[8][9] Super Bowl winning coach and former quarterback for the Golden Gophers Tony Dungy called the stadium "unbelievable" and Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter said that the on-campus facility "will give the University of Minnesota a chance to compete not only in the Big Ten but nationally for some of the best athletes".

[11][12] The Gopher football program played its first game there on September 12, 2009, against the Falcons of the United States Air Force Academy, prevailing 20–13.

At the conclusion of the 2019 season, the Gopher football team had an all-time record of 48-32 (0.600) in games played at TCF Bank Stadium.

The university cited poor revenue and lack of a college football atmosphere at the off-campus Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as their main reasons for wanting to move back on campus.

[15] In September 2003 a highly publicized attempt was made by T. Denny Sanford to be the lead donor for the project, but in early 2004 the plan fell through when the two parties were unable to come to an agreement on the financial terms.

[16] The university unveiled preliminary stadium drawings and a general plan to seek state money and donations in December 2003.

[17] The deal was given an expiration date of December 31, 2005; time enough for the Minnesota Legislature to provide the bulk of funding needed to make the project a reality.

The final plan proposed that the state of Minnesota would contribute 40% of the stadium cost while the university would raise the remaining 60% on its own.

Portions of that 60% were to be funded by the TCF naming rights, while the remainder would come from a $50 per semester student fee, private donations, the sale of 2,840 acres (11.5 km2) of university land in rural Dakota County back to the state, and game day parking revenue.

[22] The Senate version would have removed the TCF naming rights deal, the student fees, and the purchase of the university owned land.

[47][48] Located on the stadium ground level is the Murray Warmath Locker Room, named in honor of the Gophers' national championship winning coach from 1954 to 1971.

[49] After a tour of the complex, Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald remarked that, "This has got to be the best locker room in the Big Ten.

"[49] To recognize that the venue was paid for with taxes statewide and to pay tribute to the support of Minnesota citizens, the names of the state's 87 counties are cast in stone around the perimeter of the first level.

[56] The T. Denny Sanford Athletics Hall of Fame was opened in fall of 2010, positioned in the southwest end of the stadium next to Goldy's Locker Room.

[61] The more than 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) Hall of Fame is not football specific, rather encompassing all 25 of the University of Minnesota's athletic programs through dramatic imagery, artifacts, and interactive kiosks.

[56] The auxiliary video display currently adjacent to the easternmost section of the media areas would likely be relocated to atop the new third deck.

[72][73] If unable to fulfill its contractual obligations, TCF Financial Corporation must propose an alternate name subject to the approval of the university.

[82] The remainder of the university's portion will come from a $12.50 per semester student fee[68] ($25 per year) and game day parking revenue.

[83] The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) agreed to donate $10 million for stadium construction, the largest gift Gopher athletics has ever received.

[87] University president Robert Bruininks originally planned to have the school apply for a state liquor license in order to serve beer and wine in limited areas of the stadium.

The stadium is currently home to the Drum Corps International Minnesota event, taking place in mid-July each year since 2010.

TCF Bank Stadium was evaluated as a potential venue for a bid by the United States to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup.

[107][108][109] In addition, TCF Bank Stadium was planned as a preliminary soccer venue in the Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

On August 2, 2014, TCF Bank Stadium hosted a group B match as part of the International Champions Cup between Manchester City FC and Olympiacos.

For Minnesota United FC's first two seasons in Major League Soccer, the club played their home matches at TCF Bank Stadium as they awaited the opening of Allianz Field in St. Paul.

[111] Per a $1 million agreement with the university, Minnesota United was forced to schedule its matches on separate weekends and not play on weekdays during the school's spring and fall semesters.

[112] The provision was influenced by the temporary hosting of the Vikings, which used a labor-intensive process to change out the markings that left the field in worse condition for the Gophers.

[115] With the win, the Bears won the NFC North title and Devin Hester broke the kickoff return for touchdown record.

[118] The Vikings also spent $4.5 million to upgrade the facilities to NFL standards, mainly to include heating coils under the turf.

[121] The stadium hosted an outdoor NCAA ice hockey game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Ohio State Buckeyes on January 17, 2014.