In the big picture, adding a sum of money like $14 million to the total of the $1 billion cost of the Minnesota Vikings facility may seem like a drop in the bucket. And honestly, it probably is. But when that sum is going toward enhancing the fan experience, that can make a big difference in the eyes of those who put their hard-earned money down to attend a game.
Jun 11, 2013; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the side of the field at the Minnesota Vikings Minicamp at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
According to an article on Vikings.com, $13 million of the money will go toward increasing the number of HDTV monitors in the building from 800 to approximately 2,000. That money will also be used to strengthen the structure to support those video monitors as well as upgrade the control system for the monitors. The remainder of the money is said to go to lighting and utility enhancements as well as exterior signage.
Between the extra monitors and enhanced lighting, it does sound like the Minnesota Vikings want to make sure that fans can always see the action and that they don’t miss out on anything inside the new state of the art facility. With the money that is being spent on the multi-purpose stadium, it’s good to see more money going into it rather than cutting corners to lower the cost.
While the price tag for the stadium may seem extremely high, making it one of the best facilities to host events will help draw in popular fixtures such as the NCAA Final Four, the NFL’s Super Bowl and maybe even WWE’s Wrestlemania. Those type of events will be a major money-maker for the State of Minnesota as well as the city of Minneapolis and the surrounding area.
With more work to be done on the stadium, it wouldn’t be surprising to see even more money contributed to the project before the build is complete. But it’s great to see that the Minnesota Vikings as well as the State of Minnesota are working together to make sure that the new stadium will be a great experience for fans from around the world.
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