2013 Vikings Draft Party

[Funkytown]

I'll be attending the Draft Party this year--and I attended last year as well. I posted a thread on Vikings.com's message board (before it shut down) asking how many people were considering attending and only one was "considering it".

On this message board (since it's a little bit more fancy) I can actually see where people are located--and I'm seeing people from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, etc.

So, I'm just curious if any of you are attending this year's Draft Party at Mall of America Field and if any of you attended in previous years?

[losperros]

I sure wish I could but it's simply not possible for me. That's sad because I'm really excited about this year's draft.

[Mothman]

I've never attended a Vikings draft party. I live in Chicago so it would be a long haul for me and if I'm going to make the trip, I'd rather do it for a game. However, those draft parties look fun.

[Funkytown]

I sure wish I could but it's simply not possible for me. That's sad because I'm really excited about this year's draft.

I see that you are a pretty far away--understandable.

I was extremely excited to go again this year, because I had a blast last year. Then after the Harvin trade--it got that much more exciting with two picks!

It really is a great time. I recommend it! It's great to meet other fans, see the Dome, and get autographs. Last year I got J. Randle, R. McDaniel, Doleman, K. Williams, Robison, Carlson, Rudolph, Ponder, Sulli, Raymond--and my two *bonus autographs* for being in the VIP section were Joe Webb and Carl Eller. It was cool! I was pretty proud of my "draft day football" and I still am!

The *surprise* guest was AP, but I was in line for the HOF autographs so I didn't run over by him. But a guy from our group did--so he got AP's autograph, too. He's a punk for that! We were jealous!

Anyways, not sure who is all going to show up this year, but it's definitely a great time!

[Funkytown]

I've never attended a Vikings draft party. I live in Chicago so it would be a long haul for me and if I'm going to make the trip, I'd rather do it for a game. However, those draft parties look fun.

Is it about 6-7 hours from Chicago? I'm coming from 4 hours away. I understand it being a little far, but it's a great time. I assure you! It's a blast! Last year was the first time I went. I had such a great time that I made it a priority to go this year, too.

What games were you able to make it to last year?

[The Breeze]

that sounds like fun. i'm still trying to get to my first game.

[Mothman]

Is it about 6-7 hours from Chicago? I'm coming from 4 hours away. I understand it being a little far, but it's a great time. I assure you! It's a blast! Last year was the first time I went. I had such a great time that I made it a priority to go this year, too.

It's about 7 hours from Chicago.

I forgot all about the opportunity to meet former players and get autographs. Now that you've mentioned that, the idea is a lot more tempting, although i can't do it this year. I have friends coming in from out of town for a convention.

What games were you able to make it to last year?

I went to the game here in Chicago, which I do almost every year. I haven't made it to a game up in MN for a long time (I think 2005 was the last one) so I need to try to do it again soon. Maybe even this year...

I definitely want to make the trip when the new stadium opens.

[Funkytown]

that sounds like fun. i'm still trying to get to my first game.

It is very fun. You should definitely attend a game first, though--before you start worrying about draft parties.

It is great to meet other fans, though. I've managed to make friends with Syd, Diggz, Skolt...and some others from the VWO--so it's cool to run into those guys and say hi.

It's also a great time to meet up with friends and hang out for a bit while we attempt to endure this long offseason.

Any plans to attend your first game any time soon? I was telling a member from the other board I was on to try to attempt to make a game this season--the last year at the Dome. Some people think the Dome is a dump--and quite possibly it is compared to other stadiums--but dang it, it is OUR dump. I love the Dome--I'll miss it a lot. I'll probably miss it JUST until I step foot into the new stadium. lol

[Funkytown]

It's about 7 hours from Chicago.

I forgot all about the opportunity to meet former players and get autographs. Now that you've mentioned that, the idea is a lot more tempting, although i can't do it this year. I have friends coming in from out of town for a convention.
I went to the game here in Chicago, which I do almost every year. I haven't made it to a game up in MN for a long time (I think 2005 was the last one) so I need to try to do it again soon. Maybe even this year...

I definitely want to make the trip when the new stadium opens.

I thought it was about that far. I went from the Twin Cities to Chicago once. I was about to snap because of all of the toll booths. Not cool Illinois--not cool! lol

It sucks you can't attend this year. I'm curious where it will be next year. My friend (who I meet up with) said that the year before last it was at Winter Park--so maybe that's where it will be for the next couple of years while we are playing at TCF. I guess we'll see!

Yes, you should make a home game! Not since 2005? Yeesh! I've been to 21 games since 2005. I had season tickets for the 2009 season. (They were purchased before we got Favre). What a year THAT was! Holy cow! I had section 115, Row 15, corner of the end zone/Vikings tunnel. I was IN LOVE.

Last year I went to see us play the Niners (had to see Moss play even if he wasn't in the purple), Cards, Lions, Bears.

