Like many others around me, I was anxious to catch a glimpse of the new U.S. Bank Stadium. Aug. 3 had come, and as a soccer fan, I was anticipating the world-class match-up that was Chelsea FC vs. AC Milan. After walking from our parking down several city blocks to the site, my father and I took in the massive scale of this new building. Towering 30 stories above us, it was an effort to look up and see up to the top of the structure. Once past the security lines and inside, the interior itself was truly a sight to behold. On the point of size and sheer awe factor, U.S. Bank Stadium beats out the Metrodome for sure.
Of course, this isn’t the only consideration we need to take into account. Every new thing will have that “awe factor” in the beginning. This stadium will be the home of the Minnesota Vikings and many other events for years to come. Millions of taxpayer money also went into this building. We even lost a piece of Minnesota history, the Metrodome, just to build it. I will now attempt to answer a few questions. Does this stadium fill the need it was intended for? Is it better than the Metrodome? And was it really worth it?
On the point of filling the need, U.S. Bank Stadium is on the mark. The Minnesota Vikings and the State of Minnesota were looking for a modern, marketable venue, which is exactly what the new stadium is. The new look and contemporary features should put this building and the state in the market for many different events while the new stadium buzz still exists. The 2018 Super Bowl and the 2019 Final Four are already slated to be held at The Bank, so this time frame should exist for at least a few years.
Is the new stadium better than the Metrodome? That’s also an interesting question. I was lucky enough to grow up going to events at the Metrodome, and now the venue of mine and many other childhoods yields to another. Just think, in a few years’ time, even kids who are football fans will have no idea about the Metrodome. What a shame. The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was a classic piece of Minnesota. The Dome bore witness to many milestones in this state’s sports history, and it’s sad to see it go even to a person as young as myself.
But for all its perks and sentimentality, the Metrodome did have its flaws. The concourses were much too narrow. I remember numerous times navigating the crushing crowds leaving the stadium. Many a baseball player had the unfortunate trouble of having to catch a fly ball in there. The roof could and did collapse, requiring costly and time-intensive clean-up.
U.S. Bank Stadium has much better concourses – still a little crowded, but roomy enough so you are not shoulder to shoulder with the crowd when entering and exiting. The Bank’s roof and some wall panels are glass, which allows natural light in and makes for a nicer contrast between the field and the upper levels of the stadium. The glass did cause some problems however. Sitting on the east end of the stadium, the sunset shone through the glass, disrupting the view. Hopefully the issue can be fixed in the future. The much-touted opening panels at the front of the stadium were also disappointingly not utilized. So in short, the Bank is an improvement over the Metrodome; it just needs a few modifications.
In the end, though, the final question remains: Was it worth it? The total cost of the stadium is estimated at $1.06 billion; $348 million of the total came directly from the State of Minnesota. I am personally not a fan of taxpayer money going toward private projects, but it can be conceded the construction of this stadium did produce thousands of construction jobs for Minnesotans. The media attention and tourism which will be brought to this state from future events held at the U.S. Bank Stadium must also be taken into account. The test now will be how long the Vikings will be content with this new structure. The Metrodome did its job for more than 31 years. Here’s hoping this new stadium will last that long as well. It had better if we want to get our money’s worth out of it.
Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.
Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student who writes opinion columns for the Newsleaders and recently visited U.S. Bank Stadium to watch soccer.
U.S Bank Stadium will host high school and college sporting events, including baseball and soccer. The new stadium can also accommodate large trade shows and concerts.
The U.S. Bank Stadium is the new home of the Minnesota Vikings but will host other events. U.S Bank Stadium is owned and operated by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, a local governmental unit of the State of Minnesota.
