building a legacy: u.s. bank stadium

BUILDING A LEGACY

JULY 11-17, 2016 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ❘ STREET & SMITH’S SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL 1A

BUILDING A LEGACY

2A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ❘ STREET & SMITH’S SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL JULY 11-17, 2016

Rising as a spectacular glass and metal architectural marvel in the heart of Minneapolis, the newly completed U.S. Bank Stadium is the culmination of a vision the Minnesota Vikings have pursued for more than a decade.

The team and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority will host an official rib-bon cutting and opening ceremony on July 22, followed by the stadium’s first sporting event on Aug. 3, with defend-ing Premier League champions Chel-sea FC and AC Milan facing off for the 2016 International Champions Cup. Luke Bryan, the 2015 American Coun-try Music Entertainer of the Year, and Metallica will perform Aug. 19 and 20, respectively, all before the Vikings kick off their first regular season home game against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 18. U.S. Bank Stadium will host the Super Bowl in 2018 and the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2019.

“When we took over ownership 12 years ago, we had three priorities — to create a world-class experience for fans, to become involved in the Minne-sota community and to bring a Super Bowl to Vikings fans,” said Mark Wilf, president of the Vikings. “We’ve accomplished two of the three and are

working hard toward the third. U.S. Bank Stadium is one of the greatest sports venues in the world.”

With a transparent roof and five piv-oting glass doors soaring up to nine stories tall, U.S. Bank Stadium gives fans an outdoor experience while pro-tecting them against harsh Minnesota winters.

The stadium has the intimate feel of a basketball arena, with the seating bowl pushed as close as possible to the turf, the closest in the NFL. The front-row seats are stationed a tight 41 feet from the field. The turf suites sit a mere 25 feet from the grass.

To bring this unprecedented design to fruition, Wilf credits the appreciable number of Fortune 500 companies based in Minnesota for stepping in to pave the way, along with a strong pub-lic-private partnership with the state of Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis.

“One of the great things about Min-nesota is the willingness of the business community to step forward and serve as a critical voice in getting these facili-ties approved,” Wilf said. “U.S. Bank’s CEO Richard Davis and many mem-bers of the business community were instrumental in getting the message across that a new stadium is integral for future economic development in Min-neapolis-St. Paul, is an important bene-fit for current businesses and their employees and is a tool to bring new companies to the area. Without all our Founding Partners, we would not be where we are today.”

“The community here has been incredible,” said Kevin Warren, chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings. “It’s really special when compa-nies and governments can enter into public-private agreements and every-one involved keeps his word right to the end, with the ultimate goal of bene-fitting our region. The project we’ve all created can be a template for other communities, showing that public-pri-vate partnerships CAN work and that they can make a profound impact on the community.”

As part of the public-private partner-ship agreement, the stadium is owned and operated by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority.

“The Metrodome was a concrete stadium in a sea of surface parking lots,” said Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. “We wanted the stadium to be an economic catalyst and it has been. There is over $1 billion in private development that is already under con-struction in the blocks surrounding the stadium — new office buildings, new apartments, new stores and restau-rants and a great new public park.”

The opening of U.S. Bank Stadium adds to Minneapolis-St. Paul’s already rich sports venue mix, including Target Field, opened in 2010 and home of the Twins; TCF Bank Stadium, opened in 2009 and home to the University of Minnesota; and the Xcel Energy Center, opened in 2000 and home of the Wild.

“Everybody in the Minnesota sports community is excited to add U.S. Bank Stadium to the mix,” said Dave St. Peter, president of the Minnesota Twins. “The Twin Cities sports market has undergone a remarkable transfor-mation in the last few years. Our ven-ues create an incredibly dynamic foun-dation to support the avidity of our region’s fan base. I congratulate the Wilf family and all those involved in building

BUILDING A LEGACY

SEE VISION, PAGE 4A

The steel framing on the stadium’s west side replicates a ship’s prow and is a signature architectural

feature of U.S. Bank Stadium.

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U.S. Bank Stadium’s panoramic views of Minneapolis create the feel of an outdoor event and connect the stadium to its urban environment.

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Workers install the elements of the new home field for the Vikings, hoisting the goals posts and installing new field turf.

Fan Experience Fuels Vikings Vision For U.S. Bank Stadium

“One of the great things about Minnesota is the willingness of the business community to step forward and serve

as a critical voice in getting these facilities

approved.”MARK WILF

PRESIDENT I MINNESOTA VIKINGS

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T H A N K Y O U T O O U R F O U N D I N G PA R T N E R S


the new stadium. It took years and years of discussion and vision to bring it about. It’s an engineering marvel. ”

“Our region is becoming known as a top destination for sports and entertain-ment, thanks to yet another spectacu-lar venue for fans to experience,” said Matt Majka, chief operating officer for the Minnesota Wild. “We wish the Vikings all the best in their new home.”

This summer, the community’s next stadium will be underway as Minnesota United FC breaks ground on its own 23,000-seat Major League Soccer home in St. Paul. The privately funded venue, opening in 2018, is expected to spur economic development in its sec-tion of the Twin Cities.

“Congratulations to the Minnesota Vikings organization on the completion of U.S. Bank Stadium,” said Nick Rog-ers, president of Minnesota United FC. “As a region, we have some of the most innovative and dynamic stadiums in the world and this is a tremendous addition to our sporting community.”

Just as important as these stadiums have been for fans, the projects have helped reshape the community in a variety of ways.

“The rest of the business community has really responded to U.S. Bank Sta-dium,” said Warren. “Even though the stadium is built on the same site, in an area that had been mostly populated by parking lots, the new stadium has created an energy around it and has served as an economic catalyst.”

“U.S. Bank Stadium has changed the lives of people in this community. We brought 8,000 construction jobs and more than 300 Minnesota busi-nesses contributed to the project. Ninety percent of the construction dol-lars — $750 million — went back into the Minnesota community. The part-ners set and surpassed goals for con-tracts with minority-, women- and vet-eran-owned companies and to hire minority and women construction workers. And together the parties did it all in 30 months, six weeks ahead of schedule.”

