As of this week, the University of Minnesota is projecting the Iowa game as the lone sellout for the 2026 home football schedule.
The October 24 game not only matches the Golden Gophers against a historic neighboring rival, but it’s also Homecoming for the U. Many of the single game tickets will be purchased by Iowa fans, with the Hawkeyes expected to bring the largest contingency of out of state fans to Huntington Bank Stadium in 2026.
Single game tickets start at around $100 and range much higher. With the Athletic Department projecting a reported $9 million deficit for the school year per the Pioneer Press, extra revenue will be welcome.
Sports Headliners received extensive football ticket sales information this week from the University through the public records process. As of September 12, a total of 22,174 public season tickets had been sold. The total in 2025 was 23,084.
This is the fourth consecutive year of decline in public season tickets purchased. The 2024 total was 23,592, and 25,396 tickets were sold in 2023. That’s a 12 percent decrease in four years from a ticket stream expected to fill half or more of the 50,805-seat stadium.
The U report said lifestyle changes such as health and age, preferences to purchase single game or mini-plans tickets, and cost of living were common reasons for not renewing season tickets this year. Less frequently cited were “team performance, transfer portal, campus issues, etc.”
The 25,396 total in 2023 is a record for public season tickets during the head coach P.J. Fleck era that began in 2017. The 2022 and 2021 teams both won nine games with winning records in Big Ten games, while memories were more recent than of the 2019 squad that was 11-2 overall, 7-2 in the Big Ten and No. 10 in the final Associated Press national poll.
The last three seasons the Gophers have twice had 8-5 overall season records, while going 6-7 in 2023 (a total of 13 wins and 14 league losses during the span). Disappointment has settled in now after a walloping at home by Mississippi State last Saturday, 38-13.
The announced average attendance for home games last season was 46,512. For this season the projection is 46,000.
The definition of announced attendance is tickets distributed. Turnstile count gives a more accurate figure as to people in the stadium.
The total turnstile count in 2025 was 261,694. That’s a seven-game average of 37,385.
The U is projecting a turnstile total of 260,000 in 2026. (The total in 2024 was 258,570).
Ticket pricing from last year has changed only in that sales tax is added to the total. In the past it was netted out of the price. Before taxes and fees, season tickets range from $310 to $1,500.
The public season tickets total includes the Gopher Pass and faculty-staff purchases. The Gopher Pass is a mobile ticket allowing fans access to all home games with either a seat or standing room if the game is sold out. The Gopher Pass costs $249 before tax and fee.
One public ticket category that has increased is mini-plan (multiple games) ticket sales—1,717 versus 1,136 last year. Public group ticket sales are 5,960 versus 7,615 in 2025.
Student season ticket sales are 7,106 after totaling 7,978 a year ago. That is the fourth consecutive year of decline with the highest total in 2023 with 8,545 sold. The 2024 total was 8,013.