Minnesota Vikings' New Stadium Delivers The 2018 Super Bowl

[BillsImpossible]

MINNEAPOLIS -- They could talk about the plans for a revamped downtown. They could tout the Twin Cities' robust group of Fortune 500 companies that had already helped raise more than $30 million for the game. But the Minneapolis bid committee had one irrefutable $1 billion crown jewel in its case for the 2018 Super Bowl: the NFL's newest stadium.

.....

But Minneapolis could point to the new facility that will open in 2016, and more often than not in today's NFL climate, the city with the shiniest stadium gets the big stage.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/128255/vikings-new-stadium-delivers-a-super-bowl

[BillsImpossible]

https://www.google.com/search?q=Minneapolis+vikings+new+stadium+design&rlz=1C1SAVU_enUS531US532&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ZT99U7vZPNTTsASC5oHYBQ&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=709

[Don't Panic]

If we do this right I could see getting a Super Bowl. There's a dozen things that need to be settled before that's a possibility though.

[tampabay25690]

If we do this right I could see getting a Super Bowl. There's a dozen things that need to be settled before that's a possibility though.

They better start building a lot of hotels as well.

[chernobylwraiths]

Buffalo will probably never host a Super Bowl because they just don't have the facilities to attract all those that come to one. Not to mention the lack of hotels.

[BillsImpossible]

They better start building a lot of hotels as well.

"With 22,500,000 visitors to the falls each year, you would think that Buffalo could peal some of that traffic away."
http://buffalorising.com/2011/10/niagara-falls-worlds-most-visited-tourist-attractions/

That is almost 1 million people per month. Do most of those tourists come from the US, or Canada?

Probably the US.

[BillsImpossible]

Buffalo will probably never host a Super Bowl because they just don't have the facilities to attract all those that come to one. Not to mention the lack of hotels.

The, 'lack of hotels,' mantra is an urban legend. We have Niagara Falls in our own backyards, take it for granted and give no credit to the World's 5th largest tourist attraction.

[DraftBoy]

The, 'lack of hotels,' mantra is an urban legend. We have Niagara Falls in our own backyards, take it for granted and give no credit to the World's 5th largest tourist attraction.

Doesn't the Buffalo MSA only have something 40 hotels in it? Those aren't high rise hotels either with 1,000+ rooms. Niagara Falls is nice but what else? Cities need more than just a single attraction to take care of the people.

[Historian]

The Harbor center project includes the building of a decent size Marriott right across from the arena, but the point is well taken.

They need to build more hotels if they are ever going to try to land a Super Bowl.

[better days]

I think the new Minnesota Stadium is a good model of what the new Bills Stadium should be.

I love the translucent roof.

[chernobylwraiths]

Has anyone tried to grow a grass field in a domed or retractable dome environment since the failed attempt by Houston all those years ago?

[Skooby]

They better start building a lot of hotels as well.

There needs to be a huge commercial component around the stadium as well, including convention type space & many many hotels. We have casinos, we have a wonder of the world & a state of the art sports / recreational facility would draw them in. Vision is word rarely associated with the area's planners, that's why they hired from out of state.

[DraftBoy]

Has anyone tried to grow a grass field in a domed or retractable dome environment since the failed attempt by Houston all those years ago?

Not sure, but why bother with that? The synthetic turf works really well.

[OpIv37]

Has anyone tried to grow a grass field in a domed or retractable dome environment since the failed attempt by Houston all those years ago?

Arizona, but the field works like a toaster crumb tray so it can be moved outside to help the grass grow.

I don't know if Buffalo has the climate to pull that off, plus space would be an issue if it were downtown.

[better days]

Doesn't the Buffalo MSA only have something 40 hotels in it? Those aren't high rise hotels either with 1,000+ rooms. Niagara Falls is nice but what else? Cities need more than just a single attraction to take care of the people.

Toronto is close by as well.

Believe me, Buffalo has a lot more going on than Jacksonville.

[DraftBoy]

Toronto is close by as well.

Believe me, Buffalo has a lot more going on than Jacksonville.

Its over 90 miles to Toronto from Buffalo. It would take you nearly as long to get to Toronto as it would to get to Disney World from Jacksonville.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Buffalo will probably never host a Super Bowl because they just don't have the facilities to attract all those that come to one. Not to mention the lack of hotels.
Other than the Mall of America, Minnesota doesn't have crap either.

