin Cities have been eliminated from hosting an Olympic or a World Cup soccer event.

Maturi said he thought the new U of M Stadium and the people of Minnesota would have had a good chance to host an Olympic event.

“I think we would have had a real good chance of hosting some games with the proximity of Chicago and the great soccer fans we have here in Minnesota and the Twin Cities area,” said Maturi. “We were looking forward to the opportunity and that was one of the reasons we built TCF Bank Stadium, so we could hold such events like Olympic Soccer competitions. As you know, most football fields are not sized so you can play  an Olympic styled soccer game but ours is purposefully and someday that hopefully will happen.”

Maturi said he doesn’t think that the university would pursue soccer events in the future, but would be eager to help those who are willing to pursue TCF stadium hosting world class soccer events.

“I don’t think the Stadium is the reason we are not getting these competitions,” Maturi said. “I think we at the University and at the state of Minnesota in many ways have done their part. I think it now comes down to the case of a Chicago winning their bid or the Twin Cities getting a chance to host a world class competition. We certainly will partner with the people who have the responsibility to bring those events to Minnesota but it is not our charge. I don’t mean that we are not concerned because we are and we care and we will assist.  But I don’t have anyone within my staff who are out there pursuing these events to the University.”

He continued saying, “We will be amenable to assisting somebody. There’s so much more than just playing the game as your readers are very much aware and I think  it’s those entities that will lead the charge in bringing it (soccer) to the Twin Cities.”

Maturi stated that the stadium was built with specific dimensions so that it could host a soccer event. After touring the new TCF Bank Stadium I was skeptical that the field was wide enough to host a soccer game of that caliber. But Derek Hillestad, Director of Operations for the new stadium supplied IMS with the dimensions of the floor plan of the stadium. According to Hillestad, the field is set up to accommodate a 360′ x 210′ field, or 120 yards by 70 yards with 8 feet of clearance between the corner flag and the brick walls surrounding the field.

I also asked Maturi about the artificial surface and if the University would be willing to bring in real sod for such an event. Maturi responded, “It’s my understanding that we would have been able to play soccer on the artificial surface because I don’t know how else we could accomplish that. I don’t think you can bring dirt in and lay sod over the facility. It’s my understanding that has changed for some aspects of world competitions.”

However, Neil Buethe, U.S. Soccer Senior Manager of Communications told IMS  that the last time the US Men’s National team played at home on an artificial surface was in 1994 and their preference when choosing facilities is one with a grass surface. He also said that a minimum for a men’s international game would be 110 x 70 yards, which TCF Bank Stadium would be able to accommodate.

Buethe also said that the Women’s National Team has definitely played on artificial turf in the past couple years but there are also many other factors that are weighed before choosing to play in any stadium.

Director of Operations Hillestad seemed to be a bit more optimistic about the possibility of laying sod for an event in the University’s new stadium. He said, “Anything is possible, it just costs money.”