Since I have played a part in the fuss about relocating the Nov. 16 Minnesota-Wisconsin game to Met Center, I may as well explain my point of view in hope of shedding more light than heat. :-) First, a bit of background. The Minnesota-Wisconsin football game will be played in the Metrodome in Minneapolis on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 16. As part of a promotion callled the "Border Battle", the Minnesota-Wisconsin hockey game that evening will be moved from Mariucci Arena to Met Center (home of the Minnesota North Stars). Met Center, with a capacity of over 15,000, is twice the size of Mariucci. In the eleven years that I have had Gopher season tickets, one of the high points of each season has been the Badgers' visit to Mariucci Arena. The games are always sold out, with many Wisconsin fans in attendance. Many excellent games have been played under these circumstances; these games are an important part of the Minnesota hockey tradition. Plans are currently being made to replace Mariucci Arena with a new, larger arena on campus. Next season may be the last one in "The Barn." I must confess to a bit of selfishness on my part, but I am unhappy that one of the few remaining games against Wisconsin in the old arena is being taken off campus. I am also concerned about the wisdom of giving up home ice in a potentially crucial game. The Badgers have lost something like 12 out of their last 14 games in Mariucci. :-) In WCHA tournament games in the St. Paul Civic Center, however, Wisconsin has beaten Minnesota 3 out of 4. :-( Balanced against this are the facts that more people will be able to attend the game, and the Athletic Department bring in additional revenue. Dean Barker's points are well taken; he will be able to attend a game that he might otherwise have missed. On the other hand, I feel that we are giving up a part of Gopher Hockey tradition in the interest of selling more tickets. So, there it is. I will have to view this as an experiment, and see how it goes. Should anyone want to order tickets, the number for the Gopher ticket office is 612-624-8080. -- Erik **************************************************************************** Erik Biever --GOLDEN GOPHER MMMMM MMMMM St. Paul, Minnesota - Home of the --HOCKEY MM MM MM MM 1994 NCAA Championship Tournament --Fastest Game MM MMMM MM BITNET: e-biev@uminn1 --In Town MM MMMMMM MM INTERNET: [log in to unmask] MMMMM MMMMM