There was a lot going on in Minneapolis Saturday, three professional sporting events coupled with road construction in the metro, put peoples’ patience to the test as they made their way through the city.
The Vikings, Twins and Lynx all won Saturday in Minneapolis, which was great for thousands of sports fans, but traveling to and from the venues wasn’t as winning.
Great night for Minnesota sports. I wish we could have more nights like this. #MNTwins #MNUFC #MNLynx #MNvikings
— Matt Bullock (@EP0NA) August 17, 2014
With a twins game and a vikes game tonight I do not envy people trying to get around Minneapolis tonight. Traffic/ public transit nightmare
— Nate Fremling (@natefremling) August 17, 2014
https://twitter.com/TomBullington/status/500788367064567808
Streets around TCF Bank Stadium for the Vikings game have been tricky to navigate for people unfamiliar with the area, and the road construction hasn’t helped, WCCO notes.
“Over the last eight to 10 months, we’ve really worked with the university, the police, Metro Transit just to understand all the logistics,” Jeff Anderson, director of communication for the Vikings, told WCCO.
This embed is invalid
With the last home preseason game under wraps, the Vikings hope to work out the last few kinks before the first home game of the regular season on Sept. 14 vs. the New England Patriots.
“We’re asking people, you know, be patient,” Anderson told WCCO. “This will be a challenge for the university, for our fans, for the neighborhoods. But all in all, we think it will be a great two years.”
The University of Minnesota and the Vikings have warned drivers of congestion and delays while traveling to and around campus on game days, urging fans to take alternate methods – like public transportation, biking or walking – to avoid the backups.
Saturday was a big test for Metro Transit and its newly opened Green Line light rail, which runs from Target Field, past TCF Bank Stadium and into St. Paul.
Metro Transit expected more than 11,000 riders Saturday, KSTP says, and to accommodate all of them, it used all its trains – more than 80 of them were on the tracks. It also added buses to Saturday’s schedule and kept the extra light rail trains running after Saturday’s Vikings game, the news station notes.
Overall, fans say traveling on public transportation was the way to go.
“It’s easier to get over here. Way easier, and you don’t have the driving, parking, outrageous fees and what not,”Jim Greehalgh, a fan from Iowa, told WCCO.
“It’s a little packed there,” Dan Vang told KSTP. “But it’s nice because you have the ambiance of having fans go with you too.”
Metro Transit employees urged fans to buy their return tickets before the game Saturday to ease congestion and speed up the process after the Vikings game.
This embed is invalid
The U of M and transportation officials encourage people who plan to drive and park near the stadium throughout the season to reserve a parking pass, which guarantees a spot in the same parking facility every game, instead of circling campus looking for a place to park. There are also single-game parking passes available.
Click here for more parking information.
