On Sunday, February 4th, 2018, the NFL and global sports fans will focus their attention on the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This multibillion-dollar building, which now serves as the Minnesota Vikings' home, was widely anticipated when it first opened in 2016.
The Vikings' previous home was the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which hosted the team from 1982 to 2013, when it was shuttered and dismantled to make way for the bigger, more modern stadium.
The current stadium is distinctive not just due to its original architecture, but also because it is a premier multi-purpose sports arena. In addition to serving as the permanent home of the Minnesota Vikings NFL club, it also hosts a number of soccer and baseball games. Furthermore, since its opening, the stadium has hosted a number of world-renowned musical artists, with many more scheduled to perform in the coming months.
While the action on the field is undoubtedly appealing to many fans and guests, the structure's design and architecture are as intriguing.
Stand-Out Design Features
HKS Inc. designed the 38-acre site, which includes 66,200 seats, 131 private suites, a Hall of Fame Museum, and high-quality facilities for teams, coaches, and spectators. The structure was created to reflect Minneapolis, pulling stunning design inspiration from the city's unique culture. With distinct Scandinavian features (paying respect to the Vikings franchise), it's no surprise that the completed U.S. Bank Stadium received international recognition as the Venue Project of the Year award in June 2017.
However, it’s not just history that drives the individual look of this stadium. Filled with innovative examples of design, it’s clear to see that every aspect of the project was carefully planned out to enable the outstanding end result we can see today. One particularly notable example is The Legacy Gate, a signature feature comprised of five of the biggest glass doors in the world. Impressive and awe-inspiring, this is a real statement feature.
Another element to note is the stadium's roof. The inflatable roof of the original Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was heavily criticized for its sensitivity to adverse weather, poor acoustics, and high noise levels. On the other hand, the roof of the new U.S. Bank Stadium could not be more unlike. As this is an indoor stadium, the roof is built of ETFE, a revolutionary translucent material. The roof allows for lots of natural light while protecting the fans, players, and field from the city's harshest weather—the ideal compromise.
Down on the Field
While all of this is wonderful for the players, the field is one of the most crucial aspects of the stadium. The field is made of high-quality artificial turf that is meticulously maintained and lovingly cared for by a committed team of professionals. Fun fact: the entire field has almost 135 million individual blades of fake grass.
Of course, it isn't just world-class sports teams who prefer to play on artificial grass rather than natural grass. Synthetic turf is increasingly popular for both residential and commercial applications. Organizations such as the Artificial Lawn Company may provide high-quality artificial grass at reasonable pricing, allowing you to have your own piece of Super Bowl-quality turf in your backyard.
With only one week until the lights go down and all eyes descend on Minnesota's gleaming new stadium to see the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles compete for a spot in Super Bowl history, the wait is nearly over. Of course, it's hard to predict who will win, but when the game begins, remember the tremendous achievement of construction and engineering that is the U.S. Bank Stadium, which will host Super Bowl LII.
McLane Stadium stadium is also another stadium that truly stands out, don't forget to check it out.
The guest author of this post, Sian Saxton, works at Concrete Renovations, a company that specialises in the maintenance of listed buildings in the United Kingdom, possessing a passion for ensuring that heritage sites retain their former glory.
