After Minnesota’s 14-13 win over Detroit Sunday, the Vikings held a “closing ceremony” for the Metrodome, as the game marked the final event in the 31-year history of the stadium.
Former Vikings Matt Birk, Robert Smith, Bud Grant, and current running back Adrian Peterson, who missed the stadium finale with multiple lower body injuries, all spoke to the crowd, most of which stuck around for the ceremony.
Here’s what they had to say to the on-lookers.
Birk: "I was lucky enough to call the Metrodome my office on Sundays for 11 years." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Birk: "People complained about the Dome, concourses not wide, not enough bathrooms, but you know who really hated coming here? Other teams."
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Birk: "There's one thing that is missing from this stadium. A Super Bowl banner. We'll put that in the next stadium." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Birk: "This stadium might not have been perfect, but it was us." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Robert Smith will speak next, he also spoke at halftime: "Playing in this place was absolute insanity."
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Smith: "Im a midwest guy, I'm from Ohio, I thought I knew the nicest people in the world, but coming up here redefined that." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Smith: "You're kind and gentle people outside of this stadium, but when you're inside it, you're absolute demons." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Here's Adrian Peterson to huge cheers, didn't play today with groin and foot injuries…#vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Fans in the stands bowing…Peterson: "An honor to be here, 7 years with this organization has been so great. I owe it to you guys."
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Peterson: "7 years are just the tip of the iceberg. I'm more excited for the fans at the new field than I am for myself."
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Peterson: "All day baby. It's going to be nice to get that banner (Super Bowl) in our new stadium." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
PA says thanking Wilfs important, a mix of cheers and boos #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Final speaker will be Bud Grant…Huge cheers as he takes the mic, now 85 years old…"It's great to win isn't it." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Grant: "Thanks for sticking around. You've been around my whole life it seems like. We're going back to the elements, what made us famous."
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Grant: "The backbone of this whole operation is you, its been said a lot, but it can't be said enough. You've made us what we are today."
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Grant: "Thanks for the memories everybody." Blows whistle and declares "games over." #Vikings
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
Ceremony ends w/ highlight compilation of #Vikings moments through the years, fireworks, and then the lights go off…Goodbye Metrodome
— BringMeTheSports (@BringMNsports) December 29, 2013
There’s the blow-by-blow, hope you enjoyed the 31 years of the Teflon-covered fun fest.
