Dayton Pushing For Later Start Times For Gopher Home Games
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – While Gopher fans focus on Thursday's bowl game, Governor Mark Dayton is thinking ahead to next season.
The governor doesn't want the Gophers starting any more home games before noon.
In fact, he'd like to see a law in Minnesota making those early starts illegal.
Natalie Nyhus took a look at why he's making this an issue.
The Minnesota Gophers have picked up momentum on the field this season, and now they're ready for their New Year's Day bowl game in Orlando.
But it's off the field that fans, and even our state's leader, are looking for momentum next season.
Gov. Dayton says he wants to propose a law for all Gopher football home games to start after 12 p.m. to get more fans to the game and give more business to the community.
In the 2014 Gopher Football season, all Big Ten home games were played at 11 a.m.
And Gov. Mark Dayton doesn't like it.
In a statement to the Pioneer Press Tuesday, Dayton said attendance is a concern.
"I'm going to propose that we pass a law that no (Division I FBS) football game in Minnesota can start before noon," he said.
Because an early kickoff means early tailgating, and an early alarm clock.
"The college kids, it takes them a little bit of time to get moving in the morning. So, it's a little bit slower than our later game starts," Sue Benson, regional manager for Buffalo Wild Wings, said.
And afternoon games boost local business.
"A later start to the game has a definite impact on our business. We see double the fans we see over an 11 a.m. start. It's a huge increase in business," Benson said.
State Representative Tony Albright said he was surprised that governor Dayton was concerned with football game start times.
"From my perspective, I had hoped that the governor would move on from banning Gopher games before noon and joining with us in tackling the subtenant issues that face our state," Albright said.
Currently, national television networks choose start times based on the teams' recent performances.
But Dayton says if people like his idea, he will see if other Big Ten state governors are interested.
Dayton's camp said this is something he's wanted to propose ever since he was in the senate.
When WCCO spoke with them this morning, they relayed that the governor is proud of the Gopher football team and is rooting for their success in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl.
