The US Bank Stadium is one of the NFL’s newer stadiums and rated as one of the best. This was my second time at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and my fourth time in Minneapolis watching a Minnesota Vikings Game. It was also my fifth NFL game, and the 4th stadium I have been to, as I experienced two former stadiums in Minneapolis and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
US Bank Stadium is definitely a massive upgrade from the previous stadiums. Whenever you drive around downtown Minneapolis you will be in awe as you see the booming stadium towering over downtown. The exterior of the stadium is modern and an architectural masterpiece. The grandness of the stadium will be apparent as you walk the streets to the game surrounded by purple jerseys. And speaking of going to the game, if you plan to go for breakfast or a few beers prior, make sure you do that…. go early, really early. We had trouble finding a place for breakfast and finding parking in the downtown area, but we eventually found a place. After the breakfast, I headed off on my own to the game. As I walked through the streets, it became apparent I was the only Chargers fan strolling the streets. I was surrounded by Vikings fans, but everyone was friendly and there were no problems aside from the odd friendly banter.
Outside the stadium, there were a lot of people, but I didn’t see a ton of tailgating. The tailgating definitely didn’t compare to Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium. Although, when I left the stadium to walk back to the hotel, I noticed that some of the tailgating was off to the side in a few small parking lots, although still it didn’t compare to LA. Anyways, as you enter the stadium grounds you will notice a large screen counting down and building anticipation for the game.
When you enter you will notice how large and how packed the stadium is. Come early if you want a beer prior to kickoff as the lineups are long. I went to a vendor with the smallest line and waited almost 15 minutes. Then when you get to your seat, even if it is in the nosebleeds, you will notice a good view of the stadium. I was around the 40 yard line so that was a bonus. I had a great view of the stadium and the entire field. The views are good, but no matter what, you get what you pay for. The tickets were expensive too, after fees, taxes and exchange it came to about $220 CAD. Seats that were closer would have been $400 plus. The fanbase is strong in Minnesota and you can sense it in the atmosphere. The chants of “Skol”, the sound of the Viking horn and the beating of the drums adds to the hype. And boy does it get loud in there. The replay screens are okay but nothing spectacular.
Along the way I met a few Chargers fans and that was fun, but obviously we were vastly outnumbered and overwhelmed. But again, asides from the odd hazing and one hulking Mexican who was covered in tattoos who continued to give me the middle finger, the fans were pleasant. And the cabrone was just playing around and gave me a pat on the back at the end of the game. And to make things even better, the Chargers won a close and exciting game by 4 points.
It was a great experience and a great game. The stadium is impressive, except for the lineups and the design of the walkways. Unlike SoFi where the foot traffic flowed smoothly, when you attempt to leave the stadium chaos ensues. It’ll take a long time to get out and can become quite frustrating if you are claustrophobic or in a rush. But aside from that, it was a great time and experience.
Here is how I would rate the stadium:
Ticket prices – expensive
Food options/pricing - okay
Seats/views – good
Tailgating – okay
Fans – good
Atmosphere/vibe – excellent
Architecture and niceness – excellent
If you are in Winnipeg, everyone knows Minneapolis is a popular road trip. So if you haven’t been yet, get down to US Bank Stadium and check out a Vikings game.
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