Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs took a trip to Eagan as the final steel beam was installed and toured the future home of the Minnesota Vikings, the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.
EAGAN, Minn. — Every few minutes, Stefon Diggs stopped to simply look around.
The Vikings wide receiver took a tour of the team's new practice facility last Wednesday afternoon in Eagan and was the first player to check out the new digs.
Diggs' first impression?
How much bigger the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center and the indoor practice facility is than the current setup at Winter Park in Eden Prairie.
"It was huge," said Diggs of the indoor practice facility, which stands 113 feet tall to allow room for punting and kicking. "Coming from where we are now, it's a different feel and a different look and a whole lot of space to play in here.
"I'm 100 percent sure the coaches will love this space and take full advantage (of it)," Diggs added. "From what I can see, I kind of visualize what's going to happen and how it's going to look. I fell in love early."
Besides the indoor practice facility, Diggs also saw where the team meeting room, four outdoor practice fields, outdoor stadium and weight rooms will be located on the nearly 30-minute tour of the facility that is on track to open in March 2018.
While the Vikings showcase their skills on Sundays at U.S. Bank Stadium, Diggs noted that the real work takes place Monday through Saturday behind the scenes.
"When we first got the stadium, there was some great energy the first time we got to play in it," Diggs said. "It's going to be the same thing here.
"Coming to work every day with the right mindset," Diggs added, "what better place do you want to come than a place like this?"
Diggs toured the complex on the same day the final piece of steel was installed at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center. The steel beam was painted white and signed by Vikings staff and construction workers.
Diggs and the Vikings will open three weeks of Organized Team Activities on May 23 before holding a mandatory minicamp from June 13-15.
"We know at the far end of the tunnel we have a nice thing coming," Diggs said. "The organization is taking good care of us and putting us somewhere where they want us to maximize our potential."
