Vikings deal would add 3,000 seats to TCF

[Bayfieldgopher]

Are people really worked up over 3,000 temporary seats? There is plenty of space to distribute them on the west end and top of the stadium. Like others have pointed out, this is for 1-4 games or one season tops. This is going to take place likely 3 years down the road. If we/gophers can't fill those 3,000 seats by then, we may have other issues on our hands. I hope by the time it all comes down, we have the demand to add 3-5 thousand permanent seats.

Exactly.

Get off your high horse nose people! 3-5000 seats could mean additional revenue plus the bucks coming from the Queens.

If nothing else, give away the seats to HS and youth football teams to help build the future fan base and interest in the Gophers.

Try looking at the positives this would bring rather than rip, rip, rip.

 

[Go4Broke]

My point is this: the Minnesota Vikings have done the University of Minnesota few favors when it comes to football. Did they even donate a dime for TCF?

Why should the U feel so indebted to a private entity that many would consider a competitor to one of the university's top revenue generators?

The U will cooperate with the Vikings because the State Legislature funds a large portion of the U's budget which they can reduce at any time if they feel the Vikings are being mistreated. And because every member of the Board of Regents is as a politician of some sort or other who is indebted to the Governor or Legislature for their appointment as a Regent.

 

[2nd Degree Gopher]

Sounds pretty good, though I doubt the Vikings are interested in guaranteeing the Gophers up to another $825,000 in revenue (if all 3K seats had to be purchased for a full season). The rest of the idea sounds solid to me (especially the donate them to youth groups part). My one concern would be with putting new STH there (like recent grads) b/c you don't want to get folks hooked and then run the risk of not having permanent seating options for them.

Agree that the math gets harder over a full season versus 3-4 games. Tickets could be sold to the Vikes on a discounted basis to reduce the costs to them if necessary. I would envision the seats being sold on a per game basis rather than as season tickets given the uncertainty of how long the arrangements would be needed, but as the time gets closer they could consider non-guaranteed renewal season tickets if it looks like the temporaries are going to last the year. As it sits now, I think we could safely accommodate another couple of thousand folks who wanted to become STHs, but if that’s not the case in 2016 (or whenever) then the “risk” is that there are people exposed to the product who want more, but can’t get it immediately. Not ideal, but better to get them hooked and have to try to figure out ways to feed the addiction than to deal with the unsold seats we have now.

 

[GoAUpher]

Why should the U feel so indebted to a private entity that many would consider a competitor to one of the university's top revenue generators?

They shouldn't and I don't think they do. But are you actually suggesting that if a deal actually happens that the U take on the role of "bad guy" by holding the Vikings over the barrel instead of negotiating in good faith? Because that wouldn't do much to improve the view people have of the University.

 

[GoAUpher]

First off, the U doesn't view the Vikings as a competitor, regardless of what 'many' fans like to think. College football and the NFL are simply two different levels of the game, not direct competitors. They would be competitors if they broadcasted games the same time (both on Saturdays/Sundays).

While that may be true in many respects, anyone in charge of marketing or ticket sales (especially premium sales like suites) prob does see the Vikings and every other pro team in town as their competition. And if they don't feel that way then frankly they suck at their job. They need to be fighting for every "sports" dollar they can and in that regard the Vikings are certainly the competition.

Secondly, on your Zigy lining his pockets with taxpayer money point.. Certainly that's not how he feels about getting state help funding for the new stadium. Chances are he just isn't liquid enough to fund the $1 billion affair. That's not even the point of my comment.. There is no proof that the taxpayers actually pay for the new stadium yet. No one has come out with a plan on WHERE the money's coming from. For all we know it could be paid for by the White Earth tribe's casino, or the money would be paid back with interest by sharing in the naming rights and other endeavors of a new stadium.

Even if he was liquid enough or could get the loans why would he? He can (and will eventually) get public money. And if he doesn't he'll just sell the team and look for another investment. It's a business decision for him. Owning the stadium is clearly not an interesting business option to him.

