Enter the dancing gopher. It's just a part of the lively atmosphere that often borders on gimmicky. Because the dome is off campus and is also home to the Minnesota Vikings, advertisements are everywhere. Budweiser, Home Depot and Crown Royal signs surround the field, and foam fingers and stuffed gophers are sold on the concourse. The bright, white-roofed dome holds about 50,000 fans, but the enclosed area can make it seem like 100,000.
Noise level is at a maximum, especially when a cannon is fired.
Yes, you heard right. Maybe it's supposed to jolt awake the fans in case they were sleeping. Personally, the only thing it jolted awake in me was a desire to tackle the man after he fired a shot five feet away from my ear. And no, covering your ears is hardly a good way to protect your vulnerable eardrums. And speaking of wake up calls, third downs are another occasion for noise.