Remember who you're dealing with, though
I agree that this could really showcase TCF to a national audience. Hopefully it isn't Ice Station freakin' Zebra next Monday (projected high is 19F). But don't forget that Zygi is a businessman who squeezes the nickel till the Buffalo poohs. Anything you negotiate here becomes a precedent for a longer term lease should the Vikings need to use TCF for a couple of seasons while a new stadium is being built.
The U has a long and storied tradition of negotiating like halfwits when it comes to this sort of thing. Just think back to the deal they signed in 1982 when they moved to the dome. I have a mental image of the U's lead negotiator: the guy Mad Max fought to the death in Thunderdome (Note to Zygi: bring a dog whistle). The U should make it clear to Zygi that for next Monday he pays for all the prep and labor, plus winterizing it again afterwards. And he gets bubkas (yiddish for "nada") from parking, concessions, or luxury boxes. If he doesn't like that, have fun in Detroit.
Speaking of which, one other thing. As a lifelong Lions fan, I was really pizzed to see the Vikings logo on the middle of Ford field. Unnhh-Unnnh. Zygi can live with the "M", as well as "MINNESOTA" in the end zones. And I don't want to hear that cheesy horn in TCF. Ever. Then again, if Tavarus plays on MNF like he did last night, they won't have many opportunities to toot that thing.