“The state set extremely aggressive goals for contracting with women-, minority- and veteran-owned busi-nesses and for hiring women, minorities and veterans,” said John Wood, senior vice president for M.A. Mortenson Co., the Minnesota firm that served as the stadium’s construction manager. “There was some doubt in the community as

to whether those unprecedented num-bers could be reached. We’re very proud that we not only achieved those goals, but exceeded them.”

Of the total $1.1 billion cost, the state contributed $348 million and the city of Minneapolis, another $150 million. The Wilf family covered the rest, contribut-ing additional money as needed to ensure their top priority — the fan expe-rience — was top notch.

“The Wilf family added another $125 million to enhance the fans’ experience and ensure that this was a world-class facility,” Warren said. “That demon-

strates the dedication Mark and Zygi have to create lifelong memories for every fan and to create an environment that the team and coaches can be proud to play in. The whole environ-ment says, ‘Welcome and have fun.’”

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the fans’ faces when they see this stadium compared to the old Metrodome,” Wilf said. “They’ll be amazed at how beauti-fully this stadium has come together, whether it’s the doors or the Fantasy Lounge or the ETFE roof. The fan expe-rience was our No. 1 priority and we didn’t cut anything from our budget when it came to our fans.”

Built on the grounds of the former 32-year-old Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, a closed facility that was home to the Vikings, Twins and the Uni-versity of Minnesota, U.S. Bank Stadium has reshaped the eastern part of downtown Minneapolis.

“We are humbled and grateful that we’ve been able to experience this soon-to-be iconic stadium from initial vision to final construction,” said Wilf. “And I can’t wait to see how fans enjoy the stadium for generations to come. U.S. Bank Stadium has provided an incredible energy boost in what it means to be a Minnesotan.”

BUILDING A LEGACY

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VISION, FROM PAGE 2A

The Hyundai Club includes the closest club seats to the field in the NFL located just 41 feet from the sideline.

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The U.S. Bank shield and script is prominently displayed on all four sides of U.S. Bank Stadium.

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Built on the grounds of the former 32-year-old Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, a closed facility that was home to the Vikings, Twins and the University of Minnesota, U.S. Bank Stadium has reshaped

the eastern part of downtown Minneapolis.

Soaring 27 stories above the land-scape, U.S. Bank Stadium evokes an ancient Norse longboat sculpture ren-dered from modern glass and steel. The mix of history and materials is no coincidence.

The newly-opened home of the Vikings and their fans was designed around three core ideas — showcase the region and team’s heritage through a wealth of state-of-the-art technology and amenities, create an outdoor feel in a climate-controlled environment and establish an intimate connection between the fans and team.

“The old Metrodome served us well, but it was out of gas,” said Lester Bagley, Vikings executive vice president of public affairs and stadium develop-ment. “Built on an austere budget to begin with, it didn’t have any flexibility. It was too small, the concourses were too narrow and there weren’t enough restrooms or concession stands. The sports fans’ game day environment has evolved and, as our organization has continued to become progressive and innovative, we knew we needed to cre-ate a world-class destination that matched or exceeded fan expecta-tions. We also were never going to get a modern Super Bowl or an NCAA Final Four to benefit our region. It was time

for a new building.”It took more than a dozen years for

the Vikings and the community to get all the public and private logistics in place and four years to design and build the new stadium. Of the $1.1 billion price tag, approximately 55 percent is from private funds.

U.S. Bank Stadium, which officially opens in July, boasts 66,200 seats, 131

premium suites, six clubs, 8,200 club seats and double the square footage of the Metrodome.

The Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, owner and operator of the stadium, turned to HKS Architects of Dallas for design.

“HKS designed AT&T Stadium and Lucas Oil Stadium and we liked the fact that each one was different,” Bagley

said. “We were interested in stamping our building with our own unique Min-nesota signature. We wanted U.S. Bank Stadium to have a sense of place that reflects our culture and traditions.”

“Climate was one of the primary drivers of the design,” said Mark Wil-liams, principal for HKS. “The way that it’s shaped and formed is a direct response to the climate, though it’s interesting that people see the prow of a ship. We’ve leveraged the climate conditions to create a more sustainable facility. The clear ETFE roof is shaped to withstand wind and designed to shed snow but it also leverages light down into the bowl. The west-facing pivoting glass doors are not only beautiful, but also create natural air flow to help with heating and cooling.”

The design team and stadium part-ners focused on every detail of comfort for the fan, including details patrons may not notice.

“We deliberately designed the build-ing so sun would fall on fans, the oppo-site of many of our designs,” said Wil-liams. “No matter how cold it is, you feel psychologically warmer if you’re in the sun and can see a blue sky. It’s the kind of detail that will add to every fan’s


BUILDING A LEGACY

1,750,000 square feet • 30 stories tall • 66,200 seats, expandable to

70,000+ seats for the Super Bowl • 8,200

club seats • 131 premium suites • 6 club

lounges • 7 levels with two 360-DEGREE CONCOURSES • 33 escalators • 430

points of sale • 25,000 square feet of

VIDEO DISPLAYS • 5 pivoting 55 FT WIDE glass doors • 245,076 SF ETFE

roof, the largest in the U.S. • 2,000+ HD

flat screen televisions • 1.7M watts of sports

lighting • 979 restroom fixtures • 1598

DAS antennas • 1300 wireless access points

U.S. BANK STADIUM H I G H L I G H T S

www.mortenson.com/sports

REDEFINING WHAT’S POSSIBLE

See deSigN/buiLd, page 6a

Nearly 8,000 construction workers contributed to U.S. Bank Stadium with 90% of the construction dollars

going back to Minnesotans.

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Designed to Reflect the Vikings History and Showcase the Team’s Future


overall experience.”“We wanted a year-round building to

make it usable during Minnesota’s win-ter weather,” said Don Becker, Vikings lead project executive. “We loved this design because its nearly transparent nature gives us the feeling that we’re still playing football in the open air. Sixty percent of the roof is transparent and the entire west wall of the building is glass, giving us a constant connection to the outdoors. The stadium is flooded with natural light.”

