Viqueens Have Trouble Selling Out

[mraynrand]

Perhaps the attraction of the Coliseum has past it's zenith. Perhaps the childhood of the human species has waxed and is now waning. Perhaps people in Minneapolis have evolved to the next stage of human awareness and enlightenment, where the trivialities and futile gestures of physical human competition are no longer appealing, and can no longer capture the attention of sophisticated intellects.

[Tony Oday]

Wild Hockey never has a problem selling out

[mraynrand]

Wild Hockey never has a problem selling out

There goes my theory.

[Carolina_Packer]

As a Minnesota taxpayer, I certainly hope they don't get a new (taxpayer funded) stadium, but I certainly understand why the Vikings want one. In a decent stadium, they'd have no trouble selling out

The location for your profile says Iowa. Do you live in Minnesota? Just curious. I grew up in Wisconsin and Iowa and lived in Minnesota where I met my wife before we moved to North Carolina.

[Tony Oday]

well to bail you out it is only 18,000 tickets...however they are more expensive

[Cheesehead Craig]

It's not even news anymore that this is an issue. The fans know the situation and have essentially resigned themselves to it. The Vikes get huge TV ratings and I know a lot of the fans would rather watch from home than go to the Big Inflatable Toilet to watch a game. Crappy seating, poor food and bathroom facilities, poor parking options on gameday with virtually no tailgating available, etc. there is just no "gameday experience" at the Toilet.

If they can get an outdoor stadium with tailgating options and improved amenities, they'll sell out consistently and have a solid waiting list for tix.

Problem is, they don't want to pay for the new stadium. Especially now with the Twins, Gophers and the 35W bridge all being done. The money isn't there right now. Not many big cities can support the 4 major sports of NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL. Add in a major university and their D1 athletics as well and that just makes it even harder.

[MadtownPacker]

At that price Im willing to buy about ten rows just so I can burn them and help make the dome a empty place.

[Tony Oday]

You know though I would rather watch the game at home anyway. i like tailgating however I would prefer to watch the game warm, drunk and well fed Plus who likes waiting in line for the bathroom!?

[mraynrand]

Not many big cities can support the 4 major sports of NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL. Add in a major university and their D1 athletics as well and that just makes it even harder.

Good point, especially considering the popularity of gopher hockey. That's 7 huge draws all overlapping for a time in the fall.

[Tony Oday]

but how many fans is that per game if all of them play at once?

NHL 18k
Gophers what 12k? Dunno
Basketball Timberwolves 3 people
MLB 15k

Its really not that many fans

[Zool]

Gopher hockey is huge. Gopher football? Not so much.

[mraynrand]

Gopher hockey is huge. Gopher football? Not so much.

Poor Gopher football. They should be better this year with a high powered offense, right??

I remember the good old days with Lou Holtz raising our hopes, bringing in Ricky Foggie, Chip Lohmiller, and then Darrell Thompson, and then splitting town as fast as he could and leaving us in ruins. Still, it was fun watching Darrell run up 200 yards on Bo, even if we did lose.

[SMACKTALKIE]

It's not even news anymore that this is an issue. The fans know the situation and have essentially resigned themselves to it. The Vikes get huge TV ratings and I know a lot of the fans would rather watch from home than go to the Big Inflatable Toilet to watch a game. Crappy seating, poor food and bathroom facilities, poor parking options on gameday with virtually no tailgating available, etc. there is just no "gameday experience" at the Toilet.

If they can get an outdoor stadium with tailgating options and improved amenities, they'll sell out consistently and have a solid waiting list for tix.

Problem is, they don't want to pay for the new stadium. Especially now with the Twins, Gophers and the 35W bridge all being done. The money isn't there right now. Not many big cities can support the 4 major sports of NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL. Add in a major university and their D1 athletics as well and that just makes it even harder.

The 35W bridge was paid for with federal money as it is part of the Interstate System. Despite paying in on the Twin's and Gopher's stadiums there is still enough money to partially, publicly fund a stadium.

[Lurker64]

The location for your profile says Iowa. Do you live in Minnesota? Just curious. I grew up in Wisconsin and Iowa and lived in Minnesota where I met my wife before we moved to North Carolina.

My legal residence is still in Minnesota, but I'm in Iowa for graduate school. I pay those higher taxes for the luxury of having a prettier license plate, I guess.

[Freak Out]

I went to buy a ticket for the Packer game and found out I had to buy a ticket to the Panthers game as well. Deal breaker.