National Football League

Report: Vikes turn away snow shovelers

Published Dec. 16, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Many would-be workers who answered the call to help shovel snow at TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota Thursday morning were leaving after waiting up to three hours to help pitch in, Minneapolis’ Star Tribune reported Thursday.

Hundreds of shoveling recruits arrived as early as 6:00am local time to help the University of Minnesota get the outdoor stadium ready for the NFL’s Monday night clash between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears.

But many of those who showed up ready to work never got the chance to break a sweat. Instead, they stood in lines outside the Gophers’ outdoor stadium for hours due to an extremely slow check-in process, according to the Tribune.

"I've just had it," said Megan Steinke, who said the line did not budge after a half-hour. "I'm going home and warming up."

FOX Sports North reported earlier Thursday that stadium officials were accepting additional workers at a pay rate of $10 per hour.

But the abundance of those who answered the call left several out in the cold without any cash to show for it.

Police announced just before 10:00am that no more people who be checked in until noon, and even then on a limited basis, as 75 to 100 prospective workers looked on, the Tribune reported.

Officials concluded Tuesday night that the Twin Cities' Metrodome roof, damaged in a recent snowstorm, could not be repaired in time.

The Metrodome's inflatable roof collapsed early Sunday morning after more than a foot of snow fell in the area. FOX Sports' cameras captured video of the collapse as a section of the roof ripped open, dumping snow on the turf below.

University officials told the Vikings Sunday they would need at least four days to prepare the stadium. "The Bank" was shut down for the winter after the Gophers' season finale against Iowa on Nov. 27.