U.S. Bank Stadium is also designed with a strong connection to downtown Minneapolis. The design team worked to enhance the city’s master plan, part-nering with city officials to add nearly two blocks of park space that connect to the central business district. The sta-dium is also integrated into Minneapolis’ sophisticated skyway system, the inter-linked enclosed pedestrian footbridges that connect more than eight miles of buildings. The stadium is also a major hub on the Twin Cities’ light rail system.

“We wanted a design that encour-ages a connection to the neighbor-hoods, that will spur economic devel-opment and act as a destination rather than a barrier,” said Michele Kelm-Hel-gen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. “HKS delivered on all of these requests. The design, the amount of glass and light and transpar-ency makes this an iconic building that is unique in the world. Our indoor sta-dium has an outdoor feel thanks to the

innovative roof and the largest operable doors in the world, designed just for Minnesota.”

Construction manager Mortenson Co. completed the building in 30 months, six weeks ahead of schedule. Some late additions to the design, such as the Vikings Voyage, an interactive fan space and Hall of Fame, and the northeast expansion space consisting of four group cabins and two bars, will be complete before the first event in August, said John Wood, senior vice president for Mortenson.

“Mortenson Construction did a phe-nomenal job keeping us ahead of schedule while building the most amazing stadium in the United States,” said Kelm-Helgen. “Mortenson took building the largest transparent roof in North America and the largest opera-ble doors in the world in stride and suc-ceeded. We are proud to be their part-ner.”

Mortenson, based in Minnesota and one of the nation’s top sports venue builders, built all of the current profes-sional sports venues in Minneapolis-St. Paul, including the Xcel Energy Center, Target Center, Target Field and TCF Bank Stadium. The company will also break ground this summer on a new 23,000-seat outdoor soccer stadium for Minnesota United FC.

“Our region is known for highly skilled, traditional craftsmen and it shows,” said Wood. “That level of craftsmanship shows in the phenome-nal quality of U.S. Bank Stadium.”

Vikings fans approach the stadium through the three-acre Medtronic Plaza, an outdoor extension of the sta-dium that’s open year round. The plaza houses the jaw-dropping Legacy Ship, the Norse longboat with a looming dragon figurehead, complete with glowing purple eyes and LED video board sail, as well as the polished steel, 107-foot-long sculpture, “The Horn.”

Medtronic Plaza, which leads directly to the west side of the stadium at the Legacy Gate, consists entirely of glass. Within the wall are five towering glass doors, soaring nine stories high and 55 feet wide, that can pivot open to bring the outdoor environment in. The glass doors, and their enormity, are unique to U.S. Bank Stadium.

Once inside, fans will immediately notice the comfort and ease the new venue brings, beyond the fact that the new stadium is entirely climate con-trolled.

“Even the basic amenities will make our fans happy,” said Bagley. “We have nearly 1,000 restrooms and 430 con-cession stands. All the concourses are open and wide and are easily accessi-

ble by our 11 elevators and 33 escala-tors. The whole building will be a lot more comfortable and create ease of access for all 66,200 patrons.”

The stadium boasts seven levels, including two general admission con-courses that fully encircle the stadium, giving fans 360-degree circulation.

The Vikings turned to Infinite Scale to design an interior that represents unique attributes of the Vikings – relentless, unifying and innovative – through partner integration and Vikings team branding throughout the venue. Infinite Scale is also working with Vikings partners Polaris, Medtronic, Thomson Reuters and Ecolab to design and implement their brand acti-vation spaces, as well as Buffalo Wild Wings and Mystic Lake for schematic

design work. “At every turn, we looked for ways

to enhance activations with authentic materials from Viking culture, using steel, wood, fabric, hardware and con-struction details, and to represent the importance of the word ‘handcrafted’ in the region,” said Zach Norman, design director for Infinite Scale.

“Our design team embraced the Vikings’ high-tech, community-based, family-oriented values in all the work,” said Molly Mazzolini, partner and direc-tor of brand integration at Infinite Scale. “Our goal was to create a uniform level of fan engagement, consistency, quality

BUILDING A LEGACY

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW DIGS.WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE FIRST MATCHON YOUR NEW PITCH.

deSigN/buiLd, From page 5a


U.S. Bank Stadium boasts the largest transparent ETFE roof in North America and the biggest glass doors

in the world.

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Despite U.S. Bank Stadium’s complexity,

mortenson Construction finished six weeks ahead of schedule.

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Fans have a spectacular view of the Minneapolis

skyline from the stadium’s Legacy gate and the world’s largest glass doors.

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and connection to the team across all partner activations and to ensure that every integration is consistent with the architectural and operational consider-ations of the facility.”

“The architectural design reflects the diverse cultures of Minnesota,” said Wil-liams. “One particular element of the culture is the emphasis placed on extraordinary hand-crafted work. Because of that, U.S. Bank Stadium has an unprecedented level of fine crafts-manship, such as woodwork, through-out. The facility has tremendous value for the dollars spent.”

A second key to the design is the intimacy of the bowl, with seats and suites pushed as close to the field as possible, the closest in the NFL. The front row of club seats is 41 feet from the turf and the Turf Club seats are a short 25 feet away.

“The intimacy, along with the acous-tically reflective roof, will contribute to the sheer volume of noise in the sta-dium, enhancing an already fantastic home field advantage,” said Becker.

The third, and most important, focus of the design was the fan experience during the entire visit to U.S. Bank Sta-dium.

One element that’s becoming more important to fans are the food and bev-erage offerings. The Vikings and sta-dium concessionaire Aramark teamed up with two James Beard-award win-ning chefs to create original dining con-cepts for the venue.

Andrew Zimmern, TV personality


BUILDING A LEGACY

M A T T E R S

E V E R Y

WISH ING THE V I K INGS THE BEST OF LUCK TH I S SEASON IN THE I R NEW STAD IUM!

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I N N O V A T E I N S T A L L K I C K O F F S U P P O R T



Building a Year-Round Diverse Calendar of EventsThe Minnesota Vikings and Minne-

sota Sports Facilities Authority brought in SMG, well known for public facility management, to handle the daily operations of the building, includ-ing booking. It is quickly becoming a year-round entertainment destination.

“We’ve already booked hundreds of events for the first 12 months; it’s been an unbelievable response,” said Patrick Talty, general manager for SMG at U.S. Bank Stadium. “We just announced our 90-minute tour pro-gram and we’re already completely sold out through November. For the Metallica concert on Aug. 20, we sold out in eight minutes.”

