Guide to Game Day: Minot State Football

Minot State football competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) at the NCAA Division II level, and the game day experience is the real deal, full of community pride and worth showing up for. Whether you're a student, an alum, or just looking for something fun to do on a fall Saturday, here's how to make the most of it.  

Herb Parker Stadium  

Home games are played at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium, located on campus on the north side of Minot, about a 10-minute drive from The Plaza Apartments on the south side of town. The stadium seats about 4,500 fans and sits on the side of a hill, giving you a fantastic view of the city from the stands. The venue is named after Herbert M. Parker, who coached both football and basketball at Minot State and served as athletic director across two separate stints from the late 1940s through the mid-1970s. The stadium has seen more than $8 million in renovations across multiple phases, starting with FieldTurf installation in 2010 and continuing with new bleachers, a two-story press box with 11 suites, premium chair-back seating, and a Daktronics LED video board. Gates typically open about 90 minutes before kickoff, and most home games kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturdays.  

Tailgating and Game Day Traditions  

Tailgating at Minot State centers around Lot L, the east lot of the MSU Dome. Spots are first-come, first-served for most games, and fans bring their own grills, coolers, tables, and chairs. Propane, charcoal, and gas grills are all allowed. During homecoming, the tailgate is a campus-wide event with food vendors, giveaways, and live music that follows a parade through downtown Minot and up Broadway to campus.  

Themed game days pop up throughout the season too, with events like Energy Day, Military Appreciation Day, and Youth Sports Day each bringing their own pregame activities and giveaways. The first 1,000 fans through the gates often receive free T-shirts or other Beaver gear. The overall atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and you don't need to be a student or alum to feel like you belong. 

Where to Eat and Drink Before or After the Game  

Minot has a solid lineup of local restaurants and bars that work well for a pregame meal or a postgame hangout. Most of these spots are downtown, about a seven-minute drive from The Plaza and just a few minutes from campus.  

• Bone's BBQ Smokehouse & Grill (437 N Broadway): A downtown spot that smokes all its meats fresh daily and bakes its bread in-house. Ribs, brisket, and pulled pork are the headliners, and the house-made sauces come in original, hot, and mustard.  
• The Starving Rooster (30 1st St NE): A downtown favorite set inside a beautifully restored 1919 building with exposed brick and reclaimed wood throughout. The menu covers brick oven pizzas, flatbreads, sandwiches, and craft cocktails. The Rooster Burger, topped with bacon jam and brie, is a crowd favorite.  
• Ironhorse Kitchen + Bar (21 E Central Ave): Housed in a historic building that was once the Minot Grocery Company, Ironhorse serves elevated comfort food with a full bar in a polished but relaxed setting.    
• EbeneeZer's Eatery & Irish Pub: Popular for live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and known for having great food and a full bar.  

Key Rivalries and Games to Circle on the Schedule  

The NSIC is one of the most competitive Division II conferences in the country, and the Beavers have a few matchups each season that draw extra attention. The rivalry with Bemidji State is known as the "Battle of the Beavers," since both schools share the same mascot. These games tend to be tightly contested, and both fan bases show up for it.  

The Battle of the Big Lake against the University of Mary is the premier in-state rivalry, with a traveling trophy on the line that dates back to 2013. The two North Dakota programs have met over 30 times, and the game doesn't happen every year, which makes it feel bigger when it's on the schedule.  

Homecoming is always the biggest draw of the season, and any conference matchup against a ranked opponent tends to pack the stands. 

Your Home Base in Minot  

Living close to campus makes it easy to turn game day into a regular part of your fall routine. If you're looking for Minot apartments within a short drive of Herb Parker Stadium and downtown dining, check out The Plaza. With 1, 2, and 3-bedroom floor plans, in-home washers and dryers, high ceilings, a fitness center, a rooftop patio with grills, and heated underground parking for those long North Dakota winters, it's set up for comfortable, low-maintenance living. Schedule a tour today and see the space for yourself.