Minnesota Vikings fans won’t be allowed at games in September
The Minnesota Vikings will play their first two home games of 2020 without fans in the stands.
Sorry Minnesota Vikings fans. You won’t get to welcome the Vikings back for the 2020 season, in person at least.
On Tuesday, the Vikings announced their two scheduled home games in September will not have fans in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision will impact the home opener on Sept. 13 against the Green Bay Packers and the Sept 27 kickoff against the Tennessee Titans.
The Vikings aren’t the only ones who have come to the conclusion they can’t host fans in September. The Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bears, Broncos, Lions, Packers, Texans, Raiders, Patriots, Saints, Giants, Jets, Seahawks, Titans and Washington have officially announced policies keeping spectators out of stadiums for the start of the season.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs. Dolphins and Buccaneers are going forward with limited capacity crowds.
The Minnesota Vikings have their hands tied by local restrictions.
Here’s the full statement from the Vikings:
“Over the past several months, we have collaborated with U.S. Bank Stadium partners, the NFL, the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis to determine the best way to safely and responsibly host a limited number of fans at Vikings home games. We have sought to balance the opportunity to provide fan access with the responsibility to adhere to public health and medical guidance in order to maintain the health and safety of fans, players, staff members and the broader community. Ultimately, public health is our top priority.
“Based on our conversations and the current Minnesota Department of Health guidelines that specify an indoor venue capacity of 250, we have determined it is not the right time to welcome fans back to U.S. Bank Stadium. As a result, the first two Vikings home games on Sunday, Sept. 13, and Sunday, Sept. 27, will be closed to the public. We will continue to work with the appropriate officials on our plans with the hope of bringing fans back in a safe manner later this season.”
The simple explanation for Minnesota’s decision is that it’s above their head. What is the point of allowing just 250 fans into U.S. Bank Stadium for a game? Sure, it might be a unique experience for the lucky few who were granted access. It would also be a nightmare to figure out who exactly would get tickets and how they could be accommodated. It’s definitely not cost-effective.
There’s a difference between the Vikings’ situation and other local teams. The St. Paul Saints, an independent non-MLB affiliated baseball team, is playing at CHS Field with crowds of up to 1,500 fans with social distancing because they have an outdoor venue.
Would the Vikings go ahead with fans at games is they could put 1,500 people in the 73,000-capacity U.S. Bank Stadium? It’s possible, though not probable.
Capacity regulations could change by the time October rolls around. Minnesota is scheduled to play just one home game against Atlanta on Oct. 18. The next matchup at home is against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 8.
A lot could change between now and then.