Christening the venue is the 2016 International Champions Cup on Aug. 3, with defending Premier League champions Chelsea FC and AC Milan facing off.

U.S. Bank Stadium is a finalist in its bid for the 2017 and 2018 ESPN X Games.

Because U.S. Bank Stadium was designed to convert to a baseball sta-dium, the facility is already booked to host more than 200 baseball games in the next year, including preseason games for the University of Minne-sota.

The facility has also booked proms, bar mitzvahs and three weddings, along with corporate and large reli-gious events. There’s a running club and rollerblading on the 360-degree

concourses on days when the venue isn’t in use.

“That shows the incredible versatil-ity of this building,” said Talty. “From seven to 70,000 people, from casual to high end, we can make every event work for the patron. One of our biggest roles is to ensure that U.S. Bank Stadium meets its financial objectives.”

SMG has focused on becoming a seamless part of the local community, successfully negotiating five collective bargaining agreements for stadium employees and creating a strong working relationship with local unions.

SMG is responsible for maintenance and capital improvements, setting stadium policies, guest services and handling details from trash service to cleaning.

On a typical game day, U.S. Bank Stadium and SMG will oversee more than 3,000 employees, 1,500 of those directly employed by SMG.

“U.S. Bank Stadium will be one of the premier facilities in the nation,” said Talty. “The Vikings and the MSFA have given us a fantastic platform and have made it easy for us to create new things and make the stadium the best it can be.”

Vikings home games are only one of the many sports and entertainment events that will be available

to fans throughout the year.

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and owner of Andrew Zimmern Can-teen, is bringing an outpost of his res-taurant – dubbed AZC Rotisserie – to the stadium. Zimmern has collaborated with Gavin Kaysen, chef and owner of the widely acclaimed, award-winning Spoon and Stable, to bring a second concept, AZC Hoagies, to the facility.

“We’re very happy to have brought Aramark on board for food and bever-ages,” said Bagley. “The company is known for bringing the best in fresh, local fare to their locations and working with great local companies and chefs such as Andrew and Gavin. We’ll have a great showcase of regional food and beverages.”

Two more Minnesota restaurants will be a prominent part of the dining mix. Ike’s Food & Cocktails, reminiscent of a supper club, is known for its signature Bloody Marys and handcrafted steak sandwiches, while Minneapolis-based Revival Restaurant is popular for its fried chicken and other southern specialties. More than a dozen additional Minne-sota restaurants will also be announced prior to the stadium’s opening.

ClubsThe Vikings wanted to create unique

elements in all of their club experiences. The Hyundai Club features 2,800 seats, including the closest club seats to the field in the NFL, just 41 feet from the sideline. The club features a wall of glass on the backside that looks out-side to the surrounding neighborhood. Situated between the 30-yard lines, the Hyundai Club provides the ultimate in

football viewing. In addition, fans will have an unparalleled audiovisual experi-ence with 25 high-definition televisions.

The Delta Sky360 Club, located directly adjacent to the Vikings locker room on field level, is the most ener-getic and unique setting. Club members will have exclusive access to the play-ers’ tunnel to watch their favorite Vikings walk to the field. A key feature of the club is a field-level patio located directly behind the Vikings team bench. The club, with only 1,300 seats, offers prime seating between the 20-yard lines.

The Medtronic Club, midway up the stadium’s south side and situated between the 30-yard lines, offers the highest level of finishes and amenities, including stone-clad fireplaces and lounge spaces. The Medtronic Club is

also the most exclusive, with only 1,100 seats.

Two other clubs, the Buffalo Wild Wings Club, above the Hyundai Club, and the Factory Motor Parts Club, above the Medtronic Club, also offer fantastic views of the field, high-defini-tion televisions and upscale food and beverage options.

“You have to see the projection screens in the Buffalo Wild Wings and Factory Motor Parts Clubs. There is nearly 100 feet of sight, sound and motion via six 32-foot by 9-foot screens, each using two-edge-blended, 12,000 ANSI lumen projec-tors,” said David Battershell, the audio-visual designer for Idibri, which provided design for the AV systems in the suites, clubs and locker rooms.

SuitesU.S. Bank Stadium has pulled

together a vast mix of 131 suites to appeal to a broad range of fans.

The 23 Turf Suites are a rare experi-ence for fans, as they sit mere feet from the field, the nearest fans can get to the action without a field pass. It gives fans a unique vantage point of sideline action. Every suite has an out-door patio — the actual turf. Turf Suite owners also have access to the pri-vate Delta Sky360 Club and bar rail access to the Vikings players’ tunnel, as well as access to other events and away games.

The 15 highly exclusive Norseman Lounge Suites are in the last stages of build out. Each of the 10-person suites has access to the Norseman Lounge and its private bar. The suites feature a full-service concierge staff.

The sold-out Norseman Suites are situated between the 20-yard lines and offer private club access to either the Fire Club or Hyundai Club. The 12 sold-out Valhalla suites offer access to the private Owner’s Club and Medtronic Club.

The eight Touchdown Suites in the east end zone are also sold out. They offer the closest seats to the field in the entire NFL. Suite holders have access to the private Delta Sky360 Club and bar rail access to the Vikings players tunnel.

The Loft Suites also offer access to either the Fire Club or the Ice Club and are located directly above the Fire and Ice Club seats, below the upper deck.

BUILDING A LEGACY

Congratulations to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and the Minnesota Vikings on completing this world-class stadium for the City of Minneapolis and State of Minnesota.

(608) 274-744733 E. Main Street, Suite 500

Madison, WI 53703

Hammes Company Project Management Owner Representation Real Estate Development


With viewing spots to see the team take the field and a field-level balcony, The delta Sky360 Club is a great example of the kind of unique spaces available to fans at U.S. Bank Stadium.

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To guarantee a great day at the sta-dium for every fan, the Vikings have built in a wealth of technological innova-tions and created a mobile app to make that technology easily accessible and user friendly.

