Take That Tailgaters

Commentary by

08/20/06

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Legislature passed new stadium bills for both the Twins and the Golden Gophers. We are happy for both teams and their fans, as they have been waiting as long as Viking fans for a new place to play. But this again puts the future of tailgating for Viking fans in limbo.

The tailgating lots along Washington Ave. have been disappearing at an alarming rate over the last few years. The last two years we were forced to use the lot behind the Liquor Depot for our tailgates. That began to shrink last year as part of that lot was annexed for parking and no tailgating was allowed. Then the operators of that lot began charging more and not providing restroom facilities for the people tailgating there.

As the first pre-season home game is behind us, word comes from some of our fellow tailgaters that the lot behind the Liquor Depot is closed off and couldn’t be used for the Monday night game against Oakland. On top of that, the Liquor Depot has also disappeared, another victim of the renovation along Washington Ave.

This has forced our tailgating family over to the Rapid Park lots. Now personally, I have always liked the Rapid Park area. Sure, you can’t see the Stadium from there and have to take the bus, but they are provided free by the Vikings. In fact, the lots are supported by the Vikings. You get bands, cheerleaders, security, restroom facilities, Ragnar, trash and charcoal receptacles. Did I mention cheerleaders?

The area at Rapid Park is large enough to support all the tailgaters and that is the best thing about going to the games. Seeing and meeting all the people, fellow Viking fans and even fans from the opposing teams. Tailgating is the best thing about a day of football in the fall.

The big problem with all this is that with the passage of the Twins stadium bill, tailgating at Rapid Park is in jeopardy also. If I’m not mistaken, the Rapid Park area is where the new Twins stadium will be built. This years tailgating should be safe, but beyond that it is up in the air. Living here in Kansas it is hard for me to keep up on all the local happenings there in Minneapolis. We may be able to tailgate there next year and maybe not.

The Vikings need to get their stadium bill passed next year at the very latest. Even if they do, unless Zygi does something to help out the hordes of Viking fans, we will more than likely have no place to tailgate. The Twins will start building their stadium long before the construction is complete on any new Vikings stadium.

While we are happy for the Twins and Gopher fans, it’s time to get something going for the #1 game in town. NFL football! Tailgating is a vital part of the NFL experience. Let’s hope that part of the NFL experience doesn’t go away for a lack of a place to tailgate.