[OpIv37]

Doesn't the Buffalo MSA only have something 40 hotels in it? Those aren't high rise hotels either with 1,000+ rooms. Niagara Falls is nice but what else? Cities need more than just a single attraction to take care of the people.

Not to mention the SB is in February. I've been to the Falls in February. The ravine and the river create an ice cold wind that will knock you off your feet. Not exactly appealing.

[BillsImpossible]

Not to mention the SB is in February. I've been to the Falls in February. The ravine and the river create an ice cold wind that will knock you off your feet. Not exactly appealing.

February is much colder in Minnesota. They still got a Super Bowl, another one.

From a tourist point of view, I think football fans would rather shuffle off to Buffalo instead of Minneapolis for a Super Bowl just to see the Falls and eat real wings.

If the Super Bowl was held in Buffalo, Niagara Falls would get a huge influx of tourists. Who wouldn't go see Niagara Falls if they were on a Super Bowl vacation in Buffalo? If it's cheaper to stay in a Niagara Falls hotel compared to downtown Buffalo during Super Bowl weekend, many fans are going to simply stay in the Falls.

I wouldn't be surprised if Niagara Falls and Buffalo have twice as many hotel rooms as Jacksonville.

Both cities (and the State) would benefit every time the Super Bowl is held in Buffalo.

[OpIv37]

February is much colder in Minnesota. They still got a Super Bowl, another one.

From a tourist point of view, I think football fans would rather shuffle off to Buffalo instead of Minneapolis for a Super Bowl just to see the Falls and eat real wings.

If the Super Bowl was held in Buffalo, Niagara Falls would get a huge influx of tourists. Who wouldn't go see Niagara Falls if they were on a Super Bowl vacation in Buffalo? If it's cheaper to stay in a Niagara Falls hotel compared to downtown Buffalo during Super Bowl weekend, many fans are going to simply stay in the Falls.

I wouldn't be surprised if Niagara Falls and Buffalo have twice as many hotel rooms as Jacksonville.

Both cities (and the State) would benefit every time the Super Bowl is held in Buffalo.
Spoken like someone who's never lived outside of Buffalo.

The rest of the world thinks the sorry excuse for chicken wings they get at local joints and chain restaurants are good because they've never had the real thing. The rest of the world thinks it's so cold that the falls freeze over in February.

And no one is talking about Jax for a Super Bowl so that has no significance or relevance.

We have zero chance of getting a SB without a dome, and even if we get one, it's a long shot.

[Generalissimus Gibby]

Has anyone tried to grow a grass field in a domed or retractable dome environment since the failed attempt by Houston all those years ago?

IIRC, they do have the technology for that now. However, why would one need to do grass when you have all sorts of new synthetic turf that is just fine?

[Generalissimus Gibby]

IIRC, they do have the technology for that now. However, why would one need to do grass when you have all sorts of new synthetic turf that is just fine?

Also, doesn't the current Texans stadium have a natural grass surface as well as the Cardinal's stadium?

[BillsImpossible]

Doesn't the Buffalo MSA only have something 40 hotels in it? Those aren't high rise hotels either with 1,000+ rooms. Niagara Falls is nice but what else? Cities need more than just a single attraction to take care of the people.

I screwed up the math from the article above...

22,500,000 tourists per year / 12 months = 1,875,000 tourists per month which equals 468,750 people per week.

If Niagara Falls alone can handle almost a half million tourists every single week of the year, I think we're going to be just fine.

[BillsImpossible]

Spoken like someone who's never lived outside of Buffalo.

The rest of the world thinks the sorry excuse for chicken wings they get at local joints and chain restaurants are good because they've never had the real thing. The rest of the world thinks it's so cold that the falls freeze over in February.

And no one is talking about Jax for a Super Bowl so that has no significance or relevance.

We have zero chance of getting a SB without a dome, and even if we get one, it's a long shot.

I was in the military, so I know a lot about living away from home.

Jacksonville hosted a Super Bowl in 2005.

[OpIv37]

If you really lived away from WNY, you'd know the rest of the world is perfectly happy with their sorry, flavorless, undersized excuse for "Buffalo wings" because they don't know how they are supposed to taste.

People who visit taste the wings. Most people don't visit specifically to taste the wings. They need another reason.