“We’ve spent more than $60 million on the technology alone,” said Lester Bagley, the Vikings’ executive vice president of stadium development and public affairs. “Consider that the Vikings built the entire Metrodome in 1982 for $55 million.”

“Technology was considered from the start to be a key part of the stadium design,” said John Penhollow, vice president of corporate and technology partnerships for the Vikings. “Our core premise was to make technology rele-vant and useful for our passionate fan base, as well as for our football and game day operations groups. We wanted to build a system that would be flexible enough to accommodate con-stantly changing technology for years to come.”

The hub of U.S. Bank Stadium’s technology is the local area network, which connects the stadium’s key infra-structure. It was created and built by CenturyLink, one of U.S. Bank Stadi-um’s Founding Partners. CenturyLink also built the landline phone system for operations, suites and concession sta-

tions. The company’s cloud-based technology and predictive analytics will enable the Vikings to continually enhance the fan experience.

“We are proud to provide advanced communications and technology infra-structure, which represents state-of-the-art stadium technology and pro-vides one of the best game day experi-ences available today,” said Duane Ring, CenturyLink Midwest region president. “The in-stadium technology showcases CenturyLink’s brand and our products, including high speed Internet, cloud-

based technology and predictive ana-lytics. We are proud to serve the Minne-sota Vikings and their fans.”

The new stadium also boasts a neu-tral host distributed antenna system (DAS), created and built by Verizon, to ensure all 66,200 fans are able to use their cell phones on game day.

U.S. Bank Stadium’s Wi-Fi system, designed and installed by CenturyLink and its partner, AmpThink, will be enabled by1,300 access points, some of which will be installed into the hand-rails of the lower bowl seating sections

to allow for enhanced connectivity for those sitting close to the field.

“We believe that we’ve overbuilt the pipeline bandwidth capacity for this sea-son,” said Penhollow. “For most major stadiums that utilize a Wi-Fi system, only a portion of the audience has the ability to be on the venue’s Wi-Fi system at any given moment. We’ve built our pipeline so that all fans attending our games can jump on at the same exact time. We’ve built all of the infrastructure and systems with the Super Bowl (2018) and NCAA Final Four (2019) in mind. Technology changes so quickly these days, but we have the right infra-structure and partners, like CenturyLink, in place to handle future changes.”

CenturyLink also built the facility’s integrated IP network to provide content distribution to more than 2,000 high def-inition televisions throughout the sta-dium through a single system that will be managed on game days by the Viking Entertainment Network. The IP system is also synched with Daktronics’ 25,000 square feet of installed LED technology.

U.S. Bank Stadium boasts a full state-of-the-art 4K production room, from cameras to the displays, including eight 4K manned cameras, one 4K overhead and two wireless. Television

BUILDING A LEGACY

SMG WELCOMES U.S. BANK STADIUMTO OUR NETWORK OF NFL STADIUMS

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To inquire about SMG managed facilities call 1.866.BOOK.SMG or visit smgworld.com

See TeCHNoLogy, page 11a

With $60 million spent on technology alone, u.S. bank Stadium is one of the most connected and wired venues in the NFL.

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Modern Design and Leading Edge Technology Create the Best Experience for Every Fan

cameras will capture content using the 4K technology to bring clear, sharp images to not only the televisions, but also 16 video walls and the building’s exterior and interior video and LED boards.

“There are over 26,500 square feet (14.2 million pixels) of LED video boards, ribbon boards and ad panels integrated into the facility,” said Ben Cating, lead video designer for Idibri. “This is the first NFL facility to implement a full 4K, IP-based, video production system.”

Idibri of Dallas provided design for the video displays in the main seating bowl and the video production room, along with the design of the audiovisual systems for the suites, clubs and locker rooms.

“The design of the technical systems was really driven by the Vikings’ desire to provide the most engaging experi-ence to their faithful fans,” said Brian Elwell, project manager for Idibri. “From the earliest design conversations, archi-


BUILDING A LEGACY

From hockey’s greatest venue to football’s newest venue, congratulations Minnesota Vikings on your new home turf.

TeCHNoLogy, From page 10a

See TeCHNoLogy, page 12a

App Puts U.S. Bank Stadium in the Palm of Your HandThe Vikings bring all the new U.S.

Bank Stadium technology into every fan’s hands with a single mobile app that takes a fan from home to seat and home again.

“We put an emphasis on making the app intuitive with an incredible amount of content and footage that’s simple to access and use,” said Pen-hollow. “The app combines the team content and the stadium’s utility fea-tures so fans don’t have to toggle between apps to find what they want. We have 2,000 beacons installed around the stadium to enhance the app’s wayfinding fea-tures.”

The app has the ability to provide a fan with turn-by-turn walking instruc-tions to his or her seat once on the stadium’s Wi-Fi system. The wayfind-ing features will direct fans to the nearest restrooms, concession stands and retail stores. The digital ticketing features are key to enabling easier access into the building and transfer of tickets for those days when a fan is unable to attend in per-son.

This fall, the Vikings will begin a slow rollout of concession services from inside the app environment to fans in their seats.

“We’re starting cautiously with beverages and limited food options tied to express pick-up locations,” said Penhollow. “Our eventual goal is for all fans to be able to order food

and beverages to their seats through the app.”

The team is launching its Vikings Rewards loyalty program through the mobile app, which will award points for fan purchases and engagement, such as attending the team’s Training Camp practices or watching the weekly coach and player press con-ferences online. Points can be redeemed for merchandise, tickets and behind-the-scenes experiences.

The app also features games, fan-tasy football tracking, real-time statis-tics and scores from all NFL games, breaking Vikings news, podcasts and video-on-demand clips. It was devel-oped by VenueNext, an industry leader in sport and entertainment technology solutions.

In the very near future, Penhollow said, the stadium will look to create “geo-fence” and beacon activations for retail locations inside the stadium and throughout the region. A fan that has the Vikings app and enters the “geo-fence” around the retail loca-tion, for example, could be pushed a digital coupon or promotional mes-sage to their device.

“Everything we’ve created here is about enhancing the experience for the fans of today and tomorrow,” said Penhollow. “We’re opening to a sold-out building, but we will never take our fans for granted. We will constantly evolve and improve the technology, along with every aspect of our fans’ experience, to continuously earn everyone’s time and loyalty.”

