The Ship The Bank | |
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 U.S. Bank Stadium in September 2021, with the skyline of Minneapolis reflected in the stadium windows. | |
  U.S. Bank Stadium Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Full name | US Bank Stadium |
|---|---|
| Address | 401 Chicago Avenue |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 44°58′26″N93°15′29″W / 44.974°N 93.258°W /44.974; -93.258 |
| Public transit |  Blue Line Green Line atU.S. Bank Stadium station |
| Owner | Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Executive suites | 131 |
| Capacity | 66,202 (expandable to 73,000)[1][2] Former capacity: |
| Record attendance | 72,711 (2019 NCAA Men's Final Four)[6] |
| Field size | Left field: 328 ft (100 m) Left-center: 375 ft (114 m) Center field: 400 ft (120 m) Right-center: 350 ft (110 m) Right field: 300 ft (91 m) Left field wall: 8 ft (2.4 m) Right field wall: 34 ft (10 m) |
| Roof | Translucent (ETFE) |
| Surface | Artificial turf, Xtreme Turf UBU Speed Series S5[7] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 3, 2013; 11 years ago (December 3, 2013)[8] |
| Opened | July 22, 2016; 9 years ago (July 22, 2016) |
| Construction cost | $1.061 billion[9] ($1.39 billion in 2024 dollars[10]) |
| Architect | HKS, Inc. Vikings Stadium Consortium (Studio Hive, Studio Five & Lawal Scott Erickson Architects Inc.)[11] |
| Project manager | Hammes Company[12] |
| Structural engineer | Thornton Tomasetti[13] |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers, Inc.[14] |
| General contractor | Mortenson Construction[15] |
| Tenants | |
| Minnesota Vikings (NFL) (2016–present) Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA) Baseball (2017–present) Softball (2023–present) | |
| Website | |
| usbankstadium | |
U.S. Bank Stadium is an indoormulti-purpose stadium located inMinneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Built on the former site of theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the stadium opened in 2016 and is the home venue of theMinnesota Vikings of theNational Football League (NFL). It also hosts early seasoncollege baseball games of theUniversity of MinnesotaGolden Gophers.
The Vikings played at theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from1982 until its closure in 2013; during construction, the Vikings played two seasons (2014,2015) at the open-airHuntington Bank Stadium on the campus of theUniversity of Minnesota.[16]
On June 17, 2016, U.S. Bank Stadium was deemed substantially complete by contractorMortenson Construction, five weeks before the ribbon-cutting ceremony and official grand opening on July 22. Authority to use and occupy the stadium was handed over to the Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. The Vikings played their first preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 28; the home opener of the regular season was in week two against theGreen Bay Packers on September 18, a 17–14 victory.[17]
It was the first fixed-roof stadium built in the NFL sinceFord Field in Detroit, which opened in2002. As of March 2015, the overall budget was estimated to be $1.061 billion, with $348 million from the state of Minnesota, $150 million from the city ofMinneapolis, and $551 million from the team and private contributions.[9] U.S. Bank Stadium hostedSuper Bowl LII won by thePhiladelphia Eagles on February 4, 2018,[18] theESPNX Games on July 19–22, 2018, and theNCAA Final Four won by theVirginia Cavaliers on April 6–8, 2019. In 2023,The Athletic ranked U.S. Bank Stadium as the top NFL venue.[19]
While the Vikings' owners wanted an outdoor stadium, the state and local governments would only provide funding for an indoor stadium capable of hosting major events like theSuper Bowl and theFinal Four. A retractable roof was the trend in 2010s football stadiums. However, retractable roof facilities are not typically designed for the roof to be opened and closed in sub-freezing conditions. When built in temperate climates, retractable roofs are generally kept closed throughout the winter months, both to reduce the stress on the roof and its components and also to reduce or eliminate the need to winterize the stadium's interior. In contrast, to be of any competitive on-field advantage to the Vikings, a retractable roof facility would have needed to be designed to operate in a Minnesotan winter so as to allow the Vikings to play a home game outdoors during theNFL playoffs. Eventually, this design was deemed too expensive.[20]
Architecture firmHKS, Inc., also responsible for theDallas Cowboys'AT&T Stadium and theIndianapolis Colts'Lucas Oil Stadium, decided to go for a lightweight translucent roof and glazed entrances with giant pivoting doors, aiming to get as much natural light from the outside as possible.[21] The roof is made up of 60% Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a fluorine-based clear plastic, and is the largest in North America, spanning 240,000 square feet (22,000 m2) supplied and installed by the firmVector Foiltec. ETFE's lowR-factor and the roof's slanted design, inspired byNordic vernacular architecture, allows the stadium to endure heavy snow loads. Snow accumulates in areas that are more safely and easily accessible, and also moves down the slanted roof into a heated gutter, the water from which drains to the nearbyMississippi River.
