Will the Minnesota Vikings Play at TCF Bank Stadium?

The Minnesota Vikings may be without a stadium next season. The Metrodome's repairs probably won't be finished for another 5 to 6 months. Sid Hartman recently wrote that the Minnesota Vikings could use TCF Bank Stadium next season and that athletic director Joel Maturi would be on board with the decision. That would be pretty interesting considering Gopher football games would be played on Saturdays and then Vikings games on Sunday. That would be quite the busy area on fall weekends.

HHH Metrodome Alcohol Policy make shape Beer Ruling at TCF Bank Stadium

Up until the 2009 Minnesota Gophers Football Season, the HHH Metrodome was the home of the Golden Gophers Football Team. So when fans came to watch Gophers Home Games, they had the opportunity to buy alcohol.

However, when the Gophers moved out of the HHH Metrodome and into TCF Bank Stadium, the Minnesota legislature decided that the University of Minnesota had to enforce an all-or-known rule, meaning they had to provide alcohol to all of the seats in TCF Bank Stadium or known. The University of Minnesota did not want to sell alcohol on the levels where student seating was, so no alcohol was sold last season at TCF Bank Stadium.

Estimates have said that the decision to make TCF Bank Stadium dry cost the University of Minnesota $1 Million... not exactly pocket change. So now the Minnesota State Legislature is working to pass a bill that would allow the U of M to sell alcohol in the premium seats... time will tell, though it is clear that legislatures are considering the fact that the HHH Metrodome successfully sold alcohol at Golden Gopher Football Games for years.

What is in store for the future of the HHH Metrodome?

No one can really say for sure, though many Minnesota Baseball and Football fans are hopeful that the Twin Cities sports mecca will remain untouched. The HHH Metrodome holds more memories for some Twin Cities natives than their grade schools do, the HHH Metrodome housed championship Minnesota Twins teams and Minnesota Vikings teams. Minnesota sporting greats, like Kerby Puckett called the HHH Metrodome home, and many sports fans are just not quite ready to let that go.

However, certain realities about the HHH Metrodome need to be faced, without the revenue of both the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings, changes will have to be made. It is not the most ideal football stadium and if the Vikings are going to continue to call the HHH Metrodome home, changes will have to be made.

My guess is BEST case scenario the HHH Metrodome will undergo MAJOR MAJOR changes in the upcoming Minnesota Vikings Seasons and the Vikings will continue to play home games at the Dome. More likely in my opinion is that the Dome will be torn down and the Vikings will play at TCF Bank Stadium for a few seasons while a new Vikings Stadium is built where the Dome was.

For now it is all speculation, but feel free to throw your 2 cents in too... I'd love to hear what other Dome Lovers are thinking!

Gopher Football Ends Metrodome Era

The University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football team ended their Metrodome era last Saturday November 22nd with a season finale loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes. I think most Gopher fans are happy to put the Metrodome years behind them and are looking forward to a new season on campus at the brand new TCF Bank Stadium. Farewell, Gophers. The Metrodome and the surrounding businesses will miss you and your revenue.

Many Gopher memories have been made under that white Teflon roof.

Good Luck Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium!