Vikings TCF Upgrades

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No sh!t.

People are very curious about what the heating system will be. At least report you can't find out or it hasn't been decided. Maybe what the potential options are. But nothing?

16 Mill in the budget and Ziggy is chiseling it down to 6.6?
 

My thought exactly. A "field heating system" could be some dude with a flamethrower.

It strikes me as very odd that the story did not give more specifics.
 

Hopefully after the Board of Regents approves this on Friday, we'll get more answers.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
My thought exactly. A "field heating system" could be some dude with a flamethrower.

It strikes me as very odd that the story did not give more specifics.
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Hopefully it isn't the guy from the old Met Stadium.

MKE_Gopher said:
Hopefully after the Board of Regents approves this on Friday, we'll get more answers.
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Hopefully the BOR doesn't get snowed.
 


I hope the U doesn't drop the ball on branding with the new turf. Permanent block M and endzones like they are now, please. I'm not going to hold my breath though, seems they always bend over backward just to be "good neighbors"
 

They need to find out on Friday. It's February 12 and the article says "The construction is slated to begin this month and finish by July.
 

The article said that the budget included money to replace the field turf. I'm assuming with the Vikings earlier complaints, that it's going to be a generic green turf with painted logos? I sure hope the Vikes are going to be replacing it with new turf with proper "sewn in" Gophers logos when they're done. But considering how Ziggy operates, that's probably expecting too much.
 

Why does it matter if the Vikings have their logo on the field during their games?
 



They determined long ago that they're adding the kind of turf metlife stadium has, how they swap in and swap out the giants and jets. Which is fine, it'll be for two years. This is good for both teams, and being a Minnesotan...I'm a fan of both.
 

seeing a maroon block M in the middle of a vikings game with maroon end zones is the only reason why i am somewhat excited to see them play here. If i knew they would put a big fat purple viking in the middle of my stadium i would let them play at St. Thomas
 

I hope they don't go with the blankets. That's what Lester Bagley was discussing on Sunday on Sid and Dave. He said there were two options, and he gave the heated blankets as an example as they do that in Buffalo.

I suppose if you keep blankets on early enough in fall, the field doesn't get a chance to freeze down 6-12 inches deep so the likelyhood of it freezing during a three hour game would minimize.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
My thought exactly. A "field heating system" could be some dude with a flamethrower.

It strikes me as very odd that the story did not give more specifics.
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Face The Facts said:
I hope they don't go with the blankets. That's what Lester Bagley was discussing on Sunday on Sid and Dave. He said there were two options, and he gave the heated blankets as an example as they do that in Buffalo.

I suppose if you keep blankets on early enough in fall, the field doesn't get a chance to freeze down 6-12 inches deep so the likelyhood of it freezing during a three hour game would minimize.
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December and January in MN? It will still freeze. Threre's 16 Mill in the budget Lester. Quit being a tight ass with the U.
 




die hard gopher said:
seeing a maroon block M in the middle of a vikings game with maroon end zones is the only reason why i am somewhat excited to see them play here. If i knew they would put a big fat purple viking in the middle of my stadium i would let them play at St. Thomas
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Must be cool to have your own stadium
 

Ski U Master said:
I hope the U doesn't drop the ball on branding with the new turf. Permanent block M and endzones like they are now, please. I'm not going to hold my breath though, seems they always bend over backward just to be "good neighbors"
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Much better than bending over forward! ;)
 

I'll throw a bomb out there:

Why do we care what heating system is implemented? Don't have one now.

Why do we care if the field freezes while the Vikings play? Gophers aren't playing--maybe it would come into play the last home game, but only maybe.

Why do we care about the logo for two years? 98% of recruits would be thrilled to know that an alleged pro team plays at "their" home stadium.

I cared for a while, then I put some thought into it. I guarantee that one of the contract provisions is total turf replacement after the Vikings' run. That's the only thing I really care about. The rest is nearly irrelevant.
 

I'm more concerned with the timeline of things. As long as the upgrades are done and things are ready to go for the gophers I'll be happy. If they run long and the gophers have to play into some construction I'll be pissed they didn't start upgrades before this winter. I haven't seen anything that says when these are projected to begin.
 

