Photo by Caleb Williams, d3photography.com

St. John’s University announced today that it will host the historic rivalry football game against the University of St. Thomas at U.S. Bank Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. As a home game for St. John’s, this will be the final meeting as Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes and likely the last meeting between the two schools through an historic 119-year rivalry on the football field. It will also be the first collegiate football game held at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“St. John’s is thrilled to be able to partner with U.S. Bank Stadium, the finest venue in the NFL, to help us accommodate this historic rivalry game,” St. John’s athletic director Bob Alpers said. “Since the announcement that St. Thomas has been invited to join the Summit League, ticket demand for November’s game has already been off the charts.”

St. Thomas moved its home game against St. John's to Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins, in 2017, and moved its 2019 home game with the Johnnies to Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer. This will be the first time in this stretch that St. John's has moved a home game off campus.

“U.S. Bank Stadium will be an incredible venue to host this historic game,” SJU football coach Gary Fasching said. “We want everyone to be able to see this final game in one of college football’s great rivalries.”

The historic matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium offers a new, indoor opportunity for fans to break the attendance record. The 2017 Johnnie-Tommie game, held at Target Field, attracted 37,355 fans. The two teams played at the previous home of the Minnesota Vikings in 1996 and 1997.

The single-game attendance record for Division III football was set this past fall, when Ithaca and Cortland played for the Cortaca Jug in a game for which 45,161 seats were sold.

"U.S. Bank Stadium will offer a fantastic atmosphere for two outstanding football programs to celebrate one of the best rivalries in all of college football," said Phil Esten, St. Thomas athletic director. “We are grateful to Saint John's and U.S. Bank Stadium for providing such an opportunity."

Tickets for the game go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CT Friday, March 13. The 2020 meeting will be the 90th in the series, which the Johnnies lead with a 53-35-1 record.

 “We are honored to host this historic rivalry as the first collegiate football game at U.S. Bank Stadium,” said Michael Vekich, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. “We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for every athlete, coach and fan alike.”

Top 10 highest attendance in Division III football history:

45,161: Cortland vs. Ithaca at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 11/16/19
37,355: St. Thomas vs. St. John's at Target Field, Minneapolis, 9/23/17
19,508: St. Thomas vs. St. John's at Allianz Field, St. Paul, 10/19/19
17,535: UW-Oshkosh at UW-Whitewater, 10/8/16
17,327: St. Thomas at St. John's, 9/26/15

16,922: St. Thomas at St. John's, 10/13/18
16,514: St. Thomas at St. John's, 9/24/16
16,421: St. Thomas at St. John’s, 10/2/10
15,287: UW-Platteville at UW-Whitewater, 10/3/15
14,437: Randolph-Macon at Hampden-Sydney, 11/12/94 (100th meeting)