US Bank Stadium Roof Needs Repair… Which is No Surprise to One Local Reporter

By    |  
Updated:
Follow Us
Minnesota Vikings - U.S. Bank Stadium - Minneapolis, MN
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Minnesota Vikings players are off for the next five or so weeks while they wait for the start of training camp cine late-July. Of course, the same cannot be said for new general manager Nolan Teasley.

Not only is Teasley still trying to familiarize himself with the TCO Performance Center campus, after being hired late in the NFL offseason, but he’s been extremely busy reshaping the organization more in his image.

Meanwhile… if you take a 15 minute trip downtown to U.S. Bank Stadium, the MN Vikings have a completely different set of issues to deal with.

MN Vikings stadium needs roof repairs

Instead of filling holes on the team’s roster or in its front office, the Vikings and city of Minneapolis need to fix holes in the U.S. Bank Stadium roof — damage reportedly caused by a 2023 hailstorm, according to Channel 5 Eyewitness News reporter, Chris Egert.

Since filing his initial report on Twitter, Egert followed up with a deeper dive into the hail damage on the ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) roof atop U.S. Bank Stadium, which includes the official “Request for Proposal” for the repairs by the City of Minneapolis — but does not include a proposed budget as of yet.

Local reporter saw this exact problem coming before U.S. Bank Stadium roof was installed

It’s no surprise that Egert would be the reporter on the Vikings’ stadium roof situation before everyone else. Over a decade ago, before the roof as assembled, the longtime Twin Cities reporter traveled all the way to Germany for Channel 5 (KSTP) and met with the company who makes the clear ETFE material that now needs repairs.

In fact, Egert even got an opportunity to jump up and down on a mock section of the ETFE roof, with full tie, slacks and sharp-heeled dress shoes. And it was during that incredibly thorough test session that — on (approximately) his 92nd jump… that the local reporter’s left heel busted a hole through a layer of the ETFE.

Given what’s happening now — 13 years later — it’s incredible footage to watch.

In other words, if hail damage wasn’t built into warranties, or if it wasn’t on the forefront of those conversations between the Vikings, City of Minneapolis, insurance companies and Vector Foiltec when finalizing the contract for IS. Bank Stadium 13 years ago… it sure as heck should have been.

Egert is still working to find out what the plans are, but he’s pretty sure the documents he recovered and posted on KSTP.com in his latest report are looking for architectural designs to replace, not repair it.

However, it is made clear within the legal language that this call for bids is design-only, and not for the work itself… unless they decide to approve and move forward with one of the submissions received.

Mentioned in this article:

More About:

0What do you think?Post a comment.

Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.