A new chapter in the history of the Minnesota Vikings began in 2016 with the opening of U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings have been part of Minnesota’s sports landscape since 1961, when they began play at Metropolitan Stadium. Throughout their history, the team never had a stadium exclusively their own, sharing venues with baseball’s Minnesota Twins, until 2010, when Target Field opened.
In the early 2000s, the Vikings made several attempts to secure public funding for a new stadium. Their efforts paid off on March 1, 2012, when Mark Dayton announced that a new stadium would be built on the site of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The project came with a $1.1 billion price tag and was financed through a partnership between the Vikings, the City of Minneapolis, and the State of Minnesota.
During construction, the Vikings played two seasons at TCF Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, while the Metrodome was demolished and the new stadium rose in its place. Construction began in late 2013, and in June 2015, U.S. Bank secured naming rights in a 25-year, $220 million agreement.
U.S. Bank Stadium officially opened in July 2016, with the Vikings playing their first game there on September 18, 2016, against the Green Bay Packers. Located in downtown Minneapolis, the stadium stands out as one of the most distinctive venues in the NFL. Its bold design features a fixed, slanted roof that is approximately 60% transparent, allowing natural light to flood the interior and create an outdoor-like atmosphere.
The exterior is clad in a striking black zinc façade, and most fans enter through the west side at Medtronic Plaza, a three-acre gathering space that serves as a central hub before and after events. One of the plaza’s signature features is a 160-foot-long Vikings ship, modeled after an ancient vessel. Its sail is a 2,000-square-foot curved LED videoboard rising 55 feet high, making it one of the most recognizable elements of the stadium experience.
Inside, more than 66,000 purple seats encircle the field across multiple seating tiers, with the lower bowl wrapping tightly around the action. Among the most unique seating options are 23 Turf Suites, placing fans just 25 feet from the field. Approximately 6,000 seats along the north lower level are retractable, allowing the stadium to accommodate a wide range of events, including baseball games for the Golden Gophers.
Another standout feature lies beyond the west side seating: five massive, 95-foot-tall pivoting glass doors. These doors not only frame views of the Minneapolis skyline but can also open to let in fresh air during favorable weather, blending indoor comfort with an outdoor feel. Amenities throughout the stadium include 131 luxury suites, roughly 9,000 club seats, multiple premium club spaces, and Club Purple—a fantasy football-themed lounge. Two massive 50-by-120-foot HD video boards anchor each end zone, ensuring clear views for fans throughout the venue.
More than just a football stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium is one of the most versatile venues in the NFL, hosting events ranging from baseball and basketball to motocross and major concerts. It has also served as a global stage, hosting Super Bowl LII in February 2018 and the 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four, further cementing its status as a premier multi-purpose facility.
