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I use to love driving down Hwy 169 to Mankato and watching the Vikings Training Camp. This summer they will be closer and now I can't wait to watch at the new facility in Eagan!!
The Minnesota Vikings held a media briefing at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center today that highlighted all things Training Camp for the 2018 season at their new facility in Eagan, MN.
For 52 years it was a well-oiled machine in Mankato, MN but a new home brings with it new challenges and new opportunities for a better, albeit different fan experience for Training Camp this summer.
"When we started this journey a couple years ago looking for a new opportunity for a headquarters we wanted to build an environment to let all of our employees work under one roof, allow our team to prepare at the highest best level and the same thing holds true for training camp, creating an environment with the appropriate amount of land space to do what we do. To host training camp in a manner in which out team can get the football team ready for the upcoming season but also to create an experience from a community standpoint close to the twin cities to allow fans to come and be able to enjoy training camp in the Twin Cities in an environment that is conducive to fan experience...With the space, the land, the resources that we’ve created here it will allow the Vikings to host training camp in a manner that our team & the community considers it a blessing to be here." - Vikings C.O.O. Kevin Warren
To preview, the Vikings offered up three key points to pay attention to as you begin planning your trip to Training Camp 2018...
Reserve ticket in advance, no access without tickets
Plan ahead (tickets, parking, route to camp)
Expect tremendous fan experience
SCHEDULE:
- Wednesday, July 25th - First Rookies Practice
- Friday, July 27th - Veterans Report
- Saturday, July 28th - First Full Team Practice
- Monday, July 30th - First Padded Practice
- Saturday, August 4th - Night Practice at TCO Stadium
- Wednesday, August 15th -16th - Joint practices with Jacksonville Jaguars
- Thursday, August 16th - Final open practice
TICKETS:
It might quickly become the hottest ticket in town but access to all training camp practices will REQUIRE a digital ticket that can be accessed through Vikings.com/TrainingCamp in the next few days. Capacity will top out at 5,000 available tickets per practice session with 4,000 of those being general admission and 1,000 having a reserved label put upon them.
General admission tickets will be free of charge while the reserved tickets will cost $20 on normal days and a $25 premium fee during the Jacksonville Jaguars joint practice days.
Tickets will become available to season ticket holders starting this Thursday, June 21st at 9:00am on Vikings.com and then again for the general public at 9:00 on Monday, June 25th with at least 1,300 tickets being set aside for the general public sale next week. All tickets will be digital and will become available at Vikings.com on the designated days.
The maximum number of tickets available for purchase will be set at 4-tickets per person and access will be capped at 2-days total throughout training camp.
PARKING:
There will be 2,200 on site parking spaces available at the cost of $10 per space each day in a surface lot to the East of the facility.
There are ride-share opportunities available with more information coming on those in the days to come and there will be a designated drop-off zone near the surface lot for those who choose that route of access.
FAN EXPERIENCE:
The Training Camp facilities will be open to the public on a daily basis from 9:00am to 6:30pm.
There will be family friendly food and beverage options available including $3 hot dogs and $1 waters. Fans will be allowed to bring their own water on site as well.
The familiar kids zone will exists in a new form with new and fun opportunities on the new site.
Autograph sessions will return in a new form this season with more details to come closer to camp.
The Vikings Museum and Vikings story will also be open though only available to tickets patrons during the Training Camp period.
WEATHER POLICY:
In the case of inclement weather practice may be moved inside however there are not opportunities for fan viewing inside the indoor facility. The Vikings will refund any reserved seats and parking purchased on days when practice is canceled or moved inside but there will be no opportunity for "make-up dates" due to expected sellouts throughout camp.