Given the odd circumstances of the past two “home” games for the Minnesota Vikings, I thought it would be informative to talk about tonight’s game (on ESPN at 8:30ET) for the itinerant Vikes. Because of the roof collapse (due to heavy snow) in their home stadium, the Metrodome, the Vikings have been forced to play elsewhere for the final two home games of the season. If you have not seen the video, take a look below. More than 4.5 million people have watched it on YouTube alone.
Since home games are rare (each team only plays a maximum of eight regular season games at home), and lucrative, giving up the chance to host one is difficult. Last week’s contest against the New York Giants had to be held in Detroit. Luckily the University of Minnesota recently finished building their own, on campus, outdoor stadium. Having received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification last year, TCF Bank Stadium is “the first LEED certified collegiate or professional football facility in the country.”
According to GoGophers.com, here are some of the stadium’s green features:
- A storm water management system that allows rain water to be captured into a comprehensive underground filtering system outside the stadium, where it is harvested, filtered and drained into the Mississippi River.
- Steel for the stadium is 90 percent recycled and was fabricated primarily in Minneapolis.
- A reflective roof to reduce heat island effect.
- Paint, carpet, sealants and adhesives that are low in volatile organic compounds, which can aggravate health problems.
- 98 percent of the construction waste from the site was recycled.
- A 50 percent reduction in the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
- A 30 percent reduction in indoor potable water use.
[Image source]
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