The translucent roof and large wall panels also give fans a view of downtown Minneapolis.[22] The glass operable wall panels allow the stadium to experience some of the outdoor elements while providing protection from the snow, rain, and the cold winter weather.[23] The stadium is aligned northwest and the elevation at street level is approximately 840 feet (255 m) above sea level.
Conservation groups – including theMinnesota Department of Natural Resources and theAudubon Society – requested a "bird-friendly" design of the stadium's exterior using slightly less transparent bird-safe glass.[24] Designers instead opted to use highly reflective glass for aesthetic reasons. The reflective glass, combined with the stadium's location along theMississippi Flyway migration route, has resulted in a large number of bird deaths, double than any other building in Minneapolis.[24] A "bird fatality study" financed by the Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority was completed in 2019. Recommendations include treating the glass to decrease reflectivity, especially in areas that reflect lots of vegetation, and turning off lights when migration rates are at their highest.[25]
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The usualseating capacity is 66,860, which can be expanded to 73,000.[26][27]
| Year | Total | Games | Average | Season highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 534,289 | 8 | 66,789 | Dallas (66,860) |
| 2017 | 533,764 | 8 | 66,721 | Green Bay (66,848) |
| 2018 | 534,491 | 8 | 66,811 | Chicago (66,878) |
| 2019 | 534,804 | 8 | 66,850 | Green Bay (67,167) |
| 2020 | No attendance due to theCOVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2021 | 533,613 | 8 | 66,713 | Green Bay (66,959) |
| 2022 | 600,183 | 9 | 66,687 | New York Jets (66,973) |
| 2023 | 535,308 | 8 | 66,913 | Kansas City Chiefs andGreen Bay Packers (67,003) |
| 2024 | 535,438 | 8 | 66,929 | Green Bay Packers (67,031) |
The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) is the public authority that owns and operates U.S. Bank Stadium inMinneapolis, Minnesota. It was established in2012 by theMinnesota Legislature as the successor organization to theMetropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), which was established in 1977 to oversee the construction of theHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome; the MSFC owned and operated the Metrodome in a similar fashion to the MSFA. The MSFA initially oversaw the Metrodome until the stadium was demolished to make way for U.S. Bank Stadium in early 2014. Three of its five members are appointed by theGovernor of Minnesota, with the remaining two being appointed by themayor of Minneapolis.[28]
Public involvement in stadiums within the Twin Cities area has existed ever since interest in professional sports within the area started to grow in the early 1950s. The cities of Minneapolis andBloomington formed the Metropolitan Sports Area Commission (MSAC) on August 13, 1954, to oversee the construction and operation ofMetropolitan Stadium in the latter city, with the stadium opening in 1956. However, with theMinnesota Vikings dissatisfied by the state of the stadium in the 1970s, plans were devised for its replacement by local and state governments.[29][30]
When the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission was formed in 1977, it absorbed the MSAC and took over the operations of Metropolitan Stadium; it would continue to do so until the end of 1981 with the Metrodome's opening the following year.[30] The commission was composed of seven members, six of which were appointed by theMinneapolis City Council. The chair, however, was appointed by theGovernor of Minnesota and could not reside in Minneapolis.[31] The commission was abolished by the Minnesota Legislature as part of legislation that funded U.S. Bank Stadium in May 2012; its assets were transferred to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority.[32]
The Vikings' lease with theMetropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), as signed by both parties in August 1979, kept them in the Metrodome until 2011.[33] The lease was considered one of the least lucrative among NFL teams; it included provisions where the commission owned the stadium, and the Vikings were locked into paying rent until the end of the 2011 season. For several years prior to the Metrodome's demolition, however, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission waived the team's nearly $4 million rent.[34] The Vikings paid the MSFC 9.5% of their ticket sales; the commission "reserve[d] all rights to sell or lease advertising in any part of the Stadium," the team could not use the scoreboard for any ads, and the team did not control naming rights for the building. Though the Vikings received revenue from the sale of luxury suites during theMinnesota Twins baseball season (a contributing factor to the Twins leaving the Metrodome forTarget Field in 2010), the commission controlled the limited parking and its revenue and paid the team 10% of all concession sales while retaining roughly 35% of concessions sold during Vikings games.[35] The Vikings were 30th out of 32 NFL teams in local revenues in 2005.[35] The Vikings, as well as the stadium's other tenants, continually turned down any proposals for renovating the Metrodome itself.[35] A plan for a joint Vikings/University of Minnesota football stadium was proposed in 2002, but differences over how the stadium would be designed and run, as well as state budget constraints, led to the plan's failure.[36] The university would eventually open its ownTCF Bank Stadium in 2009.
