Minnesota Vikings Bringing Blackout Curtains To US Bank Stadium

Photo taken from the upper level of U.S. Bank Stadium during a Minnesota Vikings home game.

Image Credit: Amy Merideth (CC BY-ND 2.0)

U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings, will host the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. Due to the vast amount of natural sunlight that seeps into the venue, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority is spending $5.2M on blackout curtains and darkening solution. The blackout curtains will limit the glare on the basketball court during day games. In all, more than 500,000 square feet of windows will need to be covered.

Two outside companies will oversee the project. Bluemedia (Tempe, Arizona) will work on covering the roof of U.S. Bank Stadium. Chicago Flyhouse, Inc. (Chicago, Illinois) will cover the doors and glass windows throughout the stadium. Leaders of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority suggest that the curtains will be used for future events at U.S. Bank Stadium as well, namely, concerts. The $5.2 million will come from a reserve account that both the Minnesota Vikings and state of Minnesota contribute to annually. In fact, U.S. Bank Stadium was only able to land the 2019 Final Four because they agreed to implement the blackout curtains.

The NCAA requires that the setting and lighting for all basketball practices and games at U.S. Bank Stadium be consistent. U.S. Bank Stadium features giant retractable windows, similar to the ones first seen at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. U.S. Bank Stadium made national headlines earlier this year when it hosed Super Bowl LII and a Phildelphia Eagles fan stole a seat from the game.

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Minnesota Vikings Bringing Blackout Curtains To U.S. Bank Stadium