The best method to get to the stadium is Uber/Lyft or the light rail IMO.
The "green line" train drops you off right outside the stadium (stadium village station). The blue line and green line connect downtown minneapolis. So you could park at the mall of america and take the light rail downtown to the US bank stadium and then jump on the green line train to TCF bank stadium...just as an example.
I would NOT park in Dinkytown around the stadium. I've had miserable experiences getting in and out of there over the years.
If you were looking for pregame fun, I'd recommend the Surly Brewery. Thats probably where I'll be on Saturday before I meet up with my tailgate friends. Its a huge place that serves beer and food. It will be busy before the game, but it is less than a mile walk to the stadium and Surly beer is pretty awesome.
A bar called "The Loop" off Washington Ave in Minneapolis is a Hawkeye bar. It gets packed for Iowa games and has pretty good food. So if you wanted a spot to hang out with Iowa fans before, during or after the game you'll find a bunch there.
Minneapolis is blowing up with cool areas to eat/drink. Northeast, warehouse district, uptown, west end....can't really go wrong
edit: I just noticed
@hawkdrummer1 covered most of this already, so kudos to him