From the outset,Zygi Wilf, a billionaire from New Jersey and principal owner of the Vikings since 2005,[37] had stated he was interested in redeveloping the downtown site of the Metrodome no matter where the new facility was built.[35] Taking into consideration downtown Minneapolis' growing mass transit network, cultural institutions, and growing condo and office markets, Wilf considered underdeveloped areas on Downtown's east side, centered on the Metrodome, to be a key opportunity and began discussing the matter with neighboring landholders, primarily the City of Minneapolis and theStar Tribune.[35] An unrelated 2008 study explains that the effect of the media, in this case an uncriticalStar Tribune, matters a great deal in helping a stadium initiative.[38] As a result, once negotiations for a different location had been put aside, the Vikings focused on proposing a stadium that would be the centerpiece of a larger urban redevelopment project.[35]
Wilf's Vikings began acquiring significant land holdings in theDowntown East neighborhood around the Metrodome. In June 2007, the Vikings acquired four blocks of mostly empty land surrounding theStar Tribune headquarters fromAvista Capital Partners (theprivate equity owner of theStar Tribune) for $45 million; it is also believed the Vikings have first right of refusal to later buy the paper's headquarters building.[39] In May 2007, the Vikings also acquired three other downtown parking lots for a total of $5 million, and have made a bid for a city-owned, underground parking ramp next to the neighborhood'slight rail station.[39]
On April 19, 2007, the MSFC and the Vikings unveiled their initial plans for the stadium and surrounding urban area, with an estimated opening of 2012.[40] The plan included substantial improvements to the surrounding area, including an improved light rail stop, 4,500 residential units, hotels with a combined 270 rooms, 1.7 million square feet (160,000 m2) of office space and substantial retail space.[40]
As of 2007, the stadium would have held approximately 73,600 people and was to have been complete by August 2011. The initial proposal did not have the final architectural design renderings, but did include key features that were to have been included in any final plan, including the plans for neighboring urban development. These included demands for a retractable roof, an open view of the surroundings (particularly the downtown skyline), a glass-enclosed Winter Garden alongside the already-existing adjacent Metrodome light-rail stop, leafy urban square with outdoor cafés and dense housing around its edges, aesthetic improvements to roads connecting the stadium to nearby cultural institutions, and adaptive reuse of neighboring historic buildings.[41] The roof would have allowed Minneapolis to remain a potential venue for theSuper Bowl andFinal Four, both of which had been held at the Metrodome. The proposed urban plan itself was received with cautious welcome.[42]
The 2007 proposed cost estimate for the downtown Minneapolis stadium was $953.916 million.[43] The total broke down to $616.564 million for the stadium, $200.729 million for a retractable roof, $58.13 million for parking, $8.892 million for adjacent land right-of-way, and $69.601 million to take into account inflation by 2010.[43] The estimate compared to then-upcoming stadiums inIndianapolis at $675 million (retractable roof, completed 2008),Dallas at $932 million (retractable roof, completed 2009), andNew York $1.7 billion (open-air, completed in 2010).[43] In addition, according to Wilf, taking into account the costs for the surrounding urban developments put forth in the proposal would have brought the estimated total to $2 billion.[39] The estimated costs were based on projected 2008 construction and material costs, so it would have been possible that the stadium costs could have hovered near $1 billion if theMinnesota State Legislature had not approved the project in the 2008 session.[44]
No proposals were made, at that time, for paying for the stadium.[40] The MSFC and Vikings made initial pitches to the Minnesota State Legislature during the end of the 2007 session, but expected to make serious efforts during the 2008 legislative session.[45] The Vikings proposed creating a Minnesota Football Stadium Task Force, which they expect would take 24 months to plan the stadium.[45]
Following the September 2008 MSFC vote to start feasibility studies for re-using the Metrodome, an unrelated study released for 38 U.S. cities[46] found that "when a [NFL] team wins, people's moods improve,"[47] and that personal income for residents of a city with an NFL team with 10 wins increases about$165 per year.[47] While true for NFL football, for comparison, professional baseball and basketball gain no personal income for residents.[47]
