Stadium thread

[Axne1]

Praise be to the lord! Skol Vikings!!!!!!!!!

sent from a Android device
I'm always on!

[PurpleMustReign]

Hallelujah! After all these years the Vikings will now finally get their new home. I can now go to my grave knowing the Vikings will still be in Minnesota. Trust me, I 'aint living another 30 years.

Lol, be positive Mike!! If the Vikings can get their own stadium, anything is possible!!

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Maybe I missed it, but did Governor Dayton already sign the bill?

[Mothman]

I'm a huge supporter of the retractable roof, HOWEVER I don't believe it will have a significant outcome on the game. During super cold game days it would likely be closed anyway to attract more fans and sell more tickets. Even if it was open, it's not as if Vikings players will have a significant advantage unless they commit themselves to practicing outdoors like the days of yore. I'd stay, as it stands, the Vikings being in a dome is a disadvantage when we have to go play in Lambeau or at Soldier Field in December. Not exactly "in our element." As far as "home fields" go, I think sheer volume and the ability to disrupt communications, cause false-starts, etc. plays as as much (or greater) factor for us, at least as it currently stands. YMMV. I know I'd LOVE to go to a brisk home game in October or November. Never have. I can't imagine there's much like it. Jim, you're a Soldier Field guy, what's your take? How do you like the dome vs. outdoor environment?

Overall, I strongly prefer the outdoor environment but when it gets really cold then frankly, it's more fun to watch the games indoors. The outdoor environment just feels right to me. Growing up, we played football outdoors, in fall and winter weather, so psychologically, that's part of the football experience for me. In September, October and November, outdoor football just can't be beat. October is the best. On a nice October day, with a cool crispness in the air, there's nothing better than being at a football game! I think a retractable roof would offer Vikes fans the best of both worlds so I hope the teams goes that route. For the most part, it's much more fun to watch football outside than in the "canned air" of a dome.

In December and January, it depends on just how cold it gets. I've been to plenty of December games here in Chicago and only one or two of them were so cold that it was actually distracting and negatively impacted my enjoyment of the game. I can imagine that late December or January football in Minnesota would often be cold enough to diminish the fun though, especially at night.

One more caveat regarding outdoor football: the biggest downside is rain. You can prepare for the cold but sitting through a game in the rain, even in rain gear, is just a miserable experience.

[HornedMessiah]

Maybe I missed it, but did Governor Dayton already sign the bill?

It's really a formality at this point. It's a done deal. Praise Purple Jeebus!

Still, part of me is bracing for some kind of backlash from the opponents. That dumb #### Sen. Marty seems like the kind of guy who would try to lay a big turd on everyone's happiness parade. I wonder if he realizes yet that he's gonna lose his job come the next election when people turn out to vote against him.

[dead_poet]

Because @1500ESPN_Reusse and others want to read more Vikings/stadium stuff, I caught up w Wilfs this a.m. Couple takeaways... (Cont.)

They are hopeful of bidding for the 2017 Super Bowl. They are trying to limit move to TCF Bank to 1 year, in 2015. And I really think Zygi wants a retractable roof. He'll have to pay for it, but he loves idea of cold weather games.

Kevin Seifert on Twitter

[NextQuestion]

If you want the bowl you'll need that roof. Otherwise I'd say just make it be outdoors!

[PotGoblin]

Having a roof also allows for a better return on investment to the state. That way the stadium is usable year round for other events such as conventions, concerts, motorcross, NCAA Final Fours, etc.

also not sure many remember this but...

The metrodome is the only stadium to host all of the following - Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four (2), World Series (2) and the MLB All-Star Game

[glg]

Overall, I strongly prefer the outdoor environment but when it gets really cold then frankly, it's more fun to watch the games indoors. The outdoor environment just feels right to me. Growing up, we played football outdoors, in fall and winter weather, so psychologically, that's part of the football experience for me. In September, October and November, outdoor football just can't be beat. October is the best. On a nice October day, with a cool crispness in the air, there's nothing better than being at a football game! I think a retractable roof would offer Vikes fans the best of both worlds so I hope the teams goes that route. For the most part, it's much more fun to watch football outside than in the "canned air" of a dome.

In December and January, it depends on just how cold it gets. I've been to plenty of December games here in Chicago and only one or two of them were so cold that it was actually distracting and negatively impacted my enjoyment of the game. I can imagine that late December or January football in Minnesota would often be cold enough to diminish the fun though, especially at night.

