President Barack Obama will rally at Northrop Mall for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mark Dayton on Oct. 23, according to a statement from the campaign.

Dayton initially announced on Saturday that Obama would appear at a public rally in Minneapolis, but didn’t include a specific location. The Daily reported on Monday that the event would take place at Northrop, but officials were unable to confirm it until Friday morning.

Gates for the rally open at 1 p.m.

“[The University] seemed like a very good place that would hopefully excite young people,” Dayton said.

Obama is the first sitting President in nearly 100 years to hold a public rally at the University, spokesman Dan Wolter wrote in an e-mail. William Howard Taft, the most recent, hosted an open event in 1911. Former President George W. Bush met with researchers from the Academic Health Center behind closed doors in 2002.

“Any time the University can host the President of the United States is a welcomed opportunity,” Wolter wrote. “This brings a great level of excitement to campus and increases interest in our political system, which is a very positive thing.” 

Although some specific details have been agreed upon, a contract for the event is still being finalized. Further complicating the logistics of the Presidential visit is a Gopher home game scheduled for the same day.

The presidentâÄôs rally is the latest in a string of high-profile visits to the state by Democrats supporting Dayton, including Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton, beginning in mid-September.

Republican nominee Tom Emmer will host Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney for a fundraiser on Monday.

Obama last rallied in Minneapolis for health care reform in September 2009.