Feasibility studies forDallas-based design and local construction of a new stadium were expected in early 2009.[48] Roy Terwilliger, a former Republican state senator from Edina, Ray Waldron, an AFL-CIO leader, and the Dome engineering expert and CEO, Bill Lester and Steve Maki of the MSFC selected architectural firm HKS of Dallas and construction manager Mortenson of Minnesota over the objections of Paul Thatcher and Timothy Rose ofMinneapolis-St. Paul, who preferred Ellerbe Beckett and Kraus-Anderson, both of Minnesota. Loanne Thrane ofSt. Paul, the sole female member of the commission, voiced opposition and later voted with the majority.[49]
In December 2009, commission chairman Terwilliger said, "We know what the art of the possible is at this particular location." A new proposal for 65,000 seats with a sliding roof was unveiled at $84 million less than the previous proposal, but with $50 million per year more scheduled for each year that construction is delayed.[50] Vikings officials boycotted the presentation which estimated the total cost at $870 million, or $770 million if the sliding roof were omitted.[50]
The 2010 Vikings stadium proposal was dealt a setback on May 5, 2010, when a Minnesota House panel defeated the proposal by a 10–9 vote.
The stadium debate was revived in the aftermath of the Metrodome's roof deflation on December 12, 2010, which forced the relocation of the Vikings' final two home games of the 2010 season and led to more calls for a new stadium from various sources in the local and national media.[51][52] Minnesota GovernorMark Dayton discussed the matter with NFL commissionerRoger Goodell, but said "any new stadium must first benefit the people of Minnesota".[53]
AfterHennepin County stopped their pursuit of a Vikings stadium,[54] the city ofMinneapolis submitted a plan for a Vikings' stadium at the downtown Metrodome site. The Minneapolis plan was for a fixed-roof stadium costing an estimated $895 million. The proposal also included funding solutions for $95 million in renovations to theTarget Center. The team reacted with skepticism to the proposal and did not want to play at nearby 50,000-seat capacityUniversity of MinnesotaTCF Bank Stadium during the three years of construction.[55] Because the Minneapolis dome site was a less expensive option, football fans were expected to return to the Minneapolis plan if the shortfall in the Ramsey County plan were not realized.[56]
In May 2011, Ramsey County officials announced they had reached an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings to be the team's local partner for a new stadium, subject to approval by theMinnesota Legislature and to approval of a sales tax by theRamsey County Board.[57] The site of the stadium would be the formerTwin Cities Army Ammunitions Plant inArden Hills, which is about 10 miles (16 km) from theMetrodome in Minneapolis and is aSuperfund clean up site. The agreement called for an $884 million stadium and an additional $173 million for on-site infrastructure, parking and environmental costs.[58]
Ramsey County said the Vikings would commit $407 million to the project, which would have been about 44% of the stadium cost and 39% of the overall cost. The county's cost would have been $350 million, to be financed by a half-cent sales tax increase.[58] The state of Minnesota's cost would have been $300 million.[57] This totaled about $1.057 billion, leaving at least a $131 million shortfall.[56]
On March 1, 2012, Governor Dayton announced an agreement for a new stadium to be built on the site of the Metrodome, pending approval by the state legislature and the Minneapolis city council.[59] The $975 million project, half of which would be publicly funded, would be patterned afterLucas Oil Stadium. It would use part of the footprint of the Metrodome and would only require the Vikings to play atTCF Bank Stadium during the final year of construction.[60] The agreement met with mixed reaction, and some criticized the proposal as being unfair to taxpayers and a giveaway to team owners.[61]
On May 10, 2012, theMinnesota Legislature approved funding for a new Vikings stadium on that site. The project is projected to have a $975 million price tag, with the Vikings covering $477 million, the state covering $348 million, and $150 million covered by a hospitality tax in Minneapolis. The city of Minneapolis must pay a total of $678 million over the 30-year life of the deal, including interest, operations, and construction costs.[62] The bill was signed by Governor Dayton[63] and received the approval of theMinneapolis City Council on May 25, 2012.[64][65] The Vikings played in the Metrodome through the 2013 season, as construction did not require the dome's immediate demolition. Under the leadership of Vikings COOKevin Warren, the team moved toTCF Bank Stadium on theUniversity of Minnesota campus until the new stadium was completed.[66]
On May 13, 2013, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), the Minnesota Vikings, and HKS Sports & Entertainment Group together unveiled the new stadium's design.
