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The five pivoting glass doors are the world’s biggest.
Photo by: DON MURET / STAFF
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The world’s biggest pivoting glass doors, a prime attraction at U.S. Bank Stadium, were out of action for the Minnesota Vikings’ first game there.
Weather conditions, a combination of high humidity and a threat of rain, led to the team’s decision to keep the massive doors shut for the team’s Aug. 28 preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. Per NFL rules, the decision whether to open the doors must be made 90 minutes before kickoff.
Two days earlier, though, in a showcase for local and national media, the Vikings and stadium manager SMG opened the five doors for the team’s first practice at the site. A line of television cameras captured the doors’ motion for the local newscasts.
The doors stand 55 feet wide, and the sloping design starts with the tallest door, standing 95 feet tall. It took about five minutes for the doors to fully open, with light breeze coming through on a comfortable late summer day in the Twin Cities.
Each door is powered by a set of three large hydraulic pistons at the bottom of those structures that push and pull in both directions, said Lance Evans, a designer with HKS, the stadium’s architect.
“The doors provide this amazing connection to the outside,” Evans said. “When they’re closed, it’s a complete reflection of Minneapolis. When the doors are open, it’s all about welcoming the city inside.”
If the weather allows, the Vikings would like to open the giant doors deep into the season because they add another element to the fan experience, said Lester Bagley, the team’s executive vice president of public affairs and stadium development.
“It’s an indoor/outdoor feel and vision that we put together … to deliver that stadium for all seasons,” Bagley said.
