U.S. Bank Stadium guide: What to know about the Minnesota Vikings’ home field (2024)

Editor’s note: This article is part of theStadium Guidesseries, a comprehensive guide to your NFL team’s stadium experience.

Buy tickets on StubHub to Minnesota Vikings games at U.S. Bank Stadium here.

The first time I attended a game at U.S. Bank Stadium, I thought it had been infested with gnats. Tiny white pellets were falling, cascading down from the ceiling, and it was worrisome. As it turns out, this is tradition. Those were not gnats. They were little pieces of fake snow.

Few NFL environments compare to the Vikings’ home. It’s beautiful. It’s purple. It’s loud. Natural light beams in. A translucent triangular roof sits atop the turf. But U.S. Bank Stadium does not feel like a warehouse or a cavern or a massive factory the way others tend to. Instead, it feels clean, modern and alive.

The Athletic has compiled 32 stadium guides, one for each NFL team, to give fans vital information about the game day experience. We’ve also asked readers to weigh in on the best food, beer and tailgate options at each stadium, among other things, to help football fans enjoy their visit.

It would be hard not to enjoy a trip to the Vikings’ home, which opened in 2016. Before the game, a celebrity fan sounds a horn. Resident disc jockey D.J. Skee pairs that noise with pregame music. Entry is permitted on most sides of the stadium, making it easy to get in. And while it is assuredly loud, you feel immersed in the action in a way that differs from most of the other domes around the NFL. Maybe that is a byproduct of strong sightlines, or maybe it’s the result of the natural light.

Regardless, the praise is apparent in the form of the events the building has held. U.S. Bank Stadium hosted Super Bowl LII, and the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four was also staged there in 2019. Taylor Swift, Metallica and Coldplay have all performed. The versatility paired with the sleek design is why many regard the Vikings’ home as one of the most enjoyable places to watch a game in the NFL.

Insider tips

2024 must-watch game at stadium: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sept. 15

It’s the home opener. The Vikings’ hopes will still hang in the balance. And a vaunted team in the 49ers will be entering. Minnesota beat San Francisco last season on “Monday Night Football,” so Kyle Shanahan’s squad will likely enter with vengeance in mind. Watching whether quarterback Sam Darnold, who arrived by way of San Francisco, can beat his former team in front of a raucous crowd should be intriguing.

Fan tradition to know: The Skol chant

Before the game begins, fans rise from their seats, lift their arms above their head and clap in unison. After every clap, the more than 65,000 fans yell: “Skol!” They clap again, and yell again, and the claps and chants speed up until they crescendo, leading to a blast of the Gjallarhorn. For a while, you feel like you’re in a different era among a community of people in total lockstep. It’s a one of one experience.

Alec Lewis’ favorite thing

I think it’s the natural light and how awesome a touch that is for a stadium without a retractable roof. Part of me feels like the Vikings should play outside; they’re the danged Vikings, for goodness’ sake! But to play indoors yet still have a glimpse of the icicles dripping outside is awesome. Some of the domes in the NFL look dreary. Even Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium feels corporate. U.S. Bank is more homey, for whatever reason, and I think the glass windows and light peeking through have a lot to do with that.

The Athletic’s stadium ranking: 1

Jon Machota ranked all 30 NFL stadiums in August 2023, andU.S. Bank Stadium earned the No. 1 spot for a reason. It’s really everything you’d want in a place to watch a game: an invested crowd, curated food options, spine-tingling pregame videos. What more could you ask for?

Fans’ game day advice

The Athletic surveyed NFL fans for their feedback on the following questions:

What is the ‘best bang for your buck’ seating section?

The end zone or corner of the end zone. — Kyle M.

Sections 340-343. Enjoy a television-style view of the game and a full view of the stadium itself. During late-season, mid-afternoon games, U.S. Bank brings the best out of the outside environment and natural light during the transition from day to night. — Keaton O.

I have season tickets in Section 340. My wife’s family has them in 107. I’d much rather sit in my seats, especially at the price, because you can see the whole field and watch plays develop. It has good views of both scoreboards and isn’t affected by direct sunlight. — Justin H.

The lower level between the end zone and 20-yard line, though that’s still spendy. — Tim D.

The corners in the lower level. — Anonymous

What’s the can’t-miss food?

The cheese curds are massive and to die for. A bucket is a must-buy every game. — Cade P.