In January 2014, a lawsuit was started by formerMinneapolis mayoral candidate Doug Mann and two others to block the construction of the new stadium. The suit questioned the constitutionality of the stadium's funding plan and delayed a $468 million bond sale. Officials warned the delay could stall the project's timeline and add costs.[67] The lawsuit was later dismissed by theMinnesota Supreme Court.[68]
The State of Minnesota's portion of the cost of the stadium was to be funded by revenue from a proposed new charitable gambling source, which was dubbed electronicpulltabs. When the stadium funding bill was passed in the legislature and signed by the governor on May 14, 2012, the new revenue from the games was estimated to be $34 million for 2013 and rising each year thereafter.
Six months later, a budget estimate from the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget revised the projected revenue from electronic pulltab games. This first revision cut the estimated 2013 revenue by 51% to $16 million.[69]
In March 2013, the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget's updated forecast for fiscal years 2013 to 2017 included another revision in the projected revenue from charitable gambling sources to $1.7 million, a further 90% reduction in the estimate for 2013. This total was a 95% reduction from the original estimate of $34 million in the stadium bill passed in May 2012.[70]As a result of the projected shortfall, members of the Minnesota Legislature and the Governor's office began discussing ideas to fix the shortfall.[71] The legislature decided to impose a one-time inventory tax on cigarettes to make up for any shortfall over the next year of construction and close a corporate income-tax loophole for the following years.[72]
The state reported in July 2016 that pulltab revenue was "soaring" and that there was optimism in Minneapolis about its continuing to rise.[73] By January 2023, electronic pulltab revenue had increased substantially enough that GovernorTim Walz proposed paying off the outstanding bond debt from the state's contribution to the stadium cost. The gambling-funded stadium reserve fund would cover almost all of the payment, with the remainder coming from the general fund. If approved, the final payment would be made over twenty years earlier than initially planned.[74]
In August 2012, theMinnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA)—the stadium's newly created owner—received bids and plans from five architectural and engineering firms, all nationally recognized stadium designers, includingPopulous,AECOM, EwingCole, andHNTB.[75][76] On September 28, 2012, the MSFA selected the Dallas firm ofHKS, Inc., which had designed bothAT&T Stadium andLucas Oil Stadium within the previous decade, to serve as the project's architect.[77] HKS also designedGlobe Life Park in Arlington, home of theTexas Rangers; theMilwaukee Brewers'American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and renovations to theChicago White Sox'sGuaranteed Rate Field. Initial design plans were not immediately released to the public, but Viking officials said they hoped the budget would allow the new stadium to include a retractable roof, walls, or windows. The design team also planned to incorporate interactive technology into some elements to create a more engaging fan experience.[78]
Construction of the facility was originally slated to begin in October 2013, but was delayed until December 3, 2013, as an ongoing investigation of the Wilfs' finances continued to take place after a 21-year lawsuit against them came to a conclusion in late August. On August 27, 2015, one worker died and another was injured after falling during construction on the U.S. Bank Stadium roof.[79] Jeramie M. Gruber, 35, of Northfield and the other injured worker were employed by St. Paul–based Berwald Roofing Co. which had been cited 6 times since 2010 for OSHA violations regarding improper fall protection for workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the incident.[80] As a result of the investigation, contractor Mortenson Construction and subcontractor Berwald Roofing faced fines of $173,400 for "serious" and "willful" safety violations. The reports do not provide an explanation of the accidents, but the largest fine, $70,000, and most serious alleged violation faults Berwald for willfully failing to have workers use proper fall protection while working at heights above 6 feet.[81]
On June 15, 2015, the Vikings announced thatU.S. Bank had acquired thenaming rights to the stadium.[82] The naming deal is worth $220 million over 25 years.[83]
On May 20, 2014, the NFL awarded MinneapolisSuper Bowl LII, beating bids byIndianapolis andNew Orleans for the game.[18] On November 14, 2014, theNCAA announced the stadium would host themen's basketball Final Four in2019.[84] In May 2015, Governor Mark Dayton announced a bid to host theCollege Football Playoff National Championship in 2020. However, on November 4, 2015, it was announced that the game was awarded to New Orleans. This was the first losing bid for a major sporting event offered to be held at the stadium.[85][86] On July 20, 2016, it was announced that U.S. Bank Stadium andMinneapolis would host the 2017, 2018, and 2019 summerX Games. The stadium was going to host in 2020 as well but the event was canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[87]
The first NFL game at the stadium was the Week 3preseason game against theSan Diego Chargers on August 28, 2016. Although the Vikings scored first with a field goal, the Chargers scored the first touchdown in the new stadium. The Vikings ultimately won, 23–10.
