Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings to welcome virtual fans to U.S. Bank Stadium for first two games

Originally posted on Sportress of Blogitude
By Jason Rowan | Last updated 9/4/20

The Minnesota Vikings have rolled out the welcome mat for fans heading into the first two home games of the 2020 NFL season. Unfortunately, the invite to U.S. Bank Stadium is only going to be a virtual affair.

The Vikings are among the NFL teams that have decided against welcoming fans into their home stadiums at the onset of the season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The two games impacted by the decision are the Vikings’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13 and a Week 3 showdown with the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 27.

In the wake of that announcement a week back, the Vikings revealed how fans can still get their faces seen in the stands on gameday.

The team announced on social media Friday that fans can now submit hi-res photos, which will be turned into cardboard cutouts to help fill some of the 66,000-plus empty seats.

We still want to see you at @usbankstadium for the first 2 home games.

Take a high-res photo of yourself in Vikings gear and your cutout will be placed in the stands.

100% of net proceeds will support charitable causes in our community.

MORE: https://t.co/jA7fOArnk5 pic.twitter.com/uH3eVxLJDX
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 4, 2020

There are some rules and regulations concerning what will and will not be permitted, and the Vikings lay out the specifics on their official site. To no surprise, club-branded attire is only allowed. The fact that no “political statements, logos, slogans or other political content” is hardly a shock, either.

The cutouts will be used as long as fans are not welcomed into U.S. Bank Stadium, and fans have the option of retrieving their cutouts when no longer needed.

The most redeeming part of the Vikings’ promotion is that 100% of the net proceeds of the $150 cost for a cutout will go to charities in the community.

The Vikings’ attempt to allow some fan involvement during games in an otherwise sterile gameday environment is hardly a novel one. Countless MLB teams have done the same as the league plays out a 60-game season this summer with no fans in the stands.

This article first appeared on Sportress of Blogitude and was syndicated with permission.

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