Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to the
Views and Personal Photos on the Vikes from the Inaugural Hall of Fame fan.
Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to theNote: The blame was initially blamed on new owner Zygi Wilf for a fee to be placed on Vikes fans wishing to attend training camp. But thanks to a Comment left by Proud Purple Rx (hey, us Licensed Drug Dealers do more than save lives ya know!) the blame is on the city of Mankato which probably just ensured that Wilf will be moving training camp to a Twinc Cities location eventually.
When I got home late from work Friday night, I had a voice-mail from a reporter asking for a quote for a local newspaper. The reason? They wanted my response to Mankato's decision to begin charging fans to attend practice. Want to attend training camp practice in Mankato Sunday through Friday? $5 a head, please. Oh, you want to see a Saturday practice? Please make our your check for $10. That's Greater Mankato Training Camp LLC. Parking? $2 please. Special events? That hasn't been determined yet but I'm sure it will be approaching game-day prices.
I can't say that I am surprised by the decision. I'm only surprised it took so long for the city to try it. But it will end in a very negative backlash from fans. Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder tried a charge-for-training-camp back in the 2000 season. It failed miserably and has been free to the public ever since. The Redskins had been charging $10 a head and $10 a car to park.
I know other teams, such as the Chicago Bears will charge for two evening workouts this year, but the rest of their training camp is free.
Many families from around the country decide to attend Vikings training camp as part of a vacation regimen. Now they'll have to tackle higher gas prices AND a fee. I can understand that the team, and new ownership, needs to find every possible avenue to make the almighty dollar. But I feel training camp is sacred. It should be free, especially to the youth who watch their favorite Vikings players practice on a hot summer’s day and dream that they could someday be training with a NFL franchise.
On this very blog not too long ago, I did a retrospective study (Dear Red: How High Can You Go?) of showing that during the McCombs era my season ticket prices increased 61%. And I bet a dollar to a doughnut that once a new Vikings stadium is approved, PSLs (Private Seat Licenses) will be on the menu.
The NFL no longer belongs to the common fan. It belongs to the corporate world. And that's very sad indeed for the families trying to eke out a living and also be supportive of the sport. Perhaps Mr. Wilf can meet with the city and work out something to delay the fee? Perhaps it is out of his hands...except for bringing camp to Blaine someday!
This is a very bad decision. Charging fans to attend training camp practice is like the Titanic steaming for its chunk of polar ice, like the Hindenberg looking for its Lakehurst, like the guy at Chernobyl wondering what that switch would do.
Boom!
Posted by maasx003 at July 15, 2005 10:07 PM | TrackBackHi Brian,
I think you will need to print a retraction of this blog. It is NOT Zyggi Wilf who is charging, or the Viking Front office, admission to training camp, and parking. It is the City of Mankato or more specifically The Greater Mankato Training Camp LLC charging to help defray the costs of sponsoring the Vikings Training Camp there. Refer to the article by Judd Zygad in the Trib. Steve LeCroix the Viking VP of sales and marketing even expressed dissapointment in these fees. This is not the Vikings charging this, ala
Dan "I want to charge for everything and buy everything" Snyder. Brian, so place the blame where it belongs, with Mankato, and NOT the VIKINGS front office. You even invoke the liberal mantra of the EVIL corporate America against the downtrodden little people. Whoever that reporter was that left you that voice mail did not have his facts straight. This was not Zyggi Wilf's bad decision. No I don't work for the Viking PR staff either :).
Skol Vikings!
Proud Purple Rx
Posted by: Proud Purple Rx at July 16, 2005 12:50 AMThanks! Yes, the message I had received (passed along to me by The Wife®...which may explain it!...indicated it was the teams' decision. I've altered the original story to better fit this update. I know Wilf had earlier spoken about bringing training camp to the new stadium location. This may hasten it.
Posted by: Brian Maas at July 16, 2005 07:48 AMWelcome to Minnesota Ziggy! You're being chastised for MAKING Vikes fans pay to attend camp. You will soon learn people in this state want things for free free, free. Columnists are having a heyday painting you as a ruthless owner. No sense explaining the facts because we Minnesotans will only believe what we want to believe.
Posted by: Bryce Anderson at July 17, 2005 09:36 AMBryce: Hey dude! I pointed out in a follow-up that it was not Zygi's decision so not sure why the "love went south"!?!?
As to the City of Mankato's decision...I suppose that since Minnesotans are nickeled and dimed to death already...what's a few more bucks, eh? When does the madness stop!?!?
I suppose since you are willing to pay more for services, how's about I start charging for more professional photos and interviews that I provide for this blog? Just curious, how much would you be willing to pay?
Posted by: Brian Maas at July 17, 2005 12:21 PMAlthough it was not Zygi's decision, he needs to put a stop to it. I can't imagine that this is not somehow covered in the contract between the team and Mankato, and the team should at least file a TRO to try to stop it. If they lose, at least people will know that they tried, and that when training camp moves to Sioux Falls, they can point their fingers at Mankato.
Posted by: J. Lichty at July 18, 2005 09:56 AMThere is a movement to protest, and boycott, the camps! PLEASE WRITE, AND POST ON YOUR WEBSITE!
jengen@greatermankato.com
Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce - Tourism
dschooff@greatermankato.com
Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce - CEO
sgullickson@greatermankato.com
Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce - Vice Pres
Ticket info email
info@vikingstrainingcamp.com
TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL! This is just wrong!
Thanks for helping!
Polly John
Duluth MN
A VIKINGS FAN!
Of even greater interest is a note gleened from a vikings.scout.com article (http://vikings.scout.com/2/396818.html), which states that since they plan to charge an entrance fee to watch practice then the league rule banning opposing teams' coaches from also watching practice is waived. The Vikings have appealed to the NFL for a waiver since there is an endzone area that will remain fee-free. The article also states that when Dan Snyder charged for practice viewing the Cowboys and Giants sent coaches to watch their practices.
Posted by: SwoboVike at July 20, 2005 08:34 AMOkay, what is the deal with the new policy not to allow fans close to the players after a game at the Dome!!!!!
Security states that it is the players that requested it as the "fans harrassed them". I have been there 5 years and not once have I seen harassment. Since when is a little kid requesting an autograph from an idol harassement!
If this is the way it is going to be then they can have our season tickets. We pay for them and if they are too good to autograph or be accessible to the fans then I am not going to fund them. I do not think that is right.
SHAME ON THE VIKINGS! Expecially after the dismal offense seen today against the Bucs. This NEW policy better be rethought or the backlash may be severe. There were loads of unhappy fans following the game.
Daunte - you are not the gods gift to football, obviously from todays playing! None of you walk on water.
It was the fans that made you and it is the fans that can walk away. Which we fully intend to do if this policy is NOT CHANGED!!@!!
Posted by: Lesley at September 11, 2005 08:43 PM