MINNEAPOLIS, MN (CelebrityAccess) — After a two and a half year build out that cost more than $1bn, U.S. Bank Stadium opened on Friday in downtown Minneapolis.
"This is a tremendous day for Minnesota," said Gov. Mark Dayton during the official ribbon cutting ceremony. "After years of discussion, disagreeing and agreeing … here we are, on time and on budget. This was always about two priorities, first keeping the Vikings the Minnesota for generations to come, and second, jobs, jobs, jobs."
With more than 1.7 million square feet, it has almost twice the floor space of the old Metrodome. With approximately 66,000, the stadium still has a similar capacity to the old Metrodome, but can expand to more than 70,000 seats for larger events, such as the Super Bowl, which is slated to take place at the stadium in 2018.
The $1.122 billion stadium was financed with a $600 million investment by the stadium's tenant, the NFL team Minnesota Vikings, and $150 million from taxpayers in Minneapolis, and an additional $348 million from the state.
Events on the calendar for the new stadium include an International Cup soccer game, as well as a concert by Luke Bryan on August 19th and Metallica on August 20th. – Staff Writers