As for funding sources, while I doubt a casino ever becomes a funding source you are totally correct that no details exist. In the end, I still think this "deal" falls through like the others.

 

[GoAUpher]

Agree that the math gets harder over a full season versus 3-4 games. Tickets could be sold to the Vikes on a discounted basis to reduce the costs to them if necessary. I would envision the seats being sold on a per game basis rather than as season tickets given the uncertainty of how long the arrangements would be needed, but as the time gets closer they could consider non-guaranteed renewal season tickets if it looks like the temporaries are going to last the year. As it sits now, I think we could safely accommodate another couple of thousand folks who wanted to become STHs, but if that’s not the case in 2016 (or whenever) then the “risk” is that there are people exposed to the product who want more, but can’t get it immediately. Not ideal, but better to get them hooked and have to try to figure out ways to feed the addiction than to deal with the unsold seats we have now.

Sadly, I you're correct about the current STH base and space. I was being optimistic.

I agree though, you could sell it as a package or as single game. If a package, you could use "priority access" to any new STH that become available as a selling point. For example, if we are back to "sellout" levels you could say that buying the pack gets you higher up the waitlist than folks who simply put their names there but below people who donated more than the package cost.

 

[13 Lined Ground Squirrel]

The metrodome sucks because it's a closed stadium in a terrible location. If the plan is to rob taxpayers to replace it with another closed stadium in the same terrible location, I'd prefer Zygi and his Vikings relocate to... heck.

 

[Gopher028]

A lot of whiney cry baby b*****s on here.....

It's not your stadium, and 3,000 temporary seats for one damn season isn't going to kill you, closet packer fans. Get over it.
The U will get a lot of revenue from the vikings with this, be grateful. Geez, i've never seen so many teardrops...........

 

[dpodoll68]

Queens. Hilarious! That "joke" never gets old!

 

[Lakeville Goldy]

The nice part about this situation is the Gophers have the final say in any negotiation. If the Vikes want the world then the Gophers can tell them to play in Ames.

That being said, I'm sure the Gophers want to have the Vikes play at the Bank - having the big "M" on the 50 yard line during nationally televised NFL games can't hurt marketing. And I'm sure they're going to do whatever they can to be reasonable in the negotiations. Temporary seats are one example of that. You always want to have as good of a relationship as you can with the pro-sports teams in town. Look at the Twins letting the Gophers use Target Field. You never know, someday when the U expands the Bank to 150,000 seats we may need to play a few games in Mall of America Field. It could happen...

 

[Goldmember]

Relax. It is unlikely the Vikings will end-up with any additional temporary seats. They are throwing this in strictly for negotiation leverage. This will be an easy expense and incovenience for them to "give up" should negotiations advance further.

The last Viking game at TCF drew about 32,000 fans and the tickets were free. This fact is not lost on the Vikings.

Why do people always assume PR-machines tell the media exactly what the organization is thinking and talking about behind closed-doors? How naive are we?

 

[dpodoll68]

The last Viking game at TCF drew about 32,000 fans and the tickets were free. This fact is not lost on the Vikings.

1. The tickets were not free.

2. The decision was made to hold the game at TCF less than a week before it took place.

3. The game was played in the middle of a snowstorm with bitter wind chill and blustery winds.

Given these factors, it was actually pretty amazing that many people showed up.

 

[station19]

Relax. It is unlikely the Vikings will end-up with any additional temporary seats. They are throwing this in strictly for negotiation leverage. This will be an easy expense and incovenience for them to "give up" should negotiations advance further.

The last Viking game at TCF drew about 32,000 fans and the tickets were free. This fact is not lost on the Vikings.

Why do people always assume PR-machines tell the media exactly what the organization is thinking and talking about behind closed-doors? How naive are we?

The Vikes have approx 53,000 season tiks at present time. They will not want to tell a sth they don't have room for them. This is not a pr ploy. If this is only for one year it's no big deal and could be a financial asset to TCF. Three years.....that's a little long.

