The Big Ten's newest venue: TCF Bank Stadium

Football was meant to be played outside, simple as that.

The Gophers will kick off their home schedule this weekend against Air Force at brand new TCF Bank Stadium. For the first time since 1981, they will play an outdoor home game on the Minnesota Campus rather than in the H.H.H. Metrodome. Construction on the $288.5 million stadium began in July 2007 and was finished in July 2009.

The stadium holds 50,805 people, has the third largest outdoor scoreboard in college football, and boasts the largest locker room in all of college and professional football (the locker room is also in the shape of a football).

This stadium looks absolutely awesome, it's great to see the Gophers out of that terrible Metrodome (no offense Viking or Twins fans) and back on the Minnesota campus and outdoors.

"It's a place we can finally call home," Gopher wideout Eric Decker told ESPN blogger Adam Rittenberg.

Take the virtual tour of the stadium at http://stadium.gophersports.com/index.html

Stadium photo credit: www.gophersports.com