Vikings app integrates team content with stadium functionality, eliminating the need for fans to

toggle between two apps.

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A control center with far reaching capabilities

makes the U.S. Bank Stadium video boards an

integral part of the game day experience.M

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tect HKS was focused on emerging technologies to make sure that the Vikings’ vision would be realized.”

To enhance the stadium’s intimate feel, the two end zone video boards are physically closer to the fan and field than usual.

“Fans can look directly right or left to see replays or advertising content with-out strain,” said Jay Parker, Daktronics’ vice president of live events and spec-taculars market. “It’s another detail that will add to a fan’s overall comfort.”

The larger west end zone video board is 13 times bigger than its prede-cessor at the Metrodome and mea-sures 68 feet high by 120 feet wide; the east end zone board measures 50 feet high by 88 feet wide. Both feature wing displays on each side to provide room for additional content, as well as static ad displays for permanent sponsor sig-nage.

To deliver a crisp, clear picture through the brightness shining in from the transparent roof, Daktronics, who also installed the ribbon displays at the upper concourse, club and press lev-els, utilized its premier 13HD outdoor technology.

For the exterior, the company cre-ated the curved sail display for the showcase Legacy Ship at the entrance to the stadium, which will serve as the stadium’s marquee, as well as the trap-ezoid-shaped 2,500-square-foot dis-play for the “prow” of the building.

“The Legacy Ship is a spectacular feature that will be the highlight of the stadium,” said Parker. “No one’s ever

asked us to do something quite like this before. Our engineers had fun con-structing this sail that curves outward from top to bottom and making sure every piece lines up exactly right for the

best picture possible. We are also proud that all of the technology was built right in the Vikings’ home state of Minnesota, by avid Vikings fans, in our Redwood Falls facility.”

In addition to its products, Daktron-ics is providing a mix of training and event support to ensure a smoothly operating game day experience for the Vikings.

BUILDING A LEGACY

TeCHNoLogy, From page 11a

• $1.1 billion total price tag• $348 million from the state of Minnesota • $150 million from the city of

Minneapolis• $602-plus million in private funding,

including more than $125 million in additional funding from the Vikings’ original $477 million commitment

• 1.75 million square feet, twice the size of the Metrodome

• 5 pivoting glass doors, each 55 feet wide and ranging from 75 to 95 feet high, the largest of their kind

• 272 feet high at the tip of the prow• 200,000 square feet of glass• 240,000 square feet of transparent ETFE

roof material, the largest in the nation• 66,200 seats, expandable to 70,000• 7 levels

• 131 luxury suites• 6 club spaces• 8,200 club seats• 2 team retail shops• 2,000 HD televisions• 33 escalators• 11 elevators• 40 Minnesota artists• 350 pieces of commissioned artwork• 250 five-foot by seven-foot framed

photographs• $60-plus million in technology • 1,300 Wi-Fi access points • 14 million LED pixels • 30,000 square feet of video displays

inside and out• 979 restrooms• 430 concession points of sale• 41-foot distance from front row to

turf, the most intimate bowl in the NFL

• $1 billion in development projects announced for the surrounding area

• 30 months completion, six weeks ahead of schedule

• 8,000 construction workers total• 1,500 construction workers on site at

its peak• $700 million in construction funds

flowing back to the Minnesota community

• 300 Minnesota businesses involved in construction

• 32 percent minority workforce; six percent women, exceeding the original hiring goals

• 11 percent of construction contracts went to women-owned firms; nine percent to minority-owned firms, again exceeding the project goals

There are over 14.2 million pixels of Led video boards, ribbon boards and ad panels integrated

into the facility.

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The glass walls of u.S. bank Stadium reflect a sharp image of the Minneapolis skyline.

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U.S. BANK STADIUM BY THE NUMBERS

Proud construction workers sign their work on

the new stadium.

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Founding Partners, sponsors and fans have enthusiastically responded to the state-of-the-art, amenity-packed U.S. Bank Stadium, with suites, club seats and season tickets selling at a brisk pace.

“Stadium Builder’s Licenses (SBL) were relatively new to our marketplace, but our fans have positively responded to our vision of what their experiences can and should be at U.S. Bank Sta-dium,” said Steve LaCroix, executive vice president and chief marketing offi-cer for the Vikings.

It helps that the team has had a strong showing on the field too, said LaCroix. The Minnesota Vikings had an 11-5 regular season record last year, winning the NFC North.

Of the 49,700 SBLs available at 18 price points, 97 percent sold before the stadium was complete, with the remainder expected to sell out before the Vikings kick off for their first game in late August.

The Vikings, via Van Wagner, have sold all of the 8,200 club seats and all but two of the 131 suites.

“We have a wide variety of options in the mix, at different price levels, and all of them have sold quickly,” said LaCroix. “Fans are wowed by the indoor-outdoor design, the intimate feel

with seats pushed close to the action and the ease and convenience of the concourses. It’s a venue that every detail included has been executed with them in mind.”

Major companies based in Minne-sota have also responded with enthusi-

asm. The stadium currently boasts eight Founding Partners, including Cen-turyLink, Hy-Vee, Land O’Lakes, Miller-Coors, Mystic Lake, Pentair, Polaris and Verizon.

“We’ve seen U.S. Bank Stadium go from a drawing on a piece of paper to its rise out of the ground as a building,” said Jeff Knapple, president and CEO of Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment. “It’s a spectacular building.”

Van Wagner came on board to help the Minnesota Vikings through the naming rights process and was tasked with selling the stadium’s SBLs, as well

as designing the 7,500 square-foot interactive Preview Center – the largest ever built by an NFL team. Knapple said the company will work in a client ser-vice role for the Vikings into future years.

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp

bought the naming rights for numbers upwards of $200 million, as reported in SportsBusiness Journal.

Medtronic, a medical device com-pany with operations in Minnesota, plays a significant role with its three-acre Medtronic Plaza as the gateway to the stadium and with the Medtronic Club, an exclusive club in U.S. Bank Stadium located between the 30-yard lines on the home side of the field.

