My last post on baseball through the ages was about the perspective of time, and in a way this one is, too.
A younger, dumber, childless version of myself might have been tempted to take a press release from the Vikings about installing breastfeeding/lactation suites at TCF Bank Stadium (and eventually U.S. Bank Stadium) and make a few lame jokes along with the information.
The more mature father of an 18-month old — who has watched his wife search in vain for quiet and secure places to use a breast pump and/or breastfeed — has a much different perspective on their announcement.
Namely: hey, that's pretty cool. Per the Vikings (image of the suites pictured, courtesy of the team):
The Vikings will install four Mamava suites; two will reside in the Vikings corporate offices and two will be located at TCF Bank Stadium in 2015. The pods are expected to arrive and be installed in time for the Vikings-Chiefs game on October 18. The Vikings plan to further create a family-friendly environment within U.S. Bank Stadium with the continuation of the lactation suites and are exploring a nursing area that will allow moms to stay connected to the game. … The unit is a self-contained, mobile pod with comfortable benches, an electrical outlet for plugging in a breast pump and a door that can be locked for privacy. The 4-foot by 8-foot suite is meant for individual use but can fit mothers with babies and other children in tow.
It's a smart move from the Vikings regardless of how much these suites are used. I imagine the greater usage, too, won't come from families bringing babies to games but from mothers at games who need to use a breast pump. If you're going to commit to going to an NFL game, you're likely going to be out of the house for a minimum of 4-5 hours — an uncomfortable amount of time for moms to go without pumping, I'm told.
