U.S. Bank Stadium was announced as the winner of the David Vickers Award for "Venue Project of the Year" at TheStadiumBusiness Awards on Thursday in Dublin, Ireland.
"This recognition continues to bring attention to U.S. Bank Stadium, its signature features and the world class experience that was created for our fans," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. "Vikings fans, National Football League fans and all Minnesotans should be proud of their new sports home, and it is a terrific honor for the countless number of individuals who were dedicated to building such an inspiring and memorable venue."
The 1.75-million-square-foot state-of-the-art facility opened in 2016 to substantial fanfare, enabling the celebration of Vikings history and the establishment of new traditions to take fans' experiences to unprecedented levels.
U.S. Bank Stadium features five of the world's largest pivoting class doors and revolutionary use of ETFE to cover 60 percent of its roof, providing an outdoor feel and inside comforts. The venue also features the closest sideline seats in the NFL and more than 12,500 square feet of HD video boards.
The other venues nominated in the category were:
• Golden 1 Center (Sacramento Kings)
• The Main Stand at Anfield (Liverpool FC)
• Ashton Gate Stadium (Bristol Sport)
• Allianz Stadion (SK Rapid Wien)
• Parc des Princes (Paris St. Germain)
• National Football Stadium at Windsor Park
"TheStadiumBusiness judges were highly impressed with U.S. Bank Stadium's spectacular debut on the international sports scene in 2016," said Ian Nuttall, founder of TheStadiumBusiness. "The Minnesota Vikings did an exceptional job of embracing their team history and Nordic culture, yet delivering innovation and a cutting edge design with unique and memorable features for the people of Minnesota and sports fans around the world."
TheStadiumBusiness *Awards "recognize leadership, innovation and achievement in the delivery, operation and management of sports facilities globally." Launched in 2010, *TheStadiumBusiness Awards are the first industry awards for the stadium sector, by the stadium sector.
The awards program is part of TheStadiumBusiness Summit, a two-day international conference.
Earlier Thursday, Vikings Chief Operating Officer Kevin Warren, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Steve LaCroix and Vice President of Partnership Activation & Special Projects Tanya Dreesen delivered a presentation, "U.S. Bank Stadium: A New Home. A New Approach."
Vikings Executive Vice President of Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley and Consultant — Stadium & Real Estate Development Don Becker joined Warren, LaCroix and Dreesen in Ireland.