The first NFL regular season win at the stadium was on September 18,2016 by the Vikings against theGreen Bay Packers by a score of 17–14.TheAMA Supercross Championship hosts a round at U.S. Bank Stadium since 2017. The Metrodome had last hosted an AMA Supercross round in 2013.
U.S. Bank Stadium hosted its first playoff game, anNFC divisional game, on January 14, 2018, as the Vikings hosted theNew Orleans Saints. The Vikings won the game 29–24 on a last second 61-yard catch by wide receiverStefon Diggs, in a play that became known as theMinneapolis Miracle. The Vikings then advanced to the NFC Championship game against thePhiladelphia Eagles in Philadelphia'sLincoln Financial Field, where the Vikings lost 38–7, costing the Vikings the chance to become the first NFL team to play a Super Bowl in its own home stadium.
Super Bowl LII was played at the stadium on February 4,2018 between the Philadelphia Eagles and theNew England Patriots with the Eagles winning 41–33 for their first Super Bowl win.
U.S. Bank Stadium hosted the Final Four of the2019 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. TheVirginia Cavaliers defeated theTexas Tech Red Raiders 85–77 to win their first NCAA basketball title.
The Vikings said the design includes a soccer field measuring 115 by 74 yards to accommodate apotential Major League Soccer expansion team.[88] In 2012, the Vikings received a five-year window to host a Major League Soccer team in the state's legislation to finance the stadium, and the Vikings ownership launched a bid to own an expansion franchise.[89] In December 2014, Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley presented rendering of the stadium configured for a potential Major League Soccer team, with tarps and curtains covering the upper deck to bring the capacity down to 20,000. He said the stadium was "being built specifically with soccer in mind" and drew a contrast withGillette Stadium,New England Revolution's home field, which he called "a football stadium".[90]
On March 16, 2015, the Vikings announced they ended their expansion bid after MLS informed them that they preferred the bid byMinnesota United with its own plan for a smaller, outdoor stadium inSaint Paul,Allianz Field.[91]
The first soccer match at U.S. Bank Stadium was betweenAC Milan andChelsea FC on August 3, 2016, as part of the2016 International Champions Cup.[92]
On October 23, 2016, theUnited States women's national soccer team played an international friendly againstSwitzerland, winning 5–1.
| Date | Winning Team | Result | Losing Team | Tournament | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2016 |  Chelsea FC | 3–1 |  AC Milan | 2016 International Champions Cup | 64,101 |
| October 23, 2016 |  United States | 5–1 |  Switzerland | Women's International Friendly | 23,400 |
| July 31, 2018 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | AC Milan | 2018 International Champions Cup | 31,264 |
| June 29, 2025 |  Guatemala | 1–1 (6–5pen.) |  Canada | 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals | 32,289 |
| United States | 2–2 (4–3pen.) |  Costa Rica |
As with the Metrodome, U.S. Bank Stadium has the capability to host baseball games in the winter months. TheUniversity of Minnesota plays selected games, primarily during February and March, including hosting the College Classic, a non-conference series of games featuring top NCAA teams in Minnesota that was suspended during stadium construction.[93]
The stadium's first baseball game was betweenCentury College andIowa Central on February 24, 2017. The University of Minnesota was scheduled to play the first baseball game at the new stadium, but converting it from Supercross to baseball took stadium officials longer than projected. Minnesota ended up playingSeattle University later on that same day as the third game at the stadium, first indoor home game for the university since theMetrodome.[94]
Currently, the Golden Gophers play up to 15 home games per season at U.S. Bank Stadium, and do not play home games on campus until April.
