Metrodome Roof Finally Repaired After Collapsing In December

The reason for its collapse was due to the amount of snow sitting on top of the roof, but four months and $22.7 million later, the Metrodome looks as good as new. Well, not quite new, but as good as the roof looked atop the Metrodome before it collapsed, anyway.

The new roof includes criss-crossing rows of hanging panels designed to improve the building’s acoustics, according to Vikings assistant director of public affairs Jeff Anderson. Anderson uploaded a picture on Twitter, as well, showing off the Vikings’ new digs.

The Metrodome roof collapse is turning out to be quite the problem. After moving two home games because of the collapsed roof, officials are trying to figure out the extent of the damage and a timeline for its repair.

Previously the NFL had qualified their statements like “barring insurmountable circumstances” the game would be played there but this is the clearest statement yet that the game will be TCF Bank Stadium.

But it appears now that it’s officially official: TCF Bank Stadium will be the host of the next Monday Night Football game.

Minnesota Vikings players aren’t happy about leaving the friendly confines of the Metrodome for frigid TCF Bank Stadium. Their opponent, the Chicago Bears, also expressed concern about the conditions of the stadium, mainly the frozen turf that more closely resembles asphalt. With all the concerns, is it possible the NFL will make another last-minute change, opting to move the game to another neutral site?

According to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the game will go on at TCF Bank Stadium, despite freezing temperatures and a massive cleanup effort needed to prepare the field.

There are two important differences between this game and a normal NFL game -- other than the fact that it’s not, you know, being played at a college football stadium.

First, there won’t be alcohol served at the game. That will likely make tailgating a little livelier as folks try to get their fill before the game because they won’t be getting any alcohol inside. Surely no one will sneak any inside....

After some Vikings players expressed their concern over the possibility of playing Monday night’s game at TCF Bank Stadium, home field of University of Minnesota football, their opponent, the Chicago Bears, upped them a notch: the Bears may file a protest if the game’s moved to the open-air, snow-covered stadium.

In addition to that Judd Zulgad tweet, KFAN’s Paul Allen, the play-by-play voice of the Vikings, says the Bears’ complaints stem from the concern that for Monday night’s game “the field at the open-air venue will be frozen” (via ProFootballTalk).

But hey, it’s better than traveling back to Detroit for another “home game.”

This week the NFL and the Vikings have been working with the University of Minnesota to prepare TCF Bank Stadium as the host of the game. That’s now been confirmed, acccording to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello on Twitter. For the first time in 29 years, the Vikings will be playing outdoors in Minnesota.

Now that TCF Bank Stadium is indeed the site of the game, the two sides can work together to figure out the logistical details of hosting the game at a stadium that’s already been de-winterized and holds 13,000 less people than there are Vikings season ticket holders.

The Vikings released a statement indicating that ultimately the decision comes down to the NFL.

TCF Bank Stadium is not designed to host games in December at this temperature -- a high of 16 degrees is expected for the game -- and the process of de-winterizing it could cost over $700,000, the Star Tribune reports.

Anyone that’s been part of any construction project knows the cost somehow always rises from what you initially thought.

TCF Bank Stadium has yet to officially be named the site of the Monday night game but all signs are pointing that way. The Metrodome has already been ruled out.

Check out Daily Norseman and and SB Nation Minnesota for more on the stadium switch.

Planning on heading to the stadium on Monday night? Wondering what the home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers has to offer? Here’s a quick primer.

The stadium is just over a year old. After breaking ground in 2006, TCF Bank Stadium opened on Sept. 12, 2009.

A peak at the weather forecast shows temperatures in the single digits around game-time on Monday. Sounds like a blast! It’s ok, though, fans should be able to warm up with some piping hot concessions, right?

Perfect! Temperatures in the teens, a frozen field and a legitimate chance that the concession stands may be out of service. On the plus side, the cold might help Brett Favre’s hand.

The team still has yet to announce whether they expect to play in the Metrodome or in the home of the Gophers. As they’ve announced their committed to playing near Minneapolis, these are the only two options. Aren’t you glad your day didn’t involve paying for two stadiums to be emptied of snow?

Join Daily Norseman for more on the Vikings and their stadium situation.

The statement does not confirm that TCF Bank Stadium will be the site but suggests it’s a possibility.. The Vikings said they are “committed to ensuring a home game in Minnesota for our fans,” which means TCF Bank Stadium is the best option. The University of Minnesota announced on Sunday that it would take some time to prepare the stadium for a Vikings game since they had shut it down for the winter.

One of those options is TCF Stadium at the University of Minnesota. Darren Wolfson of the Star Tribune in Minneapolis writes via Twitter that we’re expecting word of its availability by Tuesday evening, if not sooner.

It’s not as easy as just flipping on the lights and opening the stadium. A release from the University of Minnesota hours after the Metrodome roof collapse suggests they could be a future venue for the Vikings.

Video of the roof collapse exists and here are a few more photos that have been coming in:

The University of Minnesota’s stadium was one of the options being thrown around on Sunday before the NFL decided to just leave the FOX TV equipment in place at Ford Field.

It’s probably a good thing the Vikings aren’t in the playoff race because they would have some justified gripes if they had to move their schedule around like this and lose a home game(s) with the playoffs looming.

Considering the weather in Detroit isn’t much better than Minneapolis -- but with a stable roof! -- I suspect we won’t see great attendance.

After suffering a sprained shoulder, Brett Favre’s consecutive games played streak appeared to be in doubt ahead of this week’s Minnesota Vikings game against the New York Giants. Were the game to have been played Sunday, Favre seemed destined to be ruled out. But with the collapse of the Metrodome and an extra day to rest and heal, many began to wonder if Favre would recover in time for the Monday night game.

For whatever it’s worth, Favre sounds less than confident in his ability to play Monday against the Giants. If this is anything like his on again, off again retirement sagas, Favre’s own assessment of his health could simply be the crafty quarterback keeping his status close to the vest.

The fact that the Vikings and Giants are playing at a stadium that serves as a home site for neither team is bad enough for attendance. Even with free tickets, stubs for Sunday’s Lions-Packers game doubling as Monday night tickets and preferred seating for those holding tickets to Sunday’s postponed game at the Metrodome, attendance is expected to be sparse. But with the weather in Detroit as frightening as it is in Minnesota, it’s looking more and more like the crowd could rival that of a small-town high school game.

A quick look at the weather in Detroit shows a high chance of snow from Sunday to Monday night. Highs are expected to be in the teens with lows dropping into single-digits, as well. Many schools are already throwing in the towel, calling for Monday closures.

And then what?

One of the most recent Minnesota proposals was for a 65,000-seat, sliding-roof stadium with downtown views. Vikings officials gave it a thumbs-down due to its $870 million price tag. A subsequent proposal was shot down 10-9 in a May, 2010 Minnesota State House vote, and the matter hasn’t been touched since.

Since college football is almost never played around these parts anywhere near mid-December, weather would be a major concern. But Dec. 20 is supposed to be a downright scalding day by Minnesota standards, with a low of 16 degrees. Why not play an outdoor game?

According to the Chicago Tribune, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission chairman Roy Terwilliger says the stadium’s crew should be able to clean up the snow and debris, replaced the three damaged panels, and restore the roof in time. That sounds like a mighty quick turnaround, but Terwilliger says “we’ll see.”

Luckily there wasn’t much damage to the interior of the stadium, with no seating areas taking much of an impact. Cleanup will just involve, like, a really big Shop-Vac, but shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Raising the roof should be aided by a lack of further snow for the most part, as it’s only supposed to snow once and lightly between now and next Monday.