Today, the Minnesota Vikings sent out this press release regarding procedures for the game which — as of this writing — is still scheduled to be played outdoors at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.
If you’re a ticket holder, get there early and be ready to run to your seat, because it’s going to be like the Wrigley Field bleachers — first come, first served:
All ticket holders will use their Vikings-Bears game tickets for Mall of America Field at the Metrodome to enter TCF Bank Stadium and seating will be general admission by lower and upper levels.
The release goes on to tell ticketholders when they can line up and when the gates will open and what access lower and upper level ticket holders will have, and partial refunds that might apply to various ticket holders depending on the value of their ticket.
This is a really bad idea. The Vikings are asking fans to come out and stand in line for an hour or more, on a day when temperatures will be in the teens with a chance of snow, and they’re not even assured of getting in? This has the possibility of creating some really ugly scenes, especially because:
In the event that some ticket holders are turned away on game night due to capacity, only the original ticket account owners will receive a full refund.
That creates the possibility that someone might buy a ticket from StubHub, get turned away, and have no recourse to get a refund.
And finally:
The Vikings and the University of Minnesota have agreed no alcoholic beverages will be served. No outside food or beverages will be allowed into the stadium.
Why don’t they just admit that this is a bad idea and play the game in New Orleans, Atlanta or Phoenix? What if there’s a significant snowfall in Minneapolis that day and no one can get to the stadium? The NFL ought to make up its mind now, instead of waiting until the weekend.
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