Final approval has been granted for the Minnesota Vikings to begin work on their new headquarters and practice facility in Eagan, Minnesota.
With the Minnesota Vikings moving into U.S. Bank Stadium to play football for the 2016 NFL season, game day will have a new look. However, that won’t be the only change the team is planning, as the franchise headquarters will have some major change as well.
Related Story: Vikings purchase land in Eagan, Minnesota
The team announced purchasing land in Eagan, Minnesota back in January of this year, but at the time they didn’t talk about the desired purpose for the property. While many speculated it was for the headquarters, that news didn’t come until later, when the facility was proposed to a vote by the Eagan City Council.
According to Vikings.com, team Chief Operating Officer Kevin Warren was excited about last night’s vote and feels this will help the Minnesota Vikings help the community as well as ensure the franchise leaders have a place to work for the future.
"“Tonight’s vote is an exciting step forward for the Minnesota Vikings and for the Eagan community, as we can now officially call Eagan our future home. This project offers a unique opportunity to do something incredibly special, to transform a beautiful but underdeveloped site into a regional destination with a strong community focus. We appreciate the collaboration with, and the guidance from, Eagan city staff, members of the City Council and Mayor Maguire over the past year, and we look forward to bringing this very special community asset to fruition.”"
For those curious about what the new headquarters will have to offer the franchise, here is a rundown of what will be available on the property’s 40 acres:
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- Five outdoor fields – four grass, one synthetic
- Outdoor stadium with an anticipated capacity of 6,000 (expandable)
- Outdoor training areas, including a sand pit and inclined surfaces
- Indoor practice facility with a 100-yard synthetic surface field and full-clear height for kicking
- Team auditorium and player position meeting rooms
- Media center/press facilities
- Expanded locker room, weight room and equipment facilities
- Cardiovascular and specialized speed rooms
- Hydrotherapy room and post-workout recovery rooms
- New administrative office for front office staff
Next: Vikings game-by-game 2016 season preview
The Minnesota Vikings are slowly moving into the future with state-of-the-art facilities for game day, practices, media events, and official team business. With the team continuing to improve every season, the franchise could be celebrating new things in every facet of its activities.