[BillsImpossible]

If you really lived away from WNY, you'd know the rest of the world is perfectly happy with their sorry, flavorless, undersized excuse for "Buffalo wings" because they don't know how they are supposed to taste.

People who visit taste the wings. Most people don't visit specifically to taste the wings. They need another reason.

When I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY I tried the, "Buffalo wings."

Not even close.

If having the chance to eat one of the world's finest delicacies called Buffalo wings alone can't entice a football lover attending the Super Bowl in Buffalo (which is sinful), their wife will want to see Niagara Falls for sure.

[Crisis]

When I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY I tried the, "Buffalo wings."

Not even close.

If having the chance to eat one of the world's finest delicacies called Buffalo wings alone can't entice a football lover attending the Super Bowl in Buffalo (which is sinful), their wife will want to see Niagara Falls for sure.

This is the stupidest logic. When was the last time you ponied up thousands of dollars to go on vacation to a place just to try one piece of food?

Minneapolis also has a ton of those sky bridge things so people won't even have to deal with the cold.

[Crisis]

Anyways, cities end up losing a ton of money hosting super bowls. Is it even worth the investment it would take for Buffalo to afford one? I doubt it.

[BillsImpossible]

Oh Nancy...

[BillsImpossible]

Anyways, cities end up losing a ton of money hosting super bowls. Is it even worth the investment it would take for Buffalo to afford one? I doubt it.

If cities lose money hosting Super Bowls, then why do they host them?

"Yes! We want to lose money! Bring the Super Bowl here!"

That doesn't make any sense.

[Crisis]

If cities lose money hosting Super Bowls, then why do they host them?

"Yes! We want to lose money! Bring the Super Bowl here!"

That doesn't make any sense.

It's an investment. Indy lost a million dollars when they hosted the superbowl, the NJ transit system lost around 5 million last year if I remember correctly. It's hard to judge exactly how much each city makes/loses because of all the advertising and things like that cities get from the game, but for a city like Buffalo that would need to spend a LOT to get even considered for it, who knows if it'd be worth it.

[BillsImpossible]

It's an investment. Indy lost a million dollars when they hosted the superbowl, the NJ transit system lost around 5 million last year if I remember correctly. It's hard to judge exactly how much each city makes/loses because of all the advertising and things like that cities get from the game, but for a city like Buffalo that would need to spend a LOT to get even considered for it, who knows if it'd be worth it.

It would be worth it just from an image standpoint alone.

[gr8slayer]

Buffalo would need to build a hell of a stadium, at least a billion dollars to even get a sniff.

[OpIv37]

It would be worth it just from an image standpoint alone.

Buffalo has a bad reputation. People think of it as a cold, snowy Rust Belt city with no jobs and nothing to do. That's not really a fair assessment and it neglects the positive things about the city, but a Super Bowl alone is not going to change that perception.

Many of you have no concept of how much people from warmer places despise the cold. I was the same way until I left WNY. People in DC/Balt have no tolerance for cold or snow and no ability or desire to deal with it. It only gets worse in warmer places. A SB alone isn't going to change that.

[gr8slayer]

I get where you're coming from. I meet someone from the Buffalo area on a weekly basis (in D/FW), most of them say they couldn't wait to get out of the area (mostly because of the weather and economy). I personally thought it was awesome when I visited, but maybe it's just because I was a visitor, and not a resident.
Buffalo has a bad reputation. People think of it as a cold, snowy Rust Belt city with no jobs and nothing to do. That's not really a fair assessment and it neglects the positive things about the city, but a Super Bowl alone is not going to change that perception.

Many of you have no concept of how much people from warmer places despise the cold. I was the same way until I left WNY. People in DC/Balt have no tolerance for cold or snow and no ability or desire to deal with it. It only gets worse in warmer places. A SB alone isn't going to change that.

[OpIv37]

I get where you're coming from. I meet someone from the Buffalo area on a weekly basis (in D/FW), most of them say they couldn't wait to get out of the area (mostly because of the weather and economy). I personally thought it was awesome when I visited, but maybe it's just because I was a visitor, and not a resident.

I didn't want to leave but I had to for personal and professional reasons. All things being equal, I'd still be in WNY. I miss skiing and I hate the brutal summers in the South much more than I hate the cold and snow. IMO the only real drawback of WNY is the lack of diversity. Other than that, I love it.

