Bundle Up: Vikings to Host Bears Outside on Monday Night Football
The Vikings will be out of their element – or out in the elements – when they host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football on December 20th. After the roof of the Metrodome collapsed over weekend, the damage was deemed too extensive to repair in time for Monday night’s divisional matchup between the Vikings and Bears, so the game will be played outdoors at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium. Apparently the damage from the blizzard was worse than originally thought.
According to the local Fox affiliate, the biggest challenge for stadium officials will be to clear the stadium and get it ready for action. The Gophers played a home game there back on November 27th and it’s likely been shut down for the winter ever since.
"“We have four to five-foot drifts from blowing snow on east end of the field, concourse, upper levels,” said University of Minnesota Facilities Manager Scott Ellison. “It’s going to be a monumental task to get all the snow out.”"
This will be the first Vikings home game played outdoors in 31 years. So if you’re heading to Minnesota for the game Bears fans, you’d better bundle up. The early forecast for Monday night is a low of 9 degrees.