The University of Minnesota's ceremonial groundbreaking on the Athletes Village on Friday was part celebration, part pledge drive as the U takes aim at filling an $86 million fund-raising shortfall.
"It picks up the energy and the enthusiasm," University President Eric Kaler said. "I do think (fund-raising) will accelerate in the near term. ... People are going to believe that this is real now. "
Kaler was chief among the primary players who gathered Friday behind the school's Bierman Athletics Complex. Donors, student-athletes and the Gophers marching band also were on hand to officially break ground on the $166-million, 320,000-square-foot project.