Mariucci Arena Players

The Golden Gopher mens hockey team is finished for the year, but I wanted to take a minute to recognize some of the great players to skate on the Mariucci Arena ice this year. I was fortunate enought to buy some Gophers hockey tickets from a local ticket broker this year so I got to see the Gopher hockey team live. It was an up and down season, but I have a couple of Gopher players that I wanted to send a shout out to. Gopher Forwards: Ben Gordon #13, Tom Pohl #21, and Evan Kaufmann #19. (19 is my lucky number)

Ben Gordon is Minnesota’s fourth-leading returning scorer. He is a great skillful offensive forward with great playmaking abilities and brings energy to the team on and off the ice. As a senior, Ben looked to take on more of a leadership role in his senior season. Tom Pohl is a tall forward with solid offensive skills and has an energetic presence on the ice and in the locker room. He is a hard-working forward willing to play any role for the team. Evan Kaufmann is a hard-working centerman and playmaker. He is one of the team’s top face-off performers and owns a deceptively strong shot. These players will be missed, but I look forward to seeing more great players on the Mariucci Arena ice next year!

Mariucci Arena Seating

Two weeks ago I wrote about where to park your car at Mariucci Arena, how about I write where to park yourself at Mariucci Arena. Below is a picture of the Mariucci Arena seating chart courtest of gophersports.com. When you look at a layout of Mariucci Arena, you may be wondering which one of these sections is the right section to sit in and then what row do you want to sit in. The truth is, there is no bad seat at Mariucci Arena.

Once I sat in section 15, row 23, seat 1 and let me tell you the band does get loud, but it was so much fun! The students really get into the game and I laughed at all the smarty pants remarks that the young gopher men would shout out at the opposing teams players or refs. I have also sat in section 20, row 15, those were the best seats I had sat in for sure. Perfect entire ice view over the glass. I have also sat in section 24, row 3, I don't mind being behind the net and it was an awesome feeling being that close to the ice.

Moral of the story, I have sat in a lot of seats at Mariucci Arena, but I also know that some people prefer to be on the corner of the ice or behind the goalie’s net or some people prefer to be center ice. Whatever you choose to do for a seating, I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed with where you are. As I said before all the Mariucci Arena seating is GREAT!

Mariucci Arena Parking

I have never had a problem parking at Mariucci Arena, but I often get asked how parking is around the area. No worries, Gopher newbies, there is an abundance of parking located around Mariucci Arena in the form of parking ramps, surface lots, and street parking. Parking facilities include the Huron Boulevard Parking Complex, University Avenue Ramp, and 4th Street Ramp. Some of the parking choices may seem less now that the TCF bank Stadium is being built, but there is still plenty of places to park for those that drive from the burbs to see the Gopher hockey team at Mariucci Arena. Here is a link to the official University of Minnesota game day parking guide - the map is helpful.

Mariucci Arena Tickets

Mariucci Arena tickets are one of the hottest Minnesota hockey tickets. Traditionally, the face value of Gopher hockey tickets range from $30 to about $45. However, most Gopher hockey games sell out from the Gopher athletic box office so fans are forced to buy from local ticket brokers unless you have Gopher hockey season tickets. When you buy Gopher hockey tickets from brokers, they are probably going to cost $75 to $199 each. I know that is a big range, but it depends on who the Minnesota Golden Gophers play, big rival games cost the most and Saturday night games are usually higher as well. If you want to see a great hockey game at Mariucci Arena, plan on spending a lot of money, but rest assured it is worth the cost!

Mariucci Arena History

Mariucci Arena is full of great Minnesota Hockey History. I could write an entire book report about the Mariucci arena, but I will just give you a little taste. First, Mariucci Arena is named for the legendary Hall of Famer, John Mariucci. Mariucci was a native of Eveleth, Minnesota and a stand-out University of Minnesota hockey player. For over 40 years, he helped Minnesota grow into a strong “State of Hockey.”


John Mariucci’s many accomplishments include helping his squad win the NCAA national championship in 1940, playing five NHL seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks, coaching the University of Minnesota Gopher hockey team and advocating the development of local homegrown Minnesota talent. He coached the US Olympic team to silver in 1956 and in 1967. John Mariucci returned to the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars as the assistant to general manager, a position he held until his death in 1987. Mariucci Arena is appropriately named in his honor and is one of the finest college hockey arenas in the nation.

Mariucci Arena Experience of Lifetime

Mariucci Arena is in the heart of the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus. I remember having a few experiences there as a child. Mariucci arena was where I saw my first hockey contest live, before I saw the North Stars or the Wild. The Gophers play Alaska-Anchorage every year, and if they lose it’s considered a disappointment. The game I was at was against Alaska-Anchorage, and it was the same story. But the Gophers didn’t disappoint a packed Mariucci Arena, scoring something like five goals in the first period. It was crazy seeing so much action.

Being in the state of hockey, Mariucci Arena tickets are hard to come by in Minnesota. The Gophers men’s hockey team is not a mere alternative to the Minnesota Wild. The Gophers have their own fans, and those fans don’t miss a game at Mariucci Arena. If you have never been to Mariucci, you must go! Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s ice hockey is always best experienced in person!

Mariucci Arena

Mariucci Arena is home to the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Mens hockey team. Go Gophers!