And we have our first renderings of the proposed $1 billion stadium plan, and, uh, yikes. Vikings execs had promised “a bold, iconic, geometric structure with long sloping, angular facets that are primarily directed toward the downtown Minneapolis skyline,” and it’s certainly “sloping” and “angular,” not to mention really odd in many ways, from the ten-story-high entry doors to the thin strip of seating in one end zone that just hovers there against a glass wall, with the fans presumably to be teleported out in case of emergency or, you know, if they just have to use the bathroom.
The slanty roof is apparently to keep snow from building up on it and doing this, and having half the roof made of glass (actually ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, the polymer used for the outside of the Beijing Olympics’ Water Cube) will let in light and avoid needing a retractable roof, so that actually makes sense. As for the rest of it, it’s definitely not as crazy (or “innovative,” as the architecture critics like to call it) as the Atlanta Falcons stadium plans. Whether it makes for a better place to watch a football game I’d have a hard time telling you from the renderings.
Clearly wacky-looking geometric designs are the wave of the future, thanks in large part to computer-aided design and new construction materials. And if you’re spending a billion dollars on a football stadium, just about all of it via public subsidies, you presumably want something really striking to show that you’re getting something really new, not just the old kind of new you had before. Still, you have to wonder whether is just going look dated and goofy 20 years from now, like some other attempts at modernism — though come to think of it, that’ll probably be about when the Vikings owners are ready to demand an even newer stadium, so maybe it’s all according to plan…
It looks like that thing the Jawas drove, in the first Star Wars movie.
If Lucas Oil Stadium and the Crystal Cathedral in Anaheim had a baby…
They’re really going to spend the money on moveable seats so U of Minnesota can play indoor baseball???
I don’t think Richard Serra is a good example, he is still very popular and one of the stars at the Guggenheim in Bilbao.
There is unfortunatly no shortage of goofy public art.
About the stadium: It looks great, but whenever you deviate from standard steel structure for the roof, you’re just looking for trouble. Question: Who would pay for cost overruns and repairs?
I am impressed that Minnesota Gopher games will be so well attended in the future. They are currently averaging under 1,000 so this stadium will be one hell of a draw.
On the moveable seats, not only is it more expensive but it may be tougher for the Vikings to charge big money for a retractable sideline seat that is a 30+ row climb to the sideline club. That’s why MLB had minor league baseball booted when the Portland soccer stadium was renovated.
I loved the 9 or 10 ads for “The Last Season”.
Don’t know if that’s a veiled threat or just wishful thinking.
E-gads! This monstrosity is about as horrible looking as the 49ers stadium. But the 49ers Stadium is just mostly underwhelming & ugly, the Vikings mock-up is just horrid!
Ahhh, my gold plated, publicly funded palace has arrived at last! Thank you, hard working taxpayers. I will ride up in a bejeweled sedan chair borne by some local plebes on opening day, 2016. I set aside a couple mil from the stadium fund to build it, and it will be a grand day to remember. I’ll be bathing in champagne for the rest of my life once this thing opens!
As for those who don’t care for the design of what us Viking insiders like to call Jawa Sandcrawler Stadium well that’s just fine by me. Hey do Jawas have money? You know, stadium ca$h? Cuz I’ve got some naming rights to sell. They could toss in a couple of R2 units while they’re at it. Be handy for serving drinks in the VIP suites.
Neil is right, in about 20 years we’ll need a new one. Not want, NEED. Otherwise we’ll move to L.A.! We’ll have any number of great stadium plans ready to go out in Lala land by then, I’m sure of it. It’s so easy to build a stadium out there, you just snap your fingers and boom, there it is, as John Madden would shout. And we’ll probably NEED some publicly funded improvements every 4-5 years in the interim.
Skoal, Minnesota taxpayers… skoal!
Mr. Piggy Wilf, are you commenting about your favorite brand of chewing tobacco? Because it’s SKOL, not Skoal….the former is a Scandinavian word, the latter you can find in cheap tins. You seem to share a similar name to Zygmunt Wilf, perhaps he can help you get some better tobacco (or just quit the stuff altogether).
Not surprised Neil the Mouse (or is it Neil the Moss?) is upset with it…he’s been crying about publicly funded stadiums from the get go and has been waiting to hate on this thing as hard as he could. Just curious, Mr. Mouse (or Moss)…how many more stadiums and arenas have to be built before you get too depressed to go on? I gotta admit, it’s gonna be a sad day when you finally commit seppuku, because I’ll have nothing else as hilarious as this site to read…but you will have done the honorable thing. After all, there is absolutely ZERO honor in your “journalism.” You lie saying that the stadium will be nearly completely funded by the state of Minnesota (and/or Minneapolis) when that is demonstrably false. But you know that. That’s why I know you will do the right thing…it may just take a few more stadiums and arenas.