Minnesota-based companies Pen-tair, a global diversified manufacturer of


BUILDING A LEGACY

WELCOME TO U.S. BANK STADIUM

GJALLARHORN

PREPARETHE

Van Wagner Sports & Entertainment proudly congratulates the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority as they open the doors to U.S. Bank Stadium

See FouNdiNg, page 14a

Corporate Partners Support Suite and Seating Options

Below is a complete list of

the Founding Partners for

U.S. Bank Stadium:

• CenturyLink (Wi-Fi, IPTV, phone systems, Internet bandwidth)

• Hy-Vee (community partner)

• Land o’Lakes (community partner)

• millerCoors (product sales, Lite Lounge)

• mystic Lake Casino Hotel (Mystic Lake’s Club Purple)

• pentair (Pentair gate)• polaris (Polaris gate) • Verizon

(Verizon gate, charging stations, distributed antenna system)

Significant partners• medtronic

(Medtronic Plaza, Medtronic Club)• 3m (construction materials)• delta air Lines “(Delta Sky360

Club)• Hyundai (Hyundai Club)• buffalo Wild Wings

(Buffalo Wild Wings Club)• mills Fleet Farm

(Mills Fleet Farm Parking Garage)• pepsi (pouring rights)• ecolab (Ecolab gate)• Thomson reuters

(Thomson Reuters Press Level)• Factory motor parts (FMP Club)• Caribou Coffee (pouring rights)

“We have 17 Fortune 500 companies in Minnesota and we’re proud that so many major Minnesota-based companies have stepped up and partnered with us in U.S. Bank Stadium.”

STEVE LACROIX EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER I MINNESOTA VIKINGS


BUILDING A LEGACY

equipment protection, among other products, and Polaris, manufacturer of snowmobiles and off-road vehicles, are each sponsoring a gate and con-course, as is Ecolab, another Minne-sota-based company.

Land O’Lakes, the nation’s premier dairy and agri-business company, will have an iconic scrim signage position

within the seating bowl.CenturyLink, which built much of the

stadium’s technological infrastructure, and Hy-Vee, a regional grocery chain, are sponsoring the tunnel covers at field level.

MillerCoors, the Vikings’ official beer sponsor, has created the Miller Lite Lounge, which offers retail and fan acti-vation opportunities throughout the state of Minnesota.

Both South Korean car maker Hyundai and Delta Airlines have stepped up to sponsor clubs within the stadium. The Delta Sky360 Club, located next to the Vikings locker room, gives fans unparalleled access to the team entering the playing field. The Hyundai Club’s seats are the clos-est to the field in the NFL, only 41 feet from the sideline.

“Every one of our Founding Partners

has played a very significant role in bringing the vision of U.S. Bank Stadium to life,” said LaCroix. “We’ve created unique, iconic branding opportunities that we’ve targeted aggressively to companies and the results show. We have 17 Fortune 500 companies in Min-nesota and we’re proud that so many major Minnesota-based companies have stepped up and partnered with us in U.S. Bank Stadium.”

FouNdiNg, From page 13a

Mystic Lake’s Club Purple: The Hottest Scene in Minneapolis-St. PaulMystic Lake’s Club Purple is the

most dynamic and unique club in U.S. Bank Stadium. Fully outfitted in the Vikings’ iconic deep purple color, the club is located in the northwest cor-ner and serves as the headquarters for fantasy football.

The 28,225-square-foot space offers unparalleled views both outside the stadium and down onto the field.

Mystic Lake’s Club Purple’s deep out-door balcony has fire pits and show-cases The Commons park and the downtown Minneapolis skyline. Fans stay on top of the action with some of the best views in the house from three types of seating — lounge couches, loge boxes and club seats — stacked in tiers.

The hub of Mystic Lake’s Club Purple is the open display kitchen for fans to watch “celebrity chef”-style cooking, as well as three bars within the space. During breaks in the action, fans will receive fantasy football stats and updates on all NFL games from hosts located in the space. All-inclusive food and beverages, bottle service availability and table service come with tickets and fans have VIP parking access, along with a private entrance and restrooms. With three bars and three types of seating, mystic Lake’s Club purple is sure to be a fan favorite.

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Gjallarhorn Finds Special Place in U.S. Bank Stadium

The Vikings have given the iconic Gjallarhorn a place of honor in U.S. Bank Stadium, with its own suspended platform overlooking the field from the northwest corner. The new platform ensures fans all over the building can witness the Vikings’ pregame tradition of sounding the horn. According to Norse mythology, the Gjallarhorn was

sounded to announce the arrival of the gods. Since 2007, the Vikings Gjallar-horn, sounded by a notable community figure at every home game, has sig-naled the arrival of the team and the beginning of a great battle on the grid-iron. The horn is also blown throughout the game to celebrate monumental plays.

Fans stay on top of the action with some of the best views in

the house from three types of seating —

lounge couches, loge boxes and club seats

— stacked in tiers.

The gjallarhorn has long signaled the arrival of the team on game days.

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U.S. Bank Stadium showcases the history of the Vikings and the region through an outstanding array of com-missioned art works, sculptures and interactive experiences, like the Vikings Voyage and the jaw-dropping Legacy Ship.

“The Legacy Ship carries such spe-cial significance for us because of our history and our region’s history with Vikings and the prominent northern European culture,” said Tanya Dreesen, vice president of partnership activation and special projects for the Vikings. “Our ‘drakkar,’ or longboat, is a 150-foot-long granite, steel and alumi-num sculpture on our three-acre Medtronic Plaza and it defines every-thing the Vikings are about.”

The highlight of the longboat is the 40-foot tall by 50-foot wide sail, which stands on a 55-foot-tall mast and is curved, as though a strong wind were blowing the ship forward. It’s actually a 2,000-square-foot LED video board that will serve as the stadium’s mar-quee and will be controlled through the Vikings Entertainment Network.

The ship’s figurehead, an abstract dragon with glowing purple eyes, looms 43 feet over the plaza, carrying the Vikings’ trademark horns. On the hull are eight shields, each five feet in diameter, telling the story of one of the eight Founding Partners — Century-Link, Hy-Vee, Land O’Lakes, MillerCo-ors, Mystic Lake Casino, Pentair, Polaris and Verizon.