Chicken wings or waffles. The wings at U.S. Bank are better than most national chicken wing restaurants, and the waffles are an underrated snack on cold game days. — Keaton O.

Walking tacos are consistently good. — Tim D.

What’s the best beer option?

The large tall boy. — Kyle M.

There is always an abundance of Surly brews, both their flagship beers and new selections. I always try to get one of the new Surlys that come out with every new season, and my favorite so far is the “Before I Die” lager. — Keaton O.

Castle Danger. — Tim D.

Voodoo Ranger Juice Force: 9.5 percent ABV so if your goal is to feel the effects of the can, it’s the best value you can buy. — Justin H.

Where is the best spot to take a photo?

Outside, the best option is to show up early and take a photo at the Vikings ship. Inside, it’s the Gjallarhorn. — Kyle M.

In the Vikings fan pavilion northwest of the stadium, there is a large, metal “SKOL” that offers a great view with the stadium in the background. — Keaton O.

Outside: by the ship or in front of the doors by the sculptures (with the stadium backdrop). Inside: the end zone by the doors overlooking the field. — Tim D.

Inside, it’s the main doors and maybe next to the “Skol” drum. However, this area is extremely congested before kickoff, so you need to arrive early or do it during the game. — Justin H.

Viking Ship at U.S. Bank Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings’ home field, features a unique design element. There is a colossal, 160-foot-long, and 50-foot-wide Viking ship that sits in the stadium’s west end zone. The ship is a nod to the team’s Norse-inspired heritage. pic.twitter.com/rO9ofmO5kS

— GPT (@GPT_Factz) October 24, 2023

What are the kid-friendly activities/options at the stadium?

The Vikings fan pavilion has plenty of games and activities near the longhouse, and farther to the north there’s a field that normally has live music and room to play catch before a game. There are sensory stations inside the stadium if needed as well. — Keaton O.

The games in the park immediately west of the stadium. — Tim D.

Where is the best place to tailgate?

Although there seems to be less every year thanks to the weird relationship the city has with the surrounding lots, the smaller tailgate lots southeast of the Quarterback lots have always felt like the most fun environment to tailgate. Our setups have never been too extraordinary, but it feels like the greatest organic option this close to the stadium. — Keaton O.

The lots north of the stadium, but the options are unfortunately dwindling. — Tim D.

What to know if you go

Stadium address: 401 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn. 55415.

Year opened: 2016.

Roof?Indoor dome with non-retractable roof.

Playing surface:FieldTurf.

Stadium capacity: 66,860.

2023 average attendance per game (per Pro Football Reference): 66,913.

Tickets: $234 is the average StubHub ticket cost at U.S. Bank Stadium for a 2024 NFL game, according to StubHub.Vikings season tickets are sold out. There is a waiting list for season tickets that requires a $100 deposit per seat (maximum of six seats) to join.

Bag policy: Bags made of clear plastic, vinyl or PVC that are no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches are allowed. Non-clear bags that are no larger than 4 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches and are about the size of a hand are permitted. Also allowed are one-gallon, clear plastic freezer bags, binocular cases and camera cases. Official NFL team logo clear plastic tote bags are also permitted. Exceptions may be made for medically necessary items after inspection. U.S. Bank Stadium does offer a bag check during Vikings games.

Outside food policy: Outside food and beverages are not permitted, though exceptions may be made for medically necessary items. Bottles and cans of any kind, excluding one 12-ounce factory-sealed plastic bottle of water per person, are prohibited from being brought into the stadium.

ADA information: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires at least 1 percent of stadium seats to be wheelchair accessible. For more information on all accessibility services at U.S. Bank Stadium, click here.

Tailgating policy: Tailgating is available at the Gold, Purple and Quarterback parking lots to the north of the stadium. The lots open for weekend games five hours before kickoff and three hours before kickoff for weekday games.

Transportation options: Driving, Uber/Lyft, charter bus, private shuttle, limousine, bicycle and walking are all options. Also, the METRO Blue and Green Lines offer frequent light-rail service directly to the U.S. Bank Stadium station from Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington.

Parking: There are several options for parking around U.S. Bank Stadium with over 20,000 spaces between the stadium and Hennepin Avenue all within a 20-minute walk. Lots typically open six hours before kickoff and close two hours afterward.

Learn more: https://www.usbankstadium.com/

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(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Hannah Foslien / Getty Images and David E. Klutho / Sports Illustrated / Getty Images)