CentralGopher said:
I'm more concerned with the timeline of things. As long as the upgrades are done and things are ready to go for the gophers I'll be happy. If they run long and the gophers have to play into some construction I'll be pissed they didn't start upgrades before this winter. I haven't seen anything that says when these are projected to begin.
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If they start by July 1 they should have plenty of time.
 

station19 said:
If they start by July 1 they should have plenty of time.
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You know exactly what heating system they are installing and how long it takes to install, know all of the other upgrades, are an engineer of some sort? Starting by July 1 leaves less than 2 months before the first game of the season. I've never worked in construction or been an engineer so have no idea how long these things should take but would prefer more than a couple of months so every last detail is done before game time.
 

station19 said:
16 Mill in the budget and Ziggy is chiseling it down to 6.6?
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The $16M is for improvements and operating costs. This is just the improvements part of that and I am sure that they aren't done and will find other things that need modification before all is said and done. In addition to the rent ($250,000 per game, plus $50,000 in concession and ad revenue if I recall correctly) the Vikings also have to reimburse the U for operating expenses out of this budget. Don't claim to know what all that entails, but over two seasons that would certainly eat up a good part of the remaining budget.
 

CentralGopher said:
You know exactly what heating system they are installing and how long it takes to install, know all of the other upgrades, are an engineer of some sort? Starting by July 1 leaves less than 2 months before the first game of the season. I've never worked in construction or been an engineer so have no idea how long these things should take but would prefer more than a couple of months so every last detail is done before game time.
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Neither am I but I can't believe it you can't install a 60 x 120 yd plumbing grid in 2 months. It's not like they can have only 2 guys winterizing all the concession stands.

The point is they will have plenty of time. If things aren't completed on time it means they are being organized by the Russians.
 

We hold the only bargaining chip in this deal (we have a stadium, and the Vikings do not). If the U ends up getting hosed on the deal, it will have no one to blame but itself. Winning negotations when you hold all the chips is like trying to spell "cat" when you get spotted the "C" and the "T".
 

So the upgrades won't affect the Spring Game, right?
 

CentralGopher said:
I'm more concerned with the timeline of things. As long as the upgrades are done and things are ready to go for the gophers I'll be happy. If they run long and the gophers have to play into some construction I'll be pissed they didn't start upgrades before this winter. I haven't seen anything that says when these are projected to begin.
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I'm not. Vikings preseason started August 9th last year. Well before Gophers kicked off.
 

Actually, I'm wondering about the spring game on April 12, as well.
 

Really the Vikings aren't paying for the improvements it's all of us as taxpayers, the season ticket license payors and the NFL. The jack strap Zygi has very little out of pocket. He out negotiated we poor saps very badly.
 

6.6 million in upgrades....3 million a year straight cash for a heating system the U doesn't need and for a Viking logo on the field for 10-12 days a year. Are they trying to force the Gophers to move their games to Wednesday afternoons or something?

Wait a minute. Illinois went to the Sugar Bowl following the 2001 season...the Bears played there in 2002....it takes them six whole years to get to the Rose Bowl. C'mon Board of Regents...tell the Vikes to take a hike.
 

highwayman said:
I guarantee that one of the contract provisions is total turf replacement after the Vikings' run. That's the only thing I really care about. The rest is nearly irrelevant.
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I echo much of what highwayman had to say, but wanted to confirm this part. I spoke with Norwood last year about the Vikings coming to TCF and he indicated that regardless of what they do for the next 2 years, they are required to leave the field (more specifically, the turf) however the U wants it. From what I understood, that very likely could include another replacement 2 years from now.
 

CentralGopher said:
You know exactly what heating system they are installing and how long it takes to install, know all of the other upgrades, are an engineer of some sort? Starting by July 1 leaves less than 2 months before the first game of the season. I've never worked in construction or been an engineer so have no idea how long these things should take but would prefer more than a couple of months so every last detail is done before game time.
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I am going to go out on a limb and say that some consideration has been given to what it will take to get things done in time for the start of the seasons. The start dates for the Vikings and Gophers are well defined so I have to believe that all sides are on the same page and any timeline that comes out has been well planned to make sure everything is done in time.

I have never worked construction either but am willing to trust that people with millions at stake are taking the proper steps to make sure things are done right and on time.
 

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