One more caveat regarding outdoor football: the biggest downside is rain. You can prepare for the cold but sitting through a game in the rain, even in rain gear, is just a miserable experience.

I completely agree with this. I'm a season ticket holder for outdoor football (that second flag in my signature). My favorite has always been a sunny fall day in the 50s. Can't beat it. But a cold rainy day in November? Miserable. Freezing in December/January? Ugh. I remember a particular game against Iowa my junior year (1995). We were in the midst of a 10-1 run to the Rose Bowl, last home game and it was freezing. ESPN Gameday (Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Craig James at the time) was there, but had to move inside the lobby of our basketball stadium because their set blew down overnight. I know we won, but I couldn't come close to telling the final score. I just remember the cold.

[dead_poet]

Interesting.

@espn_nfcnblog: Just read thru offiical NFL rules on retractable roofs. Nothing about temperature requirements. Ref has option to close for precip./hazards.

[Rus]

It's solid that the Wilfs are thinking about building a retractable roof on their own dime.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/vikes-owne ... --nfl.html

They know that they'll sell out more games that way. The only people who REALLY love outdoor football in Minnesota in late December are the people who like to watch other people freezing their backsides off in the stands.

[Eli]

Here's an article discussed previously in this thread, published February 5th of this year:

http://www.startribune.com/politics/sta ... 21284.html
I'm not positive, but I think this is still the current plan, where part of the new stadium's footprint overlaps the existing stadium. They'd begin demolition of the Metrodome immediately after the 2015 season ends, then scramble to finish it and open in the early part of the 2016 season. They'd only play a few games in TCF, which would mean that while it may need some upgrades, it wouldn't need to be winterized.

Well, forget all that. That was under the assumption that the stadium could have been built more to the east, where little of the new stadium's footprint would overlap the current one. It would have been an ideal solution to rebuilding at essentially the same location. They couldn't, however, secure the necessary land and buildings.

With the new stadium being built on pretty much the exact same spot of the current one, they're talking about one or possibly two full seasons of playing at TCF.

You guys wanted outdoor football again in Minnesota? You're going to get it.

[The Breeze]

I'm really happy the State got it together and the Purple Horde is staying up North where they belong. Really happy for all you fans in Minnesota as well....While it was interesting to discuss the feelings around the team moving and people's loyalties and so on, it's just great that none of us had to experience it coming to fruition. Now the agenda includes getting a Superbowl in Minny...cool. Let's hope the Vikings are playing in it.

[PurpleHalo]

Interesting.

@espn_nfcnblog: Just read thru offiical NFL rules on retractable roofs. Nothing about temperature requirements. Ref has option to close for precip./hazards.

Domes are not cold weather proofed, that would raise the costs. A typical retractable stadium would be closed at 40 or below.

[VikingLord]

I was surprised by the margin of the final votes in both chambers. Going into it the leaders of both chambers were saying they weren't sure they had enough votes to get it through, and while the debates were lively enough and suggested a lot of overall opposition, in the end it wasn't all that close.

This must be due in large part to the response of the fans and their willingness to show up at the Capitol and make noise in addition to the emails and phone calls. The simple fact is, most issues don't provoke that type of response at the Capitol and I think while most of the legislators were pretty sure the majority of their constituents didn't want taxes to pay for a stadium, the fact that so many people were willing to take time out of their day to show up and actively participate must have convinced enough of those fence-riders to vote yes to make a significant difference in the final outcome. If the fans were passionate enough to show up and camp out, then it would stand to reason they'd go to great lengths to make their voices heard again in November if the bill didn't pass.

I also have to give credit to the Wilfs. If I were Zygi I'd have made it clear this was the last chance to keep the team in Minnesota and applied a lot more direct pressure to the legislators. Of course, maybe he didn't need to do that because he was probably set to sell them if the vote failed and still rake in a nice profit, but he could have played hardball to a greater degree than he did, especially considering how long this has been in coming. I've always liked the Wilfs as owners. I wish they were a bit more pragmatic when it comes to how the front office is structured and a little bit more realistic in terms of how they hire coaches and other people into leadership positions, but after what, five years of ownership it seems like they're coming around on those fronts as well.

A toast to the Vikings and the great state of Minnesota - may the new stadium be a jewel in the crown of the NFL, may it host a Superbowl in it's first year of existence, may the Vikings be in it, and may they win it! May the long-suffering fans of this team, the best fans in the NFL, soon see this day! Skol Vikings!