OT: Vikings might play 2011 season at TCF Bank Stadium
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5956782
Sources say the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission is assessing the viability of playing the 2011 season outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota, the stadium that hosted the Vikings' game against the Chicago Bears when the Metrodome roof was damaged by heavy snow.
I think that would actually be pretty cool (no pun intended), and the Vikings could actually spring for some upgrades (eg, turf heaters). The biggest drawback, aside from being outside in Dec/Jan in Minnesota, is that it would be far and away the smallest NFL stadium at 50,805. Soldier Field is currently the smallest with an official capacity of 61,500. I know some are on the side of moving back outdoors, but Lester Bagley - Vikings VP of Public Affairs and Stadium Development - is on record as saying that it's "not an NFL stadium." Then again, as VP of Stadium Development, he's probably not doing his job very well.
December 26th, 2010 at 4:17 PM ^
that the Lions gets to play the Vikes on the road in Sept or Oct next season.
December 26th, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
This won't happen unless alcohol is allowed in the stadium.
December 26th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^
Wirling is right - without booze this is a non-starter. Because of the booze, and Joe Webb, and a snowstorm, there were no more than 38,000 fans there last Monday despite the novelty of the event.
December 28th, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^
First, it was widely speculated that Favre was going to be starting from early Monday morning on.
However, they also weren't guaranteeing seats for all ticket holders, which definitely factored into peoples decisions. I realize there were extra seats in the end, but its not hard to see why people would take a full refund on their tickets rather than show up at the stadium at 4pm in hopes of getting a seat, then sitting there for 3+ hours in the cold waiting for the game to start. You are correct though that the waiting issue would not have been as big of a deal if alcohol would have been available.
December 26th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
they might play in L.A.
December 26th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
what a s***show
December 26th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
I know some of the players made a big deal about the non-existent turf heaters last week... my only question is how did Minny build an otherwise beautiful brand-new stadium in the arctic that is Minnesota and not build turf heaters into the field when player safety and concussions has become such a big issue (more in the NFL but still in the NCAA as well)?
December 26th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^
The decision was totally pennywise pound foolish, but the thought was that the Gophers' season would be over by the end of November. In any case, the Vikings will have to spring for this upgrade should they choose to use the stadium in the future.
December 26th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^
you are 100% correct, the thought must have been (a) season is done in november and (b) cost-controlling. But still, it just seems absolutely foolish and short-sighted on the part of the Minny Athletic Department.
I just dont see the Vikes playing in TCF next year but, I do see them getting a new out-door or retractible roof stadium in the not too distant future.
December 26th, 2010 at 5:55 PM ^
If not, why should theirs?
December 26th, 2010 at 8:09 PM ^
And it's dramatically warmer in Ann Arbor than it is in Minneapolis in late December since we're at a lower latitude as well as warmer in early winter due to the residual lake effect. Plus Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 rather than last year. Plus Michigan Stadium used grass when the Silverdome, another fabric roof stadium, was built. Plus, regardless of using field turf or not, if Ford Field caves in due to snow, the Lions have bigger problems than why didn't the Big House put in turf heaters.
EDIT: I hope I don't sound like a dick. I'm tired of having family around constantly...apologies all around.
December 26th, 2010 at 8:35 PM ^
Don't play home games in late December. Ever. So it's not a consideration. And Michigan Stadium has basically been rebuilt the last couple of years. Along with many a turf change (you know the drainage and stuff that goes into these fields? It's not laying carpet).
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<br>They had a chance to share an all purpose Stadium, but couldn't come to an agreement. So it stopped being the University's responsibility to worry what happens to the Vikings in late December. Frankly, it's the Vikings fault for playing somewhere with a roof.
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<br>I agree with you it's the Lion's problem, not ours, if something happens. And even before I got to the edit, it didn't come off as that dicky to me, so don't sweat it. (Sorry family is driving you crazy...only thing worse than family around...is not having family around).
December 26th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
Omg. What did they do in the 1950's without turf heaters? This is hardly an issue, just a luxury of the 21st centruy we've all grown accustomed to. The Gophers never intended to play past November, so it's not much of an issue for them. That being said, I don't really see this as a reality for NFL season either. Just too much lost revenue for a small market team like the Vikings.
December 26th, 2010 at 6:29 PM ^
Most of those dudes also died in their 40's.
December 26th, 2010 at 8:36 PM ^
When REAL men played the game!
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<br>(semi-sarcastic both ways)
December 26th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
without solid plastic helmets and facemasks? Oh, right, they suffered serious head injuries.
Sometimes technological advancement is a good thing.
/Jonas Salk
December 27th, 2010 at 12:01 AM ^
They suffer serious head injuries now; the effects just take longer to manifest because it is more chornic micro-concussions than a few major ones. I would like to see a study done on Austrailian rules football and Rugby as a comparison to American football for head injuries. I'm not so sure that helmets don't produce a game with more trauma to the brain. Players have the illusion of utter impugnity when hitting someone with their helmet.
As for "most of those guys" from the Twenties "dying in their forties," I don't remember there being any evidence of that. I would imagine, though, that many of those players who were still healthy enlisted in their forties to go fight in WWII, as every able-bodied male was expected to do. I would also imagine that many of them were casualties. That could certainly have an effect on the math.
December 27th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
WSJ did an article a few years ago on this (interviewed Jake Long and Chad Henne) and some think that with the helmets people are more likely to use them as a weapon.
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<br>The tradeoff was the potential to have a few fatalities each year (in all levels nationwide) vs the number of long term debilitating injuries for former players.
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<br>Can't find the link right now.
December 26th, 2010 at 6:47 PM ^
I'm curious if a permanent move outdoors for Minny would be a negative factor when it comes to luring free agents. Then again, perhaps not - I don't remember anyone saying they wouldn't go to Green Bay or New England because they play outdoors in cold climates, for example. I suppose other factors are more prevalent - namely money and whether the team has any realistic playoff aspirations.
December 28th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
However, as a Vikings fan it is pretty clear what this is; a last ditch effort to get a new Stadium Built. A new roof for the Metrodome would likely cost $12-$15 million. I have to believe that between adding temporary seats, making the field usable in Dec. and/or January (hopefully late Jan., ahh who am I kidding, no chance of that), making the concessions and bathrooms usable in cold weather and, if they are allowed, installing alcohol distribution equipment, the total cost would be similar to the new roof. The would also likely pay the University to use the stadium and take a loss from having less seats, even with the temporary seats.
In the end though, what message does it send if you pump over $10 million into the Metrodome only to abandon it a few years later, and potentially demolish it at that point. If they put that money into the Dome, there is no way a bill for a stadium gets passed. They are going to do everything in their power to avoid playing at the Dome in hopes of getting that new stadium, or they will be in LA by 2015.