Experiencing Minnesota Vikings Training Camp

The time is coming with Monday May 25^th being Memorial Day which to me signals the start of summer.

The word summer has a lot of meaning but one specifically for Vikings fans and that is Minnesota Vikings Training Camp. This year will be even more special as it will be the 50^th year of Training Camp in Mankato. This is an event I highly recommend to all people especially Vikings fans. This year again will be special as I noted earlier with one more note and that is since the Vikings are playing in the Hall of Fame game the Vikings will come to Mankato earlier than normal.

I advise you to keep an eye on The Viking Age and Vikings.com as it gets closer it gets to camp so you can plan accordingly. Monday May 25^th is just around the corner, being Memorial Day, which get your dates and times. If you are planning on coming to spending the night, please book your hotel rooms as soon as possible because these hotels gets booked quickly especially the ones close to campus.

Times and dates will be listed but also noteworthy is the Minnesota Vikings reserve the right to make changes in the schedule due mainly to weather. Please check websites or call before you make the trip if you are questioning the weather. Training Camp is free to get in with the only cost of parking which is right across from Training Camp. There are other places to park if you do some research but the closest and easiest walk is right across the street.

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp- picture taken in 2014 by Todd Walkingstick

A large white tent with a Purple top that says Vikings Training Camp on it is where you enter free of charge. The carpet is a beautiful color of purple. In the tent you will find the Vikings Locker Room where you can buy Vikings merchandise. The tent is nicely air-conditioned as well as this time of year gets extremely hot.

The Training Camp days themselves have consisted of 2 practices a day with a walk through in the morning for about 2 hours. The players just have jerseys on with no pads. The afternoon session typically goes from 3-5:15 and this is where players have been putting their pads on and display some hitting.

The Minnesota Vikings also have a family night on a Saturday and again check the website. It is a night practice with a lot of action. The last few years’ crowds of 8-10,000 have been going to this. The event is held at Minnesota State Blakeslee Field.

The practice themselves are typically held on three different fields which are right next to each other. There are bleachers in which you can sit and take in the action. There is a lot to watch with the 3 different fields going at once so pick your passion. There is time where the field closest to the stands you can watch 7 on 7 drills or even the 11 on 11.

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp 2014- picture taken by Todd Walkingstick

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp is family friendly with a lot of things set up for kids to do. There is even a few food vendors set up so you can get your food and beverage.

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp 2014- picture taken by Todd Walkingstick

There are also 2 large bathrooms on the backside of Blakeslee Field. If you do decide to leave for whatever reason you may certainly return with no issues since it is free.

The Minnesota Vikings also have an autograph zone for fans after the morning practice. It is a 20 minute time limit. It is each day a different unit of players sign autographs. One day may be quarterbacks, the next defensive lineman and so forth.

If you check the Vikings website it will give you dates and what group is signing. There are no guarantees of course you will meet all those players but it sure is fun to see how many you can meet. There are typically 8 lines for different players.

The one thing about camp is it is the once chance you have to get close to your favorite player. There is never any guarantee in life but it doesn’t hurt to try to get a picture with a player or even an autograph. One of my true joys is watching a kid come flying out of a pack of people with a huge smile after getting an autograph from a player.

Minnesota Vikings Training Camp 2014- picture with Captain Munnerlyn- Todd Walkingstick

I add one story as I stopped by Kwik Trip on campus and just as I pulled in a super nice SUV pulled up next to me. I take a look up and it is Adrian Peterson. In seconds is car was flooded with fan so much that I could not even get out of my car. All I could do is roll my window down and tell him to have a good season.

Mankato sees thousands of Vikings fan flood the city along with 90 Vikings fans. It does not hurt to look around when you are in Mankato because you never know.

I was in Target in line one day when Randall McDaniel and Mike Morris got in line behind me. I was going into Wal-Mart and out came Tarvaris Jackson and Jim Kleinsasser. I was eating at Red Lobster when Ed McDaniel walked by our table. These are just a few cool stories amongst many.

I have gone to Minnesota Vikings Training Camp 21 years straight and am proud to say in the first 20 years I only missed 6 days total. I have tried to get as many people from my town to go to Mankato and I have yet to have someone tell me they did not like it. I encourage you to make the trip for a day and just see what you think, The Vikings are your team and it is awesome to see them up close.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

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