The Vikings' regular-season home opener at U.S. Bank Stadium was filled with "lots and lots of noise ... answering questions about whether the fancy digs could match" the Metrodome in terms of "ear-splitting noise," according to Jon Krawczynski of the AP. The Packers during their first drive were backed up near the end zone, and the "full-throated crowd created a din that rivaled anything that was heard at the Metrodome." Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph: "It was awesome. The best environment I've ever played in. The crowd was amazing all night." Vikings G Alex Boone said that the crowd was "actually too loud when the Vikings had the ball, which led to some of their penalty problems." Boone: "I'm not saying it's the fans' fault, but it would be nice if they would just shut (expletive) up" (AP, 9/19). ESPN.com's Ben Goessling noted players on both teams "remarked how loud U.S. Bank Stadium was." Despite the Vikings being called for "four false starts" on offense, the noise from the capacity crowd of 66,813 "seemed to be a positive overall." Vikings coach Mike Zimmer: "The fans were unbelievable. They were loud. I've been in some of these games before where there's a lot more green in the stadium. There was a lot of purple in here tonight, and they were as good of a crowd as I've seen. In my opinion, it was pretty darn loud" (ESPN.com, 9/18). Vikings LB Chad Greenway said, "I hope we can get this every Sunday for a home game. This will be one of the better home-field advantages, I think, in the league. It was incredible just the way the fans responded. Maybe for the first time in my career, I didn't hear a lot from the Packers fans during a home game" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/19).
LIKE A PROUD PAPA: Vikings co-Owner & President Mark Wilf appeared on CBNC’s “Squawk Box” this morning, with CNBC’s Joe Kernen noting “lot of people tweeting out some pictures of the stadium, and I didn’t see any negative comments.” Wilf: “This building is really state-of-the-art, and I hope everybody gets a chance to see this. This is really the premier sports and entertainment venue in the country now." He said last night's game was "electric and magical, and I think our fans came away really loving the night.” He added the team in building the stadium had to "make the in-stadium experience as good as it is or better than at home, and we think we’ve done that” ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 9/19). In Milwaukee, Tom Silverstein writes the stadium's concourses were "packed with curious ticket holders, many of whom entered hours before the game and just strolled around with no particular place to go." Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said, "Everything went into the fan experience." Silverstein notes there is "no question the experience is far better if you have money to burn, but that is the case with just about every new stadium in the NFL." The "more you can spend, the better your experience will be inside U.S. Bank Stadium, but the architects, planners and the Vikings themselves made it possible to enjoy more than just the game if you're a plain old ticket holder" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/19).
GOODELL BLOWN AWAY: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was among many local celebrities and NFL dignitaries at last night's game, and he called U.S. Bank Stadium "spectacular." In St. Paul, Chris Tomasson notes Goodell "arrived at the stadium about four hours before kickoff and immediately went to the top level." He said he "could not find a bad seat." Goodell added that he "likes how the stadium fits in with the Twin Cities." Goodell: "You know where you are; you're in a Vikings stadium and this is part of a Minnesota community. You can see how it fits into the community, with the outside, the way they brought the tradition and the history of the team in. I think it's really incredibly well done." Goodell "lauded the Wilf family ownership group for getting the stadium built during a time on uncertainty that the franchise would even stay in Minnesota." Goodell: "I'm incredibly impressed with their vision. They knew exactly what they wanted to do. ... They were never deterred reaching their vision and they worked through it" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/19). Goodell noted that the venue "exceeded his expectations from when he visited the stadium site about 10 months ago" (Fargo-Moorhead FORUM, 9/19). He said U.S. Bank Stadium is "going to ensure" that the Vikings remain in Minneapolis. Goodell: "This is going to be something to bring great events like the Super Bowl, and the Vikings will continue to be successful. And I think it's just beginning. You can see the development that's going on around it, and that's great for this community" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/19).
LONG TIME COMING: NBC’s Michele Tafoya noted the $1.1B stadium "was a project 16 years in the making, spending 12 years tied up in the legislative process and another four years of design and construction." There are several "unique attributes, starting with the roof, which is 60% transparent, allowing the fans to see the sun and the sky while staying warm on frigid Minnesota days." Tafoya: "It has five huge glass doors, ranging from 75 to 95 feet tall, the largest of their kind in the world. Games can be played with them open or closed. ... Inside there is the Vikings Voyage, an interactive space including team memorabilia and virtual reality exhibits where fans can virtually catch passes and field punts. Club seating includes Club Purple, where fans can view the game from the comfort of a couch and take in a view from an outdoor balcony overlooking the Minneapolis skyline. Then there's the Vikings Legacy Ship, a big pregame attraction. Its sail is actually a 2,000 square foot curved video board.” NBC's Cris Collinsworth said, "I love how they make you feel (like) you're outside, even though you're inside. Let's face it, though, the only thing I care about is that it’s the best broadcast booth there is in the entire league" ("Football Night In America," NBC, 9/18).
GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: The PIONEER PRESS' Tomasson notes there were "elaborate pre-game and halftime shows" last night. The Minnesota Orchestra during an extended halftime show paid tribute to Prince, as the performance "included highlights of Vikings plays throughout the years being projected on the field and 'Purple Rain' being sung" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/19). The New Power Generation, Prince's backing band, joined the orchestra on field at one point with "purple confetti blanketing the crowd" (AP, 9/19).
WALK OF STRANGE: When Vikings RB Adrian Peterson was helped to the locker room after a leg injury, his route went through the Delta Sky360 Club premium seating area, and many Twitter users objected to this design feature. The AP's Tim Dahlnerg: "The new @Vikings stadium is designed so injured players are carried out through a bar? Looked like a perp walk for AP." Milwaukee-based WKLH-AM's Steve Palec: "I can't believe the Vikings have to walk Adrian Peterson through a restaurant to get to the locker room." Deadspin: "Peterson injured, then dragged through some kind of restaurant as fans stare." Vice Canada's Dave Lozo: "'Design the new stadium so we can carry an injured player to the locker room through a mall food court.'"