The first college football game in the stadium was played on September 2, 2023, betweenNorth Dakota State andEastern Washington. The Bison defeated the Eagles, 35–10, in front of 22,546 spectators.[95]
A college football game between St. Thomas and Saint John's was scheduled for November 7, 2020, was announced in February 2020. It was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
| Date | Winning Team | Losing Team | Final Score | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2, 2023 | North Dakota State | Eastern Washington | 35–10 | 22,546 |
On May 23, 2024, it was announced that U.S. Bank Stadium would host the 2026 edition ofWWE'sSummerSlamPremium Live Event on August 1 and 2, 2026. This is planned to be the second two-night edition of SummerSlam; the first was held atMetLife Stadium in2025.[96]
As part of the opening weekend festivities for the stadium, two concerts were held:country artistLuke Bryan on August 19, 2016,[97] andheavy metal bandMetallica performing the following night, August 20.[98]Prince, a Minneapolis native, was in preliminary talks to perform the first concert at the new stadium in August 2016, but he died on April 21.[99]
Note, this list does not reflect every concert to have taken place at the stadium, but does capture some of the most noteworthy.
Other performances at the stadium have includedJustin Timberlake during the Super Bowl Halfitme Show, Prince's bandThe Revolution who performed outside the stadium, rock groupA Day to Remember at the X-Games,Flo Rida and more.
The stadium has seen significant use for concerts, which was a welcome change for the space after the Metrodome rarely saw use like that.
| Date | Artist | Opening act(s) | Tour / concert | Attendance | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2016 | Luke Bryan | Little Big Town Dustin Lynch | Kill the Lights Tour | 47,219 / 47,219 | $4,565,264 | First concert at the stadium |
| August 20, 2016 | Metallica | Volbeat Avenged Sevenfold | WorldWired Tour | 48,492/ 48,492 | $5,158,790 | Followed Luke Bryan the next day |
| July 30, 2017 | Guns N' Roses | Deftones | Not in This Lifetime... Tour | 48,740 / 48,740 | $5,567,052 | First time that original band membersAxl Rose,Slash andDuff McKagan played in Minnesota together since 1992. |
| August 12, 2017 | Coldplay | AlunaGeorge Izzy Bizu | A Head Full of Dreams Tour | 47,472 / 47,472 | $4,325,230 | |
| September 8, 2017 | U2 | Beck | The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 | 43,386 / 43,386 | $4,698,100 | |
| May 5, 2018 | Kenny Chesney | Thomas Rhett Old Dominion Brandon Lay | Trip Around the Sun Tour | 48,255 / 48,255 | $4,999,184 | |
| May 18, 2018 | Lecrae Hillsong | Tye Tribbett Jabbawockeez Nick Hall | Pulse Twin Cities | Free Concert | ||
| August 8, 2018 | Beyoncé Jay-Z | Chloe X Halle | On the Run II Tour | 32,851 / 32,851 | $3,627,417 | |
| August 31, 2018 | Taylor Swift | Camila Cabello Charli XCX | Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour | 98,774 / 98,774 | $10,242,024 | Mark Dayton, Governor of Minnesota (2011–2019), declared August 31, 2018, as "Taylor Swift Day" in the state, honoring Swift's two consecutive dates at the venue. |
| September 1, 2018 | ||||||
| October 20, 2018 | Ed Sheeran | Snow Patrol Lauv | ÷ Tour | 49,359 / 49,359 | $4,512,422 | [100] |
| May 3, 2019 | Garth Brooks | King Calaway[101] | The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour | $11,718,000 | This is the highest attended event at the stadium at that point. | |
| May 4, 2019 | Darius Rucker[101] | |||||
| July 11, 2019 | Toby Mac | The LCMS Youth Gathering | ||||
| October 24, 2021 | The Rolling Stones | Black Pumas | No Filter Tour | 38,727 / 38,727 | $8,039,757 | |
| November 13, 2021 | George Strait | Chris Stapleton Little Big Town | Strait Summer | — | — | |
| June 11, 2022 | Eric Church | Morgan Wallen Ernest | One Hell Of a Night | |||
| August 6, 2022 | Kenny Chesney | Dan + Shay Old Dominion Carly Pearce | Here and Now Tour | 50,150 / 50,150 | $5,996,445 | |
