Polaris, best known for making snowmobiles, has signed a 10-year deal with the Vikings to become a founding partner of U.S. Bank Stadium. As part of its deal, Polaris is developing gameday features that could include chauffeur services from tailgates to the stadium. Polaris, which is headquartered about 20 miles outside of Minneapolis, also produces ATVs and motorcycles. The company generated $4.5B in revenue in ‘14. Polaris joins MillerCoors, Hy-Vee, Land O' Lakes and CenturyLink as founding partners at the new stadium opening in July ‘16 (Don Muret, Staff Writer). In Minneapolis, Dee DePass notes while Polaris "advertised and occasionally had products in the old Metrodome, this is the first extensive partnership with the Vikings." Polaris "would not disclose" what the company paid for the partnership. The stadium sponsorship includes "naming rights to the new 'Polaris Northwest Gate,' a connecting hallway" into the stadium, plus "one of the field entrance tunnels that players will use." It also will "include permanent and digital signs." Polaris CEO Scott Wine said that the new Polaris gate is a “'very good gate for pedestrian traffic' ... and the hallway allows a place to display the company’s products and branding" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/10).
