Vikings stadium officials fire security provider after irregularities

MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Bank Stadium officials announced Tuesday that they have fired the firm that was providing security at the facility, after an investigation showed it didn’t comply with state regulations and licensing rules.

The investigation also found that Chicago-based Monterrey Security had unlicensed workers, employees that would normally be disqualified from working and billing irregularities. Minnesota Public Radio News reported that two other firms, Whelan Security and G4S, are taking over stadium and event security.

Monterrey Security won the contract for building and event security before the stadium opened in 2015. Messages left with offices in Minneapolis and in Chicago weren’t immediately returned to The Associated Press.

The Minnesota Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services voted 4-0 Tuesday not to renew Monterrey’s state security license. The company is no longer licensed to do security work in Minnesota.

Stadium officials said they began reconsidering Monterrey after the state’s Private Detective and Protective Agent Services Board began investigating the firm this spring.

On Jan. 1, two demonstrators hung a large banner protesting the Dakota Access oil pipeline from the stadium rafters during a Vikings game. Stadium officials said the man and woman entered the stadium with tickets and stadium officials said protesters hid their climbing equipment under winter clothing.