Relative Something

The new stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota is indeed a wonderful thing. It was a great experience for me to be back out under the elements to watch football. I do not deny that it will be more taxing to watch a game when the weather is miserable, but the number of days of misery will be out-numbered in the long run. Last night was a little chilly, but far from too cold. I found it ideal. The game, however, was a lot more ‘trick’ than ‘treat’.

Every time I attend a game in person lately, I am made more aware of how conditioned to seeing football games on television I have become. I expect to see every play multiple times and from multiple angles. I’m guessing, had I been given that opportunity last night, that I wouldn’t have such a bad opinion of the decisions the referees were making. But live, in real time, what we saw didn’t always align with the calls being made, and combined with the mistakes the home team was making, it produced a pretty ugly, sometimes scary evening.

It is only fair that I reveal that plenty of my pleasure over the beautiful stadium comes as a result of being the beneficiary of receiving premium level tickets that include access to a club room with soft cushion seating, a fireplace and refreshments, where you can warm up when necessary and view the action on large flat-screen televisions. The hot chocolate was HOT and large and a very welcome treat I was taking advantage of, just at the right time there, so I didn’t have to witness the opponent’s kick-off return for touchdown at the start of the second half.

In the end, the home team prevailed and all was deemed a great success. I may be basking in the initial gush of glee over the new stadium, but right now, I am feeling as though I would be happy to go there and watch college football whether my team performs admirably or not. There were a lot of years I witnessed embarrassing performances in the Metrodome; enough that I chose to finally give up season tickets that my father had initially purchased in 1944. Sitting through ugly Gopher football in that dome was more than I could tolerate. Being high above the field, on campus, with a view down 4th Street SE, in the Minnesota autumn air, is anything but ugly, regardless what caliber of sport is being performed on the field below.