Vikes look worthy of palatial stadium
It was just before halftime Sunday when a guy in a faded Brett Favre jersey hurled four- letter words and implored everyone in a section below the U. S. Bank Stadium press box to stand up and get into the bleeping game.
This was a preseason game, mind you, the first at the Minnesota Vikings’ sparkling new home, and play was stopped because of a San Diego Chargers injury. But on Fake Favre went, suggesting that if fans really wanted this $ 1.1 billion football palace, they shouldn’t waste two quarters of exhibition ball sitting idly in those un- sat- upon purple seats.
More than 50 years of memorable failures — four Super Bowl losses, Gary Anderson’s missed field goal attempt in the 1998 NFC Championship Game, Favre’s killer interception in the 2009 NFC Championship Game, BlairWalsh’s missed field goal try in last season’s playoffs, the old stadium’s roof caving in under a huge snowfall— and a couple beers can leave things a little edgy.
But as the Vikings head into coach Mike Zimmer’s third season, starting with the Sept. 11 opener on the road against the Tennessee Titans and the nationally televised home debut a week later against the Green Bay Packers, there’s little doubt they’re set up better for success than they’ve been in a long time.
And not just because they traded the Metrodome dump for a penthouse.
They’re coming off a surprising NFC North title run. They’re loaded with ascending playmakers on defense, including safety Harrison Smith, end Everson Griffen, nose tackle Linval Joseph and linebacker Anthony Barr. Their offense revolves around an elite running back, Adrian Peterson.
They believe in third- year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who showed his arm fatigue to be a non- issue in carving up the Chargers defense during a two- minute march Sunday, bringing enough noise from the 66,143 on hand to goof up the ensuing conversion try.
“You’re like, ‘ No. Nooooo,’ ” veteran guard Alex Boone told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s the thing, is ( fans) get so excited, and it’s funny, because we’re in the huddle, and everyone’s like, ‘ Somebody calm them down, please.’ Because Teddy’s so soft- spoken, sometimes, you’re like, ‘ What’d he say?’ There was a couple times where I couldn’t even hear the count.”
This building is a futuristic marvel. A sloped, 60% transparent roof lets in the sun while providing protection from Minnesota winters. Swinging doors 55 feet wide open one entrance. It’s a big stadium but feels intimate, with the front row 41 feet from the field and some suites within 25 feet.
Early evidence suggests U. S. Bank Stadiumcan pump up the volume, too. The team measured a high of 114 decibels.
Still, as Griffen put it, “If you don’t win, there’s no home- field advantage.”
No Vikings fan wants to watch Bridgewater getting sacked on the massive video boards behind each end zone. No Vikings fan wants to be close to the action of an opponent beating a blitz for a long TD, as Chargers backMelvin Gordon did for a 39- yard score Sunday.
No fan wants Fake Favre giving another profanity- laced pep talk to every man, woman and child within earshot Sept. 18 if things have gone south — even if some fancy cuisine and a craft beer and wide concourses might ease the pain.
“You’ve got to go out and execute, put up points,” Boone said. “You’ve got to have the fans in the game.”