One year and 10 days. That’s what the countdown clock to the new Vikings stadium displayed Monday.
Here's the official countdown to the new stadium posted and counting down at @vikings downtown headquarters. pic.twitter.com/bfpuqJkI7V
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) July 20, 2015
Construction on the $1.1 billion venue is 65 percent complete, officials told reporters during a tour on Monday, the Star Tribune reports. Approximately $1.5 million of work is done every day with the help of 1,200 employees.
There she is. @Vikings stadium is 65% complete. Scheduled to open in one year from today. #SkolVikings pic.twitter.com/8VCsUfi8rf
— Cory Hepola (@CoryHepola) July 20, 2015
Vikings stadium roof installation. Bravery. pic.twitter.com/HmmlxMYT1e
— Dave Campbell (@DaveCampbellAP) July 20, 2015
One of the big takeaways from the tour was advancement in adding an innovative roofing material called ethylene-tetra-fluoro-ethylene, or ETFE. The clear, plastic-like surface will allow fans an opportunity to enjoy an indoor football game with natural lighting. The same material was used to construct the Water Cube in China, where Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Viking Update says one to two panels are being added to the north side of the building each day.
1500 ESPN notes that 60 percent of the stadium will feature the polymer material.
“Clear is the new retractable,” Vikings executive vice president for stadium development Lester Bagley said.
The Metrodome was known for being incredibly loud, giving the Vikings and Twins a tremendous home-field advantage. But 1500 ESPN notes that ETFE reflects noise more than Teflon, so the new stadium could be even louder than the Dome.
“We may not know ultimately until our first game, but we believe and have been advised that this building will be loud and bring that home-field advantage we want,” Bagley said.
PHOTOS: 12 of the newly added features to the new @vikings stadium! –> http://t.co/0TXeZZcYFJ pic.twitter.com/iBGMO2Qyfy
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) July 20, 2015
If you’re driving by the stadium you’ll now be able to see the U.S. Bank logo, which was bolted to the side of the building on Monday.
US Bank signage being attached…. #vikingsstadium pic.twitter.com/rnHUY2PSBB
— Rob Olson (@RobOlsonFOX9) July 20, 2015