The hull also sports rows of oars with lighting that can be calibrated with celebratory moments in the game.

Once on the ADA-friendly ship, fans will spot the 14,000 Legacy Bricks serv-

ing as the ship’s deck. Dreesen said the Vikings only allowed individuals to purchase the personalized bricks, instead of corporations, so that fans could etch their names into Minnesota history.

“The Legacy Bricks were a perfect opportunity to recognize the passion-ate fans who have supported this team for more than 50 years,” said Mark Wilf, Vikings owner and president.

The reader rail around the deck will tell the story of the Vikings.

“The Legacy Ship will be where everyone will want to have their great-est photo moments,” said Dreesen. “We can’t wait to see the deck packed with people snapping photos that cap-ture their excitement.”

Also sharing space on Medtronic Plaza is the newest sculpture, “The Horn.” The 100-foot-long sculpture

consists of two steel ribbons, in Vikings sunrise gold and deep purple, intertwining to form a giant Gjallar-horn. The Horn is privately funded by Medtronic and is their public art gift to the community.

“The Minnesota Vikings tradition is to sound the Gjallarhorn before every home game,” Dreesen said. “In Norse


BUILDING A LEGACY

See SpeCiaL projeCTS, page 16a

more than 14,000 fans etched their name in history with commemorative Legacy bricks.

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Vikings Develop Deeper Connection with Fans Through Unique Gathering Spaces

The Vikings only allowed individuals

to purchase the 14,000 personalized

Legacy Bricks, instead of corporations, so that fans could etch

their names into Minnesota history.


mythology, the Gjallarhorn was sounded to announce the arrival of the gods. It’s only appropriate that ‘The Horn’ will usher fans toward every great gridiron battle the Vikings have at home.”

Vikings VoyageInside the stadium, fans will find the

Vikings Voyage, an interactive digital experience that is free of charge, with a wall of windows overlooking the beauty of Medtronic Plaza. The Vikings Voyage, a new addition to the stadi-um’s design, will be completed in August.

“The Vikings Voyage is an exciting piece for us that hasn’t been done in the NFL. It is our key brand expression moment,” said Dreesen. “We have created it as a ‘thank you’ to our fans. The Vikings Voyage will give our fans a unique opportunity to actively engage with the team while learning the history of our players and positions, participat-ing in athletic contests and consuming video.”

The 10,000-square-foot space is fluid with highly digital interactions. Uti-lizing brand new OLED transparent technology, the Vikings have created displays using images of players in team uniforms. The displays interac-tively tell the history of the Vikings through the evolu-tion

of the team uniforms. There is also the life-size fierce 1970s Purple People Eaters defensive line, where fans can become legends in this distinctive photo opportunity. Fans can walk through a full-sized Viking ship hull that uses 30 feet of customized projection mapping to share the culture of the region and history of the team.

“The hull celebrates the North,” said Dreesen. “The North is a culture and a place; it’s an attitude of innovation, unity and relentlessness that also exemplifies the Vikings. With the hull, we honor the strong emotional con-nection we all have for the North.”

The Vikings Voyage features four athletic areas for fans to show off their prowess, including Prove Your Honor, Sky to Valhalla, Forge Your Strength and Speed Prevails. Scores go on the leaderboard, which fans can monitor through the RFID system.

“One of our most spectacular pieces honors wide receiver Cris Cart-

er’s 1,000th catch, with 1,000 chromed, reflective football sculp-tures suspended from the ceiling,” said Dreesen. Carter was the sec-

ond NFL player ever to catch 1,000 passes. He spent more than a decade with the Minnesota Vikings and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He is considered one of the best wide receivers of all time.

The ArtIn an ode to honor and celebrate

the tremendous artists and craftsmen in the region and continue to embrace the distinctive traits of Min-nesota, the Vikings commissioned 350 original art works, primarily from Minnesota artists, and brought in another 250 oversized — up to five feet by seven feet each — framed photographs. The team hired Sports & The Arts to assist in curating the 600-piece collection.

The Vikings and the Wilf family pri-vately funded the high-quality collec-tion to give the facility a sense of place and to reflect Minnesota’s cul-ture and heritage.

The 40-plus artists, eight students and 13 muralists/apprentices in the

collection have created paintings, graffiti, multimedia pieces and sculp-ture focused on the region, culture and people. Two significant murals, 25 to 35 yards long (85 to 100-plus feet long), will line the concourses.

Nationally known artist David Rath-man is a contemporary mixed media artist who works with watercolor, paper and canvas. His creation reflects football in Minnesota. Addi-tionally, Minnesota artist Greg Gossel, described as a mix of Shepard Fairy and Roy Lichtenstein, is creating a pop art style mural for the building.

The Vikings are also celebrating three of their alumni who are artists – Jim Marshall, Carl Eller and Matt Blair, each contributing to a one-of-a-kind art collection.

Eller, a Pro Football Hall of Fame Vikings defensive end in the 1960s and 1970s, and now a well-regarded ceramicist, has created a sculpture about Minnesota lakes, consisting of ceramic bowls shaped and glazed to give the feeling of water and motion. Displayed in a wall-mounted case, the bowls are arranged to suggest Minnesota state lakes from north to south.

“All of the art in U.S. Bank Stadium is a great reflection of the robust art community, diversity and multicultur-alism of Minnesota,” said Dreesen. “Through our art, the Legacy Ship and the Vikings Voyage, we’re looking to connect with our fans and inspire them. When fans come for the first game, we want to show them what it means to ‘Defend the North.’”

BUILDING A LEGACY

SpeCiaL projeCTS, From page 15a

The 10,000-square foot interactive Vikings Voyage allows fans to engage and compete with other fans while learning Vikings history.

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“Through our art, the Legacy Ship and the Vikings Voyage, we’re looking to connect with our

fans and inspire them. When fans come for the first game, we want to show them what it means

to ‘Defend the North.’”TANYA DREESEN

VICE PRESIDENT OF PARTNERSHIP ACTIVATION AND SPECIAL PROJECTS I MINNESOTA VIKINGS

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Two concourse murals spanning nearly 100 feet are part of the 600-piece art collection located throughout the stadium.

building a legacy: u.s. bank stadium

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