Skip to main content

Preparing a snowy college stadium for the NFL isn't an easy task


Moving Monday night's Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears game to the University of Minnesota is proving to be just as much of a headache than fixing the Metrodome. In addition to the sub-freezing temperatures expected for next week's primetime affair, there is a lot that needs to get done between now and then to have TCF Bank Stadium ready for the NFL.  
[Amazing video: Metrodome roof collapses | Photos: The dome before and after]
• The snowstorm that led to the Metrodome collapse is also hampering efforts to get TCF Bank Stadium ready for Monday. Seventeen inches of snow fell on Minneapolis and led to snow drifts as high as five feet at the stadium. A crew of 400 has been hired to help clear the snow from the field, stands and concourses. The stadium has also asked for volunteers to come help dig out. (Shovels will be provided.)
• The stadium seats 50,000 fans, but 63,000 tickets have been sold for Monday's game because the Metrodome holds 63,000. There have been talks of adding temporary seating for the game.
[Related: Metrodome roof collapse rekindles stadium debate]
• TCF Bank Stadium was last used on Thanksgiving weekend when Minnesota defeated Big 10 rival Iowa, 27-24. Since then the field has been winterized, as there was no plan to use it again for a major event until next year. 
[Fan's reaction: Top 5 reasons to build a new stadium for the Vikings]
• Because no beer sales are allowed for college events held on campus, there are no beer taps installed at the concession stands of TCF Bank Stadium. Officials are discussing whether alcohol will be sold at the game. With those cold temperatures and Tarvaris Jackson(notes) at quarterback, Vikings fans are going to need some.
• Those concession stands are going to have bigger issues than a lack of Budweiser. They weren't designed to withstand temperatures less than 30 degrees. Overnight lows on Monday are forecasted to be near zero, with a windchill of minus-15. (Image via weather.com)
 
• To combat the frigid temps, shields will be placed around the stands and bathrooms to make them serviceable. (To shield what, exactly? Ice?)
• It is expected to cost $700,000 to get the stadium ready for Monday night. The NFL and Vikings will cover the tab.
Other popular stories on Yahoo!
Video: High school player smashes backboard
NFL coach's odd fashion statement
Barack Obama, Kobe Bryant trade trash talk

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Dishes for this Week

MONDAY Stroganoff-Style Beef with Broccoli TUESDAY Chicken Alfredo and Rice Casserole WEDNESDAY Slow-Cooker Flemish Beef Stew THURSDAY Vegetarian Chili FRIDAY Slow-Cooked Chicken with Sourdough-Mushroom Stuffing SATURDAY Easy Marinated Pork Tenderloin SUNDAY Lamb Chops with Red Onion, Grape Tomatoes, and Feta (...AND sign up for Yahoo! Shine's weekly recipe newsletter) MONDAY Stroganoff-Style Beef with Broccoli Provided by Better Homes and Gardens For more stroganoff recipes, try these delicious dishes. Here is a dinner idea that can be ready in 30 minutes. If you are a fan of beef and broccoli, this is a recipe you must try. Serve it on top of cooked wide noodles and enjoy. Share this recipe with friends who also have busy schedules and are looking for a quick and delicious main dish

China Gas Truck Explosion

BEIJING: At least 20 people were killed and 14 others injured on Friday in an explosion caused by a leak of an oil tank truck in south China s Guangdong province.'The explosion, which sparked a massive fire, took place on an expressway in the provincial capital of Guangzhou around 5.15am local time, a spokesman with the city s public security bureau said.He said 20 people were killed in the explosion.State-run Xinhua news agency reported that the 14 others who were injured in the incident have been hospitalised.The fire caused by the blast was brought under control around 8.30am local time, according to firefighters.

Worth It or Not: A Shopping Guide

We’ve all been there , standing in the aisle of a store, spending way too much time weighing the small differences between two similar products. Are the knives with the carbon steel blades really worth the extra $30? Will the more expensive weed wacker stay sharp longer? When it comes to a croquet set, is $220 too much, too little, or just right? More from SmartMoney.com: The True Cost of Your Wish List The Truth About a $25 Sweater Do Retailers Inflate Their Discounts? It’s enough to make some shoppers stop trying. The average American will spend $145.61 on gift cards this year, up more than $5 since 2009, according to the National Retail Federation. Each month, SmartMoney Magazine looks at sets of two similar consumer products, from digital scales to leaf mulchers and beyond, and assesses the better buy. This year, we looked at a wide variety of goods, including scales, rain boots and leaf mulchers. To aid in your holiday shopping, here are five suggestions.