The Vikings already tore down the Metrodome, and now they’re tearing up the turf at TCF Bank Stadium.
Today marks the first day of a field renovation project that will cost the Vikings approximately $6.6 million. The turf that’s in place now, and was in place during Saturday’s Gophers’ Spring Game, will be completely gone by Friday, the U of M announced on a TCF Bank Stadium Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/TCFBankStadium/status/455725800814166016
The Vikings need to renovate the stadium to make it NFL-worthy. According to the Star Tribune, upgrades will include replacing the turf with a heated field, more storage space, heating in multiple areas and improved concessions. Temporary bleachers to seat an additional 2,000 fans will also be installed, giving the stadium a capacity of more than 52,000.
KFAN has more on the upgrades, including the use of heating coils that will warm of the turf on the playing surface. The surface will become a “hydronic heated field that will ensure a safe playing surface” for cold-weather games, according to the Vikings’ new stadium website.
The $6.6. million being spent on this project will come out of the taxpayers’ portion of the bill for the $1 billion new Vikings stadium.
