Posted December 18, 2010 8:00 p.m. CT
By Darrin Salzmann
FOXSportsNorth.com
With Monday night's game between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears approaching quickly, the efforts of the organization, sponsors, and fans to make the game happen are beginning to show. Vikings Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer Steve LaCroix held a press conference earlier to day to discuss arrangements being made to accommodate fans at TCF Bank Stadium.
The Vikings faithful who plan to wait in line for the game will be happy to know that some of the Vikings' sponsors have stepped up and will donate products to keep them warm. Caribou Coffee will hand out free cups of hot coffee, though fans should have no trouble staying awake during the matchup that features Joe Webb's first career start, and the Mall of America will distribute disposable heat warmers to fans in line.
Those who plan on arriving especially early should take note that Williams Arena will be open mid-afternoon for fans to escape the cold. Inside, the big screens will broadcast ESPN, concessions will be open, and fans can get ready for the game.
So far, the Vikings organization is unsure of how many pre-purchased tickets were returned, but LaCroix encouraged fans that they are likely to get into the game, and not to be hesitant about coming down for an exciting event.
"We are going to play a historic game. We are back outdoors for the first time in almost 30 years. It's going to be chilly, but it's getting a little warmer and it's going to be a great atmosphere and just a really fun night."
Below is the entire transcript from today's press conference:
Vikings Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer Steve LaCroix
I just wanted to give everybody an update of where we are at. We talked yesterday about the situation and I feel real good about the direction we are going here. I think we are going to be in good shape as far as Monday night goes. First thing, before we get into some of the highlights, I think what has been lost in a lot of this process is the fact that we are going to play a historic game. We are back outdoors for the first time in almost 30 years. It's going to be chilly, but it's getting a little warmer and it's going to be a great atmosphere and just a really fun night. We feel very confident that everyone will be able to get in the building on game night, so come down if you have a ticket. Don't be worry about getting turned away and we feel very, very good about you getting in the building. Second thing, with the point of entries we are at 84 points of entry and we feel very good again. As far as a normal Gophers game, it is 60 points of entry, and so that 84 will be hopefully a smoother process for everybody. Last thing is the fan amenities. The fans as they line up outdoors will have free coffee from Caribou Coffee and disposable hand-warmers from the Mall of America. Again, I think it will be a smooth process as they queue and go into the building, but we also wanted to make sure our fans were getting some coffee from Caribou and had some warmth once they get it. With that I would be happy to answer any questions. We can talk about parking or some other things that may need some clarification.
Q: What is the situation with Williams Arena?
A: Williams Arena will be utilized pre-game. It will be open mid-afternoon, so fans that do have some anxious concerns about getting down there early, again that will be open mid-afternoon. We will have ESPN on the big screens, concession stands open and hopefully at least a spot to hang out.
Q: What are you suggesting to fans as far as parking?
A: Parking quite frankly has been one of the biggest challenges of this, aside from obviously the ticket process. Parking-wise there are really three different options. You can park at the State Fairgrounds, a couple thousand spots there and then you can shuttle over. You can park on campus somewhere, and they are calling football shuttles, they are free running around campus taking care of people on a rotation basis. Also, you can park in downtown Minneapolis and take Metro Transit. I believe it is the 1650 bus route. There is some concern there that it is rush hour and those buses are in normal service from a Metro Transit standpoint, but it should be an option as well. You can check out Vikings.com where we are placing all of the parking information. There is a bunch of different logistics there as far as where shuttles are picking up and at which intersections, timing and so forth.
Q: You said you were fairly confident on everyone getting in the building, is that based on the polling that you have received from ticket holders?
A: Absolutely. It's about getting more feedback as we get closer. Obviously some tickets came in to the ticket office today to beat that deadline. They are still going through that process and we don't have an exact number, but we are very confident that if you come down to the game on Monday night, you are going to get in. We think we will have a smooth process to get you in. Any time you have 60,000 people, or in this case 50,000 or whatever the number ends up being or probably less where people get a little elbow room, it will take time to get in the building, but we have a process in place.
Q: Is there a ballpark number on what you think the turnout will be?
A: No, there is an internal pool amongst the staff, but we feel good it is going to be a great atmosphere. Again, it has been lost in this process that we are going outdoors, on the University campus, it's a beautiful building. The weather is going to be a little warmer than what was expected and maybe a few snowflakes falling. It's on Monday Night Football on national TV against an archrival in your division and it should be a lot of fun.