[Turf]

Too my amazement, I just had some really awesome wings in Kentucky. Its really not that hard. Butter, franks hot sauce and vinegar, a few spices. Its not brain surgery. And oh, DON'T BREAD THEM. I make my own wing sauce that's so good you'll want to lick the plate. Not really hard "cough cumin white vinegar".

[OpIv37]

Too my amazement, I just had some really awesome wings in Kentucky. Its really not that hard. Butter, franks hot sauce and vinegar, a few spices. Its not brain surgery. And oh, DON'T BREAD THEM. I make my own wing sauce that's so good you'll want to lick the plate. Not really hard "cough cumin white vinegar".
No, it's not rocket science. But people **** it up in so many ways. They start with wings that are too small. Sometimes they bread them (breaded BBQ wings are good but they aren't Buffalo wings), then they overcook or undercook them. Then they add flavorless sauce. In WNY I get wings medium. In DC or Balt, I get them hot because the hot is still less spicy than WNY medium.

I moved to northern Va in 2001 and Baltimore in 2011 and I've found maybe 5 places in the whole Balt/DC region where the wings are worth ordering. It's truly pathetic. I'll either order something else or get BBQ or teriyaki wings, because the attempts at Buffalo style are pathetic.

[Turf]

No, it's not rocket science. But people **** it up in so many ways. They start with wings that are too small. Sometimes they bread them (breaded BBQ wings are good but they aren't Buffalo wings), then they overcook or undercook them. Then they add flavorless sauce. In WNY I get wings medium. In DC or Balt, I get them hot because the hot is still less spicy than WNY medium.

I moved to northern Va in 2001 and Baltimore in 2011 and I've found maybe 5 places in the whole Balt/DC region where the wings are worth ordering. It's truly pathetic. I'll either order something else or get BBQ or teriyaki wings, because the attempts at Buffalo style are pathetic.

I've had wings in a dozen places in NY State that make you say, Really? Seriously? I could have saved McDonalds a fortune to boot and made them money. Its amazing how people don't get what a Buffalo Chicken Wing is.

[gr8slayer]

"In the south", man, you're not in the south.
I didn't want to leave but I had to for personal and professional reasons. All things being equal, I'd still be in WNY. I miss skiing and I hate the brutal summers in the South much more than I hate the cold and snow. IMO the only real drawback of WNY is the lack of diversity. Other than that, I love it.

[OpIv37]

"In the south", man, you're not in the south.

That's open to interpretation. I'm south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Where I come from, that more than qualifies.

[DraftBoy]

That's open to interpretation. I'm south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Where I come from, that more than qualifies.

Where you come from any place that gets above 60 in March qualifies as the South.

[EricStratton]

It's an investment. Indy lost a million dollars when they hosted the superbowl, the NJ transit system lost around 5 million last year if I remember correctly. It's hard to judge exactly how much each city makes/loses because of all the advertising and things like that cities get from the game, but for a city like Buffalo that would need to spend a LOT to get even considered for it, who knows if it'd be worth it.


When it's all said and done the State on NJ will lose over 10 million on the last SB.

[gr8slayer]

The city of Arlington lost its ass because everybody stayed in Dallas and Fort Worth.
When it's all said and done the State on NJ will lose over 10 million on the last SB.

[OpIv37]

Where you come from any place that gets above 60 in March qualifies as the South.

I'd be happy if it never got above 60 year round. I'm the guy wearing shorts and a T shirt when it's over 50

[Crisis]

I moved to the desert 8 years ago and I'm a complete pussy when it comes to the cold now. I'll take my 100 degree summers over snow, though. At least it's not humid.

[BuffaloRedleg]

I don't care if we get a Superbowl, but it would be great if they moved the draft around the league to smaller venues.

[DraftBoy]

I'd be happy if it never got above 60 year round. I'm the guy wearing shorts and a T shirt when it's over 50

You're also the guy *****ing about the heat at 63.

[DraftBoy]

I moved to the desert 8 years ago and I'm a complete pussy when it comes to the cold now. I'll take my 100 degree summers over snow, though. At least it's not humid.

Nothing wrong with humidity. I love our 100 degree heat with 100% humidity.

