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 theIt is the off-season and so the Viking Underground covers a lot of ground. You've recently read a little about my trip to Russia circa 1995 which I enjoyed doing. It is time now to swing the focus back a bit towards things purple. Today, we look at not how a new stadium would be accomplished or where it would be built, but what the damn thing will look like.
I was recently reminded of the Red McComb's version and that of new owner Zygi Wilf when I read the following over at the Greet Machine:
And speaking of the new Vikings stadium, I've been thinking about what Zygi can do to help his efforts when it suddenly dawned on me that I don't like the new design of the stadium. I don't like it at all. Especially not compared to the old design. Especially not compared to the old design:
 New design (click for larger) |
 Old design (click for larger) |
Do you see what I mean? The new design looks like crap! And what is with the two garish yellow towers jutting out of the front? I don't get it. Whoever drew this thing up could have done a better job. I mean, look at the old design. Sleek lines. And those cool stainless steel rounded beams coming out of the top evoking thoughts of the Viking longboats of old ... man, that was a cool design. I gotta give Red credit for that one. This new stadium needs some more pizazz if it is going to get the attention and excitement of the people of Anoka County. That is what I think anyway.
I think the Greet Machine has a point, don't you? Why not fit the stadium's architecture to that of the Vikings history? Make it look like a longboat. Make it look so bloody breathtaking that people will be duty-bound to pony up some big time dough to make it happen....or allow the thing to be built without a cluster of referendums that will most undoubtedly thwart even a shovelful of dirt to be dug.
So, which design do you prefer?
The Trophy is Home
Yes, the Beer Brotherhood Fantasy Football trophy is back where it belongs, in the hands of the champion. In this case, the two-time B2F2 league champion.
It is an exquisite item. Every fantasy league should have a perpetual trophy to hand from champion to champion. In this case, the B2F2 League trophy has room for about 50-years and can be expanded with another base to keep it going from generation to generation. Even The Boy® dreams about owning this baby some day. He holds a trophy he won at a birthday party last year to show just how big the B2F2 League trophy is.
Here is to next year and another fantasy championship!
Is a specific site planned for the new stadium? I grew up in Anoka and I'm curious as to where it would go.
Man, would the Anoka Tornados get to play there?
Posted by: Peter at January 26, 2006 08:42 AMI like Reds version better, but I would take either. Notice the subliminal messages in the art work. Reds the sun is setting like it's saying here is your last chance. Zygi's is a bright sunny sky with a blimp. Like it's saying we have a new day in Minnesota with national attention.
Posted by: Lonnie at January 26, 2006 11:56 AMInteresting thought concerning the sunrise/sunset Lonnie. I did't think of that one. There is definitely a "new day" mentality with Zygi running the show.
The dark clouds/sunset in Red's design kind of suggest a foreboding atmosphere ... perhaps the kind of atmosphere that preceded the Vikings landing in Ireland and the subsequent "goodwill" tour of a foreign land. That is probably the feeling the artist was going for.
Posted by: Shane at January 26, 2006 12:25 PMI'm not leaning strongly toward either version. I'd guess the final design will have a retractable roof, which I hope is left open for all games, despite the weather. Ideally, the Vikes would build an open air stadium to ensure it couldn't be closed on cold days, enabling the Vikings to reclaim the great home field advantage they lost in 1982.
Those who say the Vikings couldn't fill the seats during December and January (playoffs!) are overlooking the sellouts in Green Bay for over a decade, as well as consistent sellouts in other northern cities with open air stadia such as NE, NY, Buff, Pitts, Wash, Phil, etc.
Those who would give up their season tix if the stadium were open-air can easily be replaced by old school, hearty Viking fans.
The Vikings should open a new stadium after 2011,
as the Metrodome is a good football facility and
they have a lease through 2011. They can do better
than other franchises who break their leases.
They should pursue a two-deck design. With two decks of seats, most fans are pretty close to the
action. A third deck or more, I believe, can put
many fans further away from the field and cancel
some intimacy of the game. A two-deck design can
create and maintain intimacy for any sport. Decks
aside, the stadium should be enclosed, so they can
get more fans and more noise. It should be shaped
for football, yet able to host baseball. If the
Twins ever face an emergency in their facility or
need another new ballpark, they could use the
Vikings' stadium for a short time. In stadiums
shaped for football, seats are closer to the field
for both sports than they are in round stadiums.
If no retractable roof is on the venue, a great
option would be a cantilevered roof. I mean the
kind of roof that covers many fans in the upper
deck. Columns that hold such a roof up from a
stadium's outside and inside are very successful
design features and are neat to look at. This kind
of roof is impressive on many facilities, such as
Kauffman stadium, Anaheim Stadium, and RFK Stadium. Other round venues which have been torn down since 1997 had this type of roof as well.
These ideas can offer an icon for football and
Minnesota!! I really believe that. Thank you.
Because football season is over does that mean you are on vacation. Do you realize decisions are being made that effect out future? Let's start asking some questions. First of all can you possible direct me to a Websight for people who care about what is happening with our team? I live in Pennsylvania and do not have the access to your media. I just want to hear what fans are thinking. Please hook me up with some Websites.
Posted by: SOB at March 17, 2006 09:10 PM