Q: What is the status of the tickets that normally go to visiting team?
A: The Bears still have a group coming, so I don't know the exact numbers or details, but because the location is pretty close they will have a good crew coming over. Again, they were thinking they would play inside so there may be some Bears family members that are not coming. We aren't quite sure yet. That is all being worked out and the Bears have been great in this process being patient as far as we worked out the details.
Q: The coffee and hand warmer giveaways will be for the fans that are queued up to get in the game?
A: It is. It will be much like the Twin Cities Marathon and other events. They've got this full operation here. They're going to come out and give out samples and allow people to have some coffee as they queue through the lines. The League is in town and they are the best in the business from a special events standpoint. They'll have everything set up as far as how people flow through to safely get in the building. Again, we want you to take your time, get to your seat, get settled and kind of let things take care of themselves.
Q: How early will you have staff or security at the stadium to manage the people?
A: Pretty early. The University doesn't necessarily want people queuing in line all day, so that's what Williams Arena is for. If you are down there early, it gives you a spot to at least migrate to. Then about 4:00 p.m. is when the queuing will start. Then off to the races from there as far as leading into game time at 7:30 p.m.
Q: When will people be let in the gates?
A: 5:00 p.m. is the lower-level entry. With a 100-level ticket is 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. is kind of when everything else opens up.
Q: What did you vote for in the internal pool?
A: I'm not saying my number. I've got that power of inside information as I have the ticket guys updating me. Again, I think it's going to be a great crowd. I think it's going to be just the right number of people in there that it's not going to be feeling like it's just squeezed in, but it's going to be comfortable. It's not going to be where we're turning people away. We feel good about it.
Q: How do you go from 60 to 84 points of entry?
A: The University doesn't use the end zone plaza; the flat space that overlooks the bowl. They don't use that as an entry point. The NFL has come in and we're going to utilize that. We're really gaining extra queuing positions and gets us from 60 to 84, which is really about the number at Mall of America Field. We think there will be a lot of pressure on that plaza side, but there will be some gates on the other side of the building as well.
Q: What time is Williams Arena going to open?
A: We're not sure exactly; mid-afternoon. We'll announce that over the weekend. There are some meetings going on right now as far as organizing that. 2-ish [p.m.] or so, but we'll let you know for sure.
Q: What's at 4:00 p.m.?
A: 4:00 p.m. is when you'll start queuing to enter TCF Bank Stadium.
Q: Will there be queuing inside Williams Arena?
A: No. I don't think it's going to be a line wrapped around the concourse or anything. Again, there are some meetings going on right now so we'll need a little bit more time before we can talk about that.
Q: How many TVs will there be in Williams? Do you think people will just show up to watch the game in there?
A: We will have ESPN on in there during the day with concession stands open, again somewhere to go if you need to. As far as staying in there during the game, you are definitely better off going across the street with your ticket and being a part of a very neat night.
Q: Have you sorted the suite situation out?
A: That is all fine. We worked with the University and their clients have either opted in or not. Our clients have now been taken care of. We partnered a lot of our suite clients together because their suites are bigger, fewer numbers, but bigger. It's all fine and we're set.
Q: How many tickets have come back?
A: Again, the first batch of mail arrived today. There is usually a couple-day delay. I don't have numbers for you, but it's trending like everyone is going to be able to get in that has a ticket and there should not be any type of issue there.
Q: What kind of steps are you taking to make sure that people will come into the building in an orderly manner?
A: I think first off, hopefully common sense prevails. I used the term yesterday, Minnesota nice. Let's put that in play here. Not everyone wants to go to the same spot. There are some people that prefer end zone, down low, some people at the 50, some people at the second deck and have a seat there from a viewing angle. Really, we hope that the personal preferences kind of filter some of that out and just that common sense prevails.
Q: Will there be any added security?
A: We will, yeah. There will be an early rush to so speak and then things should kind of start to flow and as the concourses fill up you won't be able to move that quickly as the crowds build.
Q: The gates opening up at 5:00 are for lower-level seating?
A: That was part of our ticket policy. The 100-level tickets have access starting at 5:00, just to kind of separate the levels a little bit. Then starting at 5:30 is where anybody can get in at that point.
Q: How many suites does the Metrodome have?
A: Just about 90 and we're all set with those clients being taken care of Monday night.