 

[Goldmember]

The Vikes have approx 53,000 season tiks at present time. They will not want to tell a sth they don't have room for them. This is not a pr ploy. If this is only for one year it's no big deal and could be a financial asset to TCF. Three years.....that's a little long.

That's right. But all the Vikings would have to do is "turn-off" their agressive (and expensive) ticket marketing program. Natural STH turnover and non-renewals due to relocation would drop that base to below TCF's capacity.

If they get a deal done their focus is going to be on building a waiting list of 15,000-20,000 new STH (probably with costly deposits or PSLs). And scarcity is helpful in accomplshing that. People seeing empty seats is not.

 

[Schnauzer]

The other Viking game at TCF also included the need to stand in line to get a seat. Correct me if I'm wrong but it didn't have assigned seating so a lot of people decided not to stand in line and risk not getting in. I don't remember for sure but that is my memory of the event. There were a LOT of factors conspiring to keep fans out of that game, with the big snowstorm the cherry on top. I agree... 32K was a remarkable number given all the chips stacked against having a full house.

 

[Golden Shower]

What part of the word "temporary" do some of you morons not understand? All this angst over possibly adding TEMPORARY sets for a few games and then having them torn down. Guess what Einstein's?? The U will make money on this and can use it for the good of the university. How is that bad? Get out of your Gopher footy PJs and mom and dad's basement and use your time more wisely than crying about TEMPORARY seats for a few games that make the U money!

 

[Ski U Master]

I have no problem with temporary seats. Permanent seats I would not like because it would probably look stupid and we can't fill them anyway.

 

[Southoftheriver]

My memory is foggy, but the idea of temp seats is not new. When Chicago was trying for the Olympics, I thought that TCF was one of the potential sites for soccer and at that time I thought they would add something like 10,000 seats on the plaza to get capacity close to 60,000.

 

[Killjoy]

Golden Shower

What part of the word "temporary" do some of you morons not understand? All this angst over possibly adding TEMPORARY sets for a few games and then having them torn down. Guess what Einstein's?? The U will make money on this and can use it for the good of the university. How is that bad? Get out of your Gopher footy PJs and mom and dad's basement and use your time more wisely than crying about TEMPORARY seats for a few games that make the U money!

You must not be old enough to remember the "Temporary" buildings built after World War II at the University next to the river. I am not exactly sure how long they were used but I wouldn't be surprised if if was thirty years.

 

[4four4]

Maybe it shouldn't but this pisses me off.

The Vikings had the opportunity to have a stadium with the Gophers and chose to go their own way after a $1.1 billion dream.

I don't want the Gophers to have to play one single game with a band-aid of temporary seats in an end zone that make my eyes sore.

Oh, and Go Pack!

You can thank the city of Milwaukee for saving your Pack.

 

[zman]

You must not be old enough to remember the "Temporary" buildings built after World War II at the University next to the river. I am not exactly sure how long they were used but I wouldn't be surprised if if was thirty years.

Longer than that I think. I had many classes in the mid-late eighties in "Temporary North of Chemical Engineering", or something like that.

 

[Maximus]

That's right. But all the Vikings would have to do is "turn-off" their agressive (and expensive) ticket marketing program. Natural STH turnover and non-renewals due to relocation would drop that base to below TCF's capacity.

If they get a deal done their focus is going to be on building a waiting list of 15,000-20,000 new STH (probably with costly deposits or PSLs). And scarcity is helpful in accomplshing that. People seeing empty seats is not.

By the time the Vikings get to TCF under the current proposal they would be one year out from the opening of the new stadium. Plenty of people will be lining up. They will have more than enough to fill TCF with 53,000 season ticket holders plus have a waiting list.

I know a lot of people that purchased Twins season tickets in the final year of the Metrodome just to get priority in the new stadium. Just like Vikes fans would.

Even the Gophers season ticket base increased one year out from moving to a new stadium.