| August 14, 2022 | Def Leppard Mötley Crüe | Poison Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Classless Act | The Stadium Tour | 42,212 / 42,212 | $5,884,144 | |
| August 27, 2022 | Rammstein | Duo Abélard | Rammstein Stadium Tour | 36,078 / 36,385 | $6,909,298 | |
| April 8, 2023 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | King Princess,The Strokes | Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022–2024 Global Stadium Tour | – | – | |
| May 13, 2023 | Luke Combs | Brent Cobb,Lainey Wilson,Riley Green,Flatland Cavalry | Luke Combs World Tour 2023 | – | – | |
| June 23, 2023 | Taylor Swift | Girl in Red Gracie Abrams | The Eras Tour | — | — | [102][103] |
| June 24, 2023 | Girl in Red Owenn | |||||
| August 12, 2023 | Ed Sheeran | Khalid Cat Burns | +–=÷× Tour | 70,000+ | – | |
| September 27, 2023 | Kelly Clarkson | Ecolab Corprate Event | ||||
| November 10, 2023 | Billy Joel andStevie Nicks | Two Icons, One Night | 50,000+ | |||
| April 6, 2024 | Chris Stapleton | Lainey Wilson andMarcus King | All American Road Show | |||
| May 4, 2024 | Kenny Chesney Zac Brown Band | Megan Moroney Uncle Kracker | Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour | |||
| June 20, 2024 | Morgan Wallen | Bailey Zimmerman Nate Smith Bryan Martin | One Night at a Time World Tour | — | — | |
| June 21, 2024 | ||||||
| August 16, 2024 | Metallica | Pantera Mammoth WVH | M72 World Tour | 107,474 / 107,474 | $12,014,211 | |
| August 18, 2024 | Five Finger Death Punch Ice Nine Kills | |||||
| August 24, 2024 | Zach Bryan | Turnpike Troubadours | Quitting Time | |||
| April 10, 2025 | AC/DC | The Pretty Reckless | Power Up Tour | 46,176 / 46,176 | $6,524,900 | |
| April 19, 2025 | Kendrick Lamar SZA | Mustard | Grand National Tour | 47,354 / 47,354 | $9,124,989 | |
| May 20, 2025 | Post Malone | Jelly Roll,Sierra Ferrell | The Big Ass Stadium Tour | |||
| June 15, 2025 | The Weeknd | Playboi Carti Mike Dean | After Hours til Dawn Tour | |||
| October 17, 2025 | Paul McCartney | N/A | Got Back Tour | |||
| August 15, 2026 | Ed Sheeran | Myles Smith Lukas Graham Ellie Banke | Loop Tour |
The 2019LCMS Youth Gathering took place July 11–15, 2019 at several downtown Minneapolis venues, including U.S. Bank Stadium. The 2021ELCA Youth Gathering was scheduled to be held at the stadium from June 29 to July 3 but due to COVID-19 it was postponed to July 24–28, 2022 before it was canceled altogether.[104]
On December 26, 2010 theZigi Wilf the Vikings owner agreed to accept an outdoor stadium.
For FY 2013, the projected reserve balance has been reduced from $34 to $16 million. Projected new gambling revenues from stadium legislation are expected to be $18 million (51%) below end of session estimates.…The forecast reduction reflects a slower than expected implementation of electronic gaming options and reduced estimates for daily revenue per gaming device.
Tax revenues from pulltabs and other charitable gambling, the original source of money to cover the state's contribution to the $1.1 billion public-private partnership — the largest in Minnesota history — are soaring. That's a reversal from just a few years ago after botched projections forced the state to tap corporate taxes to help pay for the project.
In his budget proposal this week, Walz said he wants to pay off the $377 million in outstanding bond debt from the publicly financed portion of the stadium. He would use the balance in the stadium reserve fund — $368 million — as well as general fund money to make the final payment, which wasn't expected to occur until 2046.
| Preceded by | Home of the Minnesota Vikings 2016–present | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by | Host of SummerX-Games 2017–2019 | Succeeded by Southern California |
| Preceded by | Host of Super Bowl LII 2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Finals Venue 2019 | Succeeded by |
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