Vikings co-Owner & President Mark Wilf, who was in Houston last week for Super Bowl LI, said that while the city "did an amazing job, he still believes Minnesota will be able to pull off a greater spectacle" with Super Bowl LII next season, according to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Wilf: "The event is a lot bigger than the last time Minnesota hosted." Houston’s NRG Stadium "had a sellout crowd of 70,807 on Sunday, and Wilf said he believes U.S. Bank Stadium, which holds 66,655 for regular-season Vikings games, will be able to hold that many with extra seating" for Super Bowl LII. Wilf: "It’s between 70,000-72,000. I think four to five thousand additional seats to make sure that the Super Bowl -- that was part of our bid -- and the stadium will accommodate it." Asked if there is anything the Vikings need to do to make the event more elaborate, Wilf said that this "wasn’t how the team is viewing the event." Wilf: "It’s not about bigger, but we want to make sure that all of the parts of the community participate" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/9).
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: In Minneapolis, Nick Williams reports regional airport officials are "expecting a large portion of VIP flyers to choose St. Paul Downtown Airport, also known as Holman Field," for Super Bowl LII. St. Paul Downtown Airport Manager Joe Harris said that the host committee is "working with airport officials to market and renovate" the airport. The airport last year "handled roughly 400 additional private aircraft departures and arrivals for the Ryder Cup," held at Hazeltine National Golf Club -- about 25 miles from Minneapolis (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/8).
GIVE A LITTLE BIT: In Minneapolis, Rochelle Olson noted the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee's 52 weeks of giving campaign "is on." The committee "donated $52,000" to the Loppet Foundation, money "raised from private donations." The Super Bowl committee is "giving out the grants in an effort to make Super Bowl LII a statewide event." The grants will be "targeted at youth sports safety." The Loppet Foundation "conducts youth outreach to improve community health" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 2/8).