I'm not sure what games I'll attend this year, but I want to attend 2-3 at least. And I think the LAST game at the Dome is a MAJOR priority. I know it'll be winter--but I just have to. That's part of Vikings history right there!

[The Breeze]

It is very fun. You should definitely attend a game first, though--before you start worrying about draft parties.

It is great to meet other fans, though. I've managed to make friends with Syd, Diggz, Skolt...and some others from the VWO--so it's cool to run into those guys and say hi.

It's also a great time to meet up with friends and hang out for a bit while we attempt to endure this long offseason.

Any plans to attend your first game any time soon? I was telling a member from the other board I was on to try to attempt to make a game this season--the last year at the Dome. Some people think the Dome is a dump--and quite possibly it is compared to other stadiums--but dang it, it is OUR dump. I love the Dome--I'll miss it a lot. I'll probably miss it JUST until I step foot into the new stadium. lol

I was close to seeing them in Seattle last season...but wound up needing to work. I expect to see them there or in the Bay area before long. Although Jim's comment about the new stadium piqued my interest. Would be pretty cool to make a pilgrimage to Minny for a game in the new place. I could wind up doing both.

I've been to many baseball and basketball games. Just saw my first big time football game last season (oregon ducks homegame). It was nuts and maybe a little too loud for me. The fans were screaming the whole time the defense was on the field, and I'm only a luke-warm Ducks fan anyway. I'd be much more fired up for a Vikes game, that's for sure....especially if it was a division game.

we'll see....

[Funkytown]

I was close to seeing them in Seattle last season...but wound up needing to work. I expect to see them there or in the Bay area before long. Although Jim's comment about the new stadium piqued my interest. Would be pretty cool to make a pilgrimage to Minny for a game in the new place. I could wind up doing both.

I've been to many baseball and basketball games. Just saw my first big time football game last season (oregon ducks homegame). It was nuts and maybe a little too loud for me. The fans were screaming the whole time the defense was on the field, and I'm only a luke-warm Ducks fan anyway. I'd be much more fired up for a Vikes game, that's for sure....especially if it was a division game.

we'll see....

A little too loud for you? I'm not sure how loud Ducks fans are--but I assure you that the Vikings fans are very, very loud, especially against hated teams and/or big moments in the game. It gets very, very loud and intense. You'll begin to lose your voice sometime in the first quarter. lol. For the '09 season, Monday Night Football versus the Pack, it was EXTREMELY loud. At one point I had a piece of paper in my hand, and it was vibrating from all of the noise! Good stuff!

[Mothman]

I thought it was about that far. I went from the Twin Cities to Chicago once. I was about to snap because of all of the toll booths. Not cool Illinois--not cool! lol

They can definitely be exasperating.

It sucks you can't attend this year. I'm curious where it will be next year. My friend (who I meet up with) said that the year before last it was at Winter Park--so maybe that's where it will be for the next couple of years while we are playing at TCF. I guess we'll see!

Yes, you should make a home game! Not since 2005? Yeesh! I've been to 21 games since 2005. I had season tickets for the 2009 season. (They were purchased before we got Favre). What a year THAT was! Holy cow! I had section 115, Row 15, corner of the end zone/Vikings tunnel. I was IN LOVE.

I'd go to a game in MN every year if I could but it ends up being pretty expensive and I'm often too busy to get away at that time of year. If I can afford to do it this year, I'd like to see one more game at the dome. Actually, if I could afford the trip overseas, I'd go see them in London!

[Eli]

You know, it might fun to attend if the NFL hadn't turned the seven rounds of the draft into a three day ordeal.

It's a made for TV event now.

[The Breeze]

A little too loud for you? I'm not sure how loud Ducks fans are--but I assure you that the Vikings fans are very, very loud, especially against hated teams and/or big moments in the game. It gets very, very loud and intense. You'll begin to lose your voice sometime in the first quarter. lol. For the '09 season, Monday Night Football versus the Pack, it was EXTREMELY loud. At one point I had a piece of paper in my hand, and it was vibrating from all of the noise! Good stuff!

lol I can handle the noise if I'm part of it. I wasn't quite ready to scream for the Ducks though. So, i found myself more focused on the freedom of watching what I wanted during each play and lamenting that there was no time to watch a replay because of the pace the Ducks play. It was really my first experience with a crowd that size except for a Dead show I saw on the same field in the 90's Those people weren't loud though, they were stoned .

I'd probably be pretty buzzed and vocal at a Vikes game......home game anyway. You've painted a good picture for me.

[Funkytown]

You know, it might fun to attend if the NFL hadn't turned the seven rounds of the draft into a three day ordeal.

It's a made for TV event now.

The Vikings Draft Party is just the first round--so it's exciting to spend time with other fans, get autographs, play games, snack, do the locker room tours, AND watch the coverage on the big screens. It's fun. Trust me.