Updated at 8:13pm with Minnesota’s press release information:
The Metrodome has cancelled its scheduled college baseball games in the months of February and March due to repairs needed on the stadium’s roof. The roof infamously collapsed on December 12th after a heavy snowstorm.
We discussed the possibility of the roof causing a cancellation of the games last week. According to the Superior (Wisconsin) Telegram, college coaches were informed today by email that college baseball in the nearly 29-year-old facility this season would be unlikely. No clear plan has been set for the roof’s repair. The loss of the venue will lead many programs into a scheduling conundrum, since the dome held 240 college and 420 amateur baseball games last season.
The University of Minnesota released a press release Wednesday evening, announcing that the Metrodome would be off-line for college baseball in February and March, stating:
“Minnesota will work with the programs who it is scheduled to play in the Metrodome in the month of March to come up with alternate plans. Those plans will be revealed once the Gophers have worked with the respective teams on the final details.
The games that are affected by this announcement are the annual Legends and Pro Alumni Game on Feb. 5 at 6:35 p.m., Minnesota’s game against Washington State on Thursday, Mar. 3 at 6:35 p.m. all six games of the Dairy Queen Classic, all six games of the Metrodome Tournament, a pair of games against North Dakota on Mar. 22-23, a three-game series against Cal Poly on Mar. 25-27 and a two-game series against Cal State Bakersfield on Mar. 29-30.
The Metrodome has not made any announcements regarding the use of the facility past the month of March.”
This news will also cause major issues with many of the D-2 and D-3 schools in the Minnesota area who use the facility during the early part of their seasons.
Kat Hasenauer Cornetta also contributed to this report.
2 comments
Many NAIA programs will also be affected by this cancellation. Continually hearing how it will affect the Gophers, D-II, and D-III. NAIA programs are also left scrambling.
Three NAIA teams that I know of have cancelled games, and most of them were against NCAA opponents: Dickinson State, Jamestown, and Mount Marty. From Jamestown’s site: http://www.jimmieathletics.com/article/253.phpnThey were scheduled to play Minnesota-Crookston and St. Cloud State.
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