Road Trip!

Ever see a Purple People Eater when he’s really hungry?

Photo Source

It’s been the summer of soccer for the nearly 23 million that, according to TV Media Insights, watched the Women’s World Cup Final.  To many of those watching in the Twin Cities, the 5-2 victory was the latest in a long line of “victories” for local soccer fans.  In March, Major League Soccer awarded an MLS franchise.  Just last month, word began to spread about a new ‘soccer only’ stadium being built on the Midway seven short Green Line stops from our front door.  Currently mired in a battle of “ours is better than yours” between mayors – the future of a Minnesota Football Club remains uncertain.

The future of Minnesota’s Football Team is here!  Much of it will be written over the first two-weeks in August as coaches, players, and prospects take the field in Mankato.  For fans of the game, Training Camp provides an intimate ‘first look’ at players – old and new – as they compete, not for points, but for jobs.  For fans of the team, Training Camp means blue skies and purple pride.  Simply seeing all those jerseys would be worth the price of admission… if there were a price of admission (Training Camp is FREE)!

So it’s just a matter of “when” not “if” you’ll be going.  Please use this as a guide to plan your trip:

Autograph Days – 25 minutes following designated practices - FREE

Monday, August 3 – Running Backs*

Thursday, August 6 – Linebackers

Wednesday, August 12 – Wide Receivers

Thursday, August 13 – Quarterbacks*

Autographs will be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Click Here for autograph procedures: http://www.vikings.com/schedule/training-camp/autograph-zone.html

*The first 2,000 fans through the gates on that respective date will receive a scratch-off ticket.  150 of these tickets will be market with Adrian or Teddy’s name.  Only fans with won of these 150 tickets will be allowed to enter the line for that player.  All other fans will still have the opportunity to go through the lines of the additional players that day.

Family Football Day & Family Football Night

Saturday, August 1 – 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Gatorade Jr. Training Camp – 12:00pm  - 1:00pm

Jr. Cheerleader Clinic – 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Saturday, August 1 – 5:00pm – 10:30pm

Night Practice – 7:15pm

Team Introductions – 9:30pm

Fireworks – 9:45pm

Fan Appreciation Day

Thursday, August 13 – 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 2:00 – 5:00 PM

All Practice times are approximate and subject to change.  Full schedule shown here:

Source

How about the “How” you’ll be getting there?  This should help:

Land to Air EXPRESS - $65.00 round-trip for Adult and $10.00 round-trip for Child. (from Mall of America to Mankato State University and requires an overnight stay)

Greyhound - $64.00 round-trip Per Person.

(from Union Depot to Mankato State University and requires an overnight stay)

Driving from Pioneer Endicott to Blakeslee Stadium – 1hour 38 minutes

You’re on your way to Mankato!  Where should you stay?

Camping

Point Pleasant Resort & Campground 21 min to Training Camp – (507) 243-3072

Minneopa State Park 11 min to Training Camp – (507) 389-5464

The Opposite of Camping

Mankato City Center Hotel 8 min to Training Camp

Hilton Garden Inn Mankato Downtown 7 min to Training Camp

Country Inn & Suites and Bonfire Wood Fire Cooking 12 min to Training Camp

You have a roof!  Where’s the beer food?

Breakfast

Wagon Wheel Café – 5 min to Training Camp

Lunch

Jake’s Stadium Pizza – across the street from Training Camp

Dinner

Tav on the Ave – 9 min from Training Camp

Midnight

Pub 500 – live music

Beer

Mankato Brewery – beer

Pack the sunscreen, extra face paint and SKOL!