National Football League

Positives and negatives from Minnesota Vikings games at U.S. Bank Stadium

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:08 p.m. ET

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U.S. Bank Stadium is an amazing facility for Minnesota Vikings football games, but there are areas that are in need of improvement for a great experience.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Fans walk around U.S. Bank Stadium before its inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings had to play a couple of seasons at the Gopher Hole at the University of Minnesota while construction was done on U.S. Bank Stadium, but now that it is the official home of Vikings football, it deserves its own attention.

Following playing at the Metrodome and an NCAA field, it feels like a huge jump to see something like U.S. Bank Stadium. 73,000 fans can fill the building to cheer on anything from professional football, soccer, WWE wrestling, or other sporting events. This alone makes it unique to the surrounding area as far as entertainment facilities.

But, of course, the building got its first real test on Sunday Night Football when U.S. Bank Stadium opened their doors for the first regular season game in Minnesota Vikings history as they took on their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

Thankfully, I was able to attend this game. Even though my seats were way up in the nosebleed area, I felt the need to talk about my experience with the stadium and some things that are good and bad about it.

Let’s start the conversation by talking about the great things!

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) catches a touchdown pass against Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett (42) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Positives:

Next: Some bad things about U.S. Bank Stadium

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Fans enter U.S. Bank Stadium before its inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Negatives

Next: Overall impression of U.S. Bank Stadium

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of the extra of U.S. Bank Stadium prior to the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Overall experience

To be honest, if you’re in shape and can keep up with the crowds, you’re going to have a fantastic experience at U.S. Bank Stadium.

With everything there is to see and do at the facility, you could easily eat up an entire day checking out the surrounding area and watching the game. With the artwork, exhibits, structures, eateries, and shops along the way, there is almost nothing you can’t do at a Minnesota Vikings game that you would want to.

Once the kinks get worked out with the gates and the crowds have a better understanding of the layout of things, the negative things on this list will be almost nothing. If they can sprinkle in a couple of benches here and there, this would be the perfect facility for any event, especially NFL football.

Attending a game at U.S. Bank Stadium is an amazing experience. If a fan has the opportunity to do so, they absolutely should. Having been to games at the Metrodome and TCF Bank as a fan from Michigan, this is by far the most unique experience I’ve had watching a game. And it didn’t hurt for the Minnesota Vikings to pull off a nice win against the Packers either.

For now, it’s time to get back out the DDP Yoga, exercise videos, and go on my Pokemon Go walks to get in better shape for those steps in preparation of attending another game. My dogs were barking after that U.S. Bank Stadium experience, but it was totally worth every second of it.