The Vikings play their first-ever preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. In some ways, the stadium itself has had its own exhibition season, and as with most training camp teams, the early performances have been a little ragged.
While Minnesotans can and should expect excellence from their investment in the $1.1 billion stadium, the initial challenges should be kept in context. The state has a gleaming new stadium that's already booked the 2018 Super Bowl, the 2019 NCAA Final Four, and the 2017 and 2018 X-Games. And yet the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which owns and operates the stadium, acknowledges some troublesome issues.
MSFA Chair Michele Kelm-Helgen told an editorial writer that more permanent directional signage will be added, that stadium staff members are getting better training and that vendors are determined to avoid the initial soccer game's food shortages.
Long restroom lines were a particular challenge at last weekend's consecutive concerts. But it should be noted that around 7,500 fans were on the floor Friday and about 9,000 on Saturday. (Sports events, of course, will not have fans on the floor.) And for most events, lines should shorten compared with those at the Metrodome, which had 435 restrooms vs. U.S. Bank Stadium's 979. For events like concerts, additional portable restrooms will be needed on the floor, and for events with more female attendees, some men's rooms should be temporarily converted to women's rooms.
For its part, Metro Transit improved its performance after the post-soccer-game gridlock of light-rail riders. But it should be noted that the 13,500 soccer fans seeking postgame rides was a record for any single event, which is one of the reasons it took about 90 minutes to clear everyone. Last Saturday's show had 12,906 riders, but Metro Transit said it took only 50 minutes to clear them. Every effort should be made to make even more improvements in order to get fans out of their cars and into trains.
Other issues may present more challenges, including stadium acoustics. But some fixes can be done by concert promoters, and Kelm-Helgen said more curtaining can be added to stadium glass to improve the sound, within the stadium's contingency budget.
Minnesotans expect U.S. Bank Stadium to perform as a world-class venue. Now it's up the MSFA and Metro Transit to improve the stadium experience so the investment can perform up to its potential.
