Yes — and it is one of the easiest game-day trips in the Twin Cities. Both Gophers basketball teams open their home seasons at The Barn (Williams Arena, now officially The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota) on Monday, November 2, 2026: the men host North Dakota and the women host Harvard, with tip times still listed as TBA. From a furnished studio at Oakland’s on 9th, you can ride the METRO Green Line across the river, walk into the arena, and be back downtown without ever looking for a parking spot.
When are the Gophers basketball home games in 2026–27?
Here are the home dates at The Barn from the official men’s schedule and women’s schedule as of this writing. Times are TBA for most games, so check back before you book tickets.
Men’s basketball at The Barn
- Thu, Oct 15 — Omaha (exhibition)
- Mon, Nov 2 — North Dakota (home opener)
- Fri, Nov 6 — St. Thomas
- Thu, Nov 12 — Southern
- Mon, Nov 16 — Western Illinois
- Tue, Dec 8 — Illinois (Big Ten home opener)
- Dec 16, 20 and 29 — Texas Southern, Alcorn State, UTSA
- Big Ten home games in 2027: Penn State (Jan 6), Purdue (Jan 17), Indiana (Jan 20), Washington (Jan 26), Wisconsin (Jan 31), Oregon (Feb 13), Michigan (Feb 16), Northwestern (Feb 21), Ohio State (Mar 4)
Women’s basketball at The Barn
- Mon, Nov 2 — Harvard (home opener)
- November — Southern (Nov 10), Kansas (Nov 18), Central Michigan (Nov 22)
- December — St. Thomas (Dec 2), Northern Iowa (Dec 9), UMKC (Dec 12), Mercyhurst (Dec 15), Grambling State (Dec 20)
- Big Ten home games in 2027: Indiana (Jan 2), Penn State (Jan 5), Iowa (Jan 9), Wisconsin (Jan 21), Oregon (Jan 28), Rutgers (Feb 7), Michigan (Feb 17), Washington (Feb 20), Illinois (Feb 28)
That is more than thirty home dates between the two teams, which makes a week or a month in a downtown studio a realistic way to catch several games — handy for visiting parents, alumni back for a stretch, or anyone in town for work who wants a few nights at the arena.
How do you get from downtown Minneapolis to The Barn without a car?
Walk a few blocks from Oakland’s on 9th to the Green Line on 5th Street downtown, then ride east across the Mississippi to the Stadium Village stop on the East Bank campus, a short walk from the arena. Metro Transit’s University of Minnesota page lists the routes that serve campus, and the trip planner will give you live times for your game night. Check the planner before you head out, especially on weeknights.
If you do drive, the athletics department sells single-game parking in lots and ramps around the arena, but you give up the easy ride home. We cover the car question in more detail in do you need a car downtown?
What should you know before game night at The Barn?
- Gates open one hour before tipoff, and there is no re-entry.
- Bring a clear bag no bigger than 12″ x 12″, or a small clutch around 4.5″ x 6.5″. There is no bag check.
- Concessions are cashless, and outside food and drink are not allowed.
- Tickets are mobile through the Gophers app or your account; will call opens an hour before the game at the Oak Street lobby.
Full details are on the official Barn gameday FAQ.
Why stay at Oakland’s on 9th for Gophers season?
Oakland’s on 9th is a restored 1889 brownstone at 215 South 9th Street with fully furnished studios you can book for a night, a week, or a month — no contracts and no lease. Every studio has a full kitchen with a coffee maker, and heat, electricity, water, free high-speed WiFi and free 24-hour on-site laundry are all included. Check-in is contactless with a personal keycode, so a late train back from the arena is no problem. Check-out is 10:00 AM.
A few honest notes: this is a historic building and studios are reached by stairs. We are not connected to the skyway — it is a short walk of about a block to reach it on cold nights. There is parking right at the door in Lot 215 if you bring a car, and we have designated pet-friendly studios for cats and dogs.
Following more than one Gophers team this winter? Our guides to Gopher football and getting to a Wild game without a car cover the rest of the season, and our November roundup fills in the nights between games.
Ready for tipoff? Check dates and book your studio, or call us at (612) 314-5124. Ski-U-Mah — we’ll see you at The Barn.
Keep reading: How Do You Get Ready for a Minnesota Winter During an Extended Stay in Downtown Minneapolis?.