$6.6 Million In TCF Upgrades Will Include Winterizing

Oct 27, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers take the field prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers defeated the Boilermakers 44-28. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

What do you do when you “winterize” your house? Put some plastic over the windows, get some of those things to shove under the doors to cut down on drafts, maybe plug in a space heater?

Now what do you do when you need to winterize an entire stadium?

That’s the issue facing the Vikings as they make plans to move into their temporary home at TCF Bank Stadium. The facility just wasn’t designed to be used in the depths of winter, so improvements will need to be made.

$6.6 million in improvements, by the Vikings’ reckoning.

These upgrades will include installing heating elements under the field to keep it from freezing into a concrete-like surface (the way it did in 2010, when Brett Favre about cracked his head open on it). Certain equipment will also need to be winterized to prevent freezing damage.

The artificial turf will also have to be replaced. The Vikings will also add camera platforms, storage space and temporary bleachers for 1,750 more frozen butts.

The $6.6 million will account for about half of the $16-or-so million earmarked for upgrades and stadium operations in the original project budget. The Vikings have submitted their proposal to the U of M Board of Regents, and it’s expected to pass on Friday.

So the next time you get annoyed at having to tape some plastic over your windows to keep out the winter chill, just be grateful that’s all you need.

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