The University of Minnesota is saying goodbye to Williams Arena - sort of.
Gophers Athletics announced Friday that as part of a ten year collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the home of Gopher basketball will be named "The Barn."
"At the University of Minnesota, we are guided by our land-grant mission to serve all 87 counties across the state," said University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham. "We are proud of our new partnership with Blue Cross, which will help us deliver on our commitment to expand our health and healthcare workforce, advance lifesaving research and support the health of all Minnesotans."
The home of Gopher basketball originally opened in 1928 as the Minnesota Field House. It was known as Williams Arena from 1950 – 2026 and will now be known as The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
"We are grateful to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota for their collaboration and support," said Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "The Barn is one of the most historic and well-known venues in all of college sports, and we are excited for this partnership and the positive impact it will have on the entire state."
The deal is more than just naming rights, however. As part of the agreement, Blue Cross and the University will create opportunities for health innovation and collaborate on initiatives that promote wellbeing across the state. Designed for impact, programs will include on-campus health support for the Gopher community, in addition to professional development and industry exposure for students and alumni, strengthening current and future Minnesota health and healthcare leaders.