[OpIv37]

Nothing wrong with humidity. I love our 100 degree heat with 100% humidity.

The humidity kills me. Even when the A/C is on, I can feel the humidity increase as I walk from the basement to the 2nd floor. It's the worst thing about being so far south and relatively close to the coast. I've been in DC/Balt since the fall of 2000 (with the exception of a few months back in Fredonia at the start of 2001 to finish my degree), and I still haven't gotten used to it.

My tolerance for REAL cold has decreased a little, but it's still more than sufficient for what constitutes "cold" around here. Even when the temps were in the single digits, it didn't bother me.

[DraftBoy]

The humidity kills me. Even when the A/C is on, I can feel the humidity increase as I walk from the basement to the 2nd floor. It's the worst thing about being so far south and relatively close to the coast. I've been in DC/Balt since the fall of 2000 (with the exception of a few months back in Fredonia at the start of 2001 to finish my degree), and I still haven't gotten used to it.

My tolerance for REAL cold has decreased a little, but it's still more than sufficient for what constitutes "cold" around here. Even when the temps were in the single digits, it didn't bother me.

Everybody is different.

[coastal]

3 pages of never ever going to happen?

[Buffalo Billy Bison]

What's the average price for a SB ticket, having never been to one? You see the SB in Minneapolis is only a 3 hour drive for me and I would really consider going is it's affordable. Is the memory worth the bucks or is the sit at home on a flat panel TV better? What do you folks think?

[better days]

3 pages of never ever going to happen?

Like your 6 page threads of the Bills moving..............never going to happen!

[Meathead]

nice thought but honestly its probably ten years min before bflo will be ready to host a bowl and more like twenty. the lodging and activities issues are daggers to that dream

if they could come up with some kind of 'free pass weekend' for border crossing then we could probably do it now, but that will never fkn happen due to legit concerns of extremism. a stadium in the falls would be a boon to local canadian customers who are prepared, but the massive influx for a bowl would have a lot of ppl clogging everything all the hell up and the bridges would be twenty-four hour gridlock

too bad but i dont see a solution there other than organic buffalo growth. hey thats a good name for a band, organic buffalo growth

[tampabay25690]

"With 22,500,000 visitors to the falls each year, you would think that Buffalo could peal some of that traffic away."
http://buffalorising.com/2011/10/niagara-falls-worlds-most-visited-tourist-attractions/

That is almost 1 million people per month. Do most of those tourists come from the US, or Canada?

Probably the US.

My wife is on the Super Bowl committee in Tampa so I know what it takes for a Super Bowl...
Tampa needs, Orlando and the ST Pete/Clearwater area just to support the SB.....
Along with the Convention Center which is probably 6 times bigger then the 1 in Buffalo.

1 runway was closed the Thursday before the game just to land private planes......Yea Private Planes.
Buffalo probably has just 1 or 2 runways.....
Don't see it ever happening in my lifetime.........

But don't get me wrong I would luv to see it!!
It is a CASH COW to the area for 2 weeks.

[SpikedLemonade]

The new Minny stadium is also delivering $100M worth of Private Seat Licenses ranging from $500 to $10K.

It is a model that a new owner will also use in Buffalo -- like 16 other NFL stadiums -- to raise at least part of his contribution to the cost of the new stadium.

Factoring much more expensive tickets and PSLs, I hope season ticket holders in Buffalo understand that the price of ticket in a new stadium in 10 years will be 3-4 times the current Buffalo Bills ticket price.

Should keep the cheap parking lot drunks away.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/10/04/reality-check-are-personal-seat-licenses-a-risky-investment/

http://business.time.com/2013/10/06/fricking-ridiculous-nfl-stadium-seat-fees-cost-thousands-but-fans-pay-up/

[BillsImpossible]

I don't care where the SB is, as long as it's never again played in Detroit. Just wall off that city already and mercifully take them off the ventilator

DETROIT! I forgot they hosted a Super Bowl in 2006.

Now come on people...if Detroit can host a Super Bowl, Buffalo can too.

[SpikedLemonade]

DETROIT! I forgot they hosted a Super Bowl in 2006.

Now come on people...if Detroit can host a Super Bowl, Buffalo can too.

W-O-W!!!!

There is a tremendous amount of wealth in Detroit but it has moved to the suburbs and surrounding area.

Buffalo does not compare in magnitude.