Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions NFL Game; US Bank Stadium - Minneapolis, MN

Growing up it was the norm that Sunday's were for football from September - January every year. Don't forget the NFL Draft and preseason! My family had purple blood in their veins, passed on to me from the moment I was brought home from the hospital in my parent's arms wearing my Viking's onesie. It was something my family was known for in my small town(-ship) neighborhood. Our basement family room was a museum for the Minnesota Vikings, complete with purple carpet, bar and sofa.

Please don't get me wrong - I am not complaining one bit! I had an amazing childhood and I wouldn't have changed it for the world. But you need the backstory to why a trip from Pennsylvania to Minnesota to see a Vikings game was so monumental to me. Almost like a right of passage (wow I'm getting philosophical now!). It was a bonding experience with my parents, my Dad especially, that I'll never forget.

Let's start with the stadium: just wow. It is truly a beautiful building, and once inside you don't even realize you're completely indoors. Even though I'm not much of a snow person, it would be a beautiful view inside the stadium during a gentle winter snow...almost like a backwards snow globe... ok back on track.

We started the trip with a search for our brick. Yes, you read that right. Our brick. When US Bank Stadium was first built not so long ago, as a diehard Vikings fan, you could order a customizable stone brick to be incorporated in its own section of the outside entry to the stadium. Being said diehard Vikings fans, my family ordered our own brick. I must say that it felt like a little badge of honor: my name at US Bank Stadium. Such a cool experience, definitely a happy moment and made me smile.

Now that I've gotten as far as the outside entry to the stadium, let's get down to business (to defeat the Huns)! Shout out to Mama Needs-to-Sit for our love of Donny Osmond. Here's my review of US Bank Stadium - home of the Minnesota Vikings! SKOL!

Lady Needs-To-Sit's Starfish Guide

Restroom Rundown

I was pleasantly surprised with the bathroom situation at the stadium. Granted, I didn't go to use it during the rush hour times between quarters, so keep that in mind. But there were enough evenly spaced throughout the stadium, and I didn't have to wait in a crazy line. After experiencing the trek that was to my seat, I realized I'd have to be conservative on how many times I dared to conquer that mountain. My fellow spoonies and chronic pain warriors understand: conserve your energy like the little creepy dude in The Lord of the Rings. My precious....my precious... (don't come at me for not knowing his name, I will get to watching that legendary saga). To be continued below.

Seating Situation

Our seats were wayyyyy up on the top deck. Oh yeah - we were high up there. And we had the most amazing first row seats of our section. No one to be standing in front of yours truly, Lady Needs-to-Sit, blocking her view because she needs-to-sit. Is it selfish? Maybe. Sorry, not sorry.. But anyway, it was amazing because the only thing between us and the edge was a piece of clear plexiglass/acrylic/I-didn't-want-to-think-about-what-it-was-made-of-because-I'm-deathly-afraid-of-falling-and-it-took-awhile-for-my-anxiety-to-let-me-look-down-at-the-field. The seats themselves were relatively comfortable, and I'd say we had adequate legroom. But let's get to the process it took to get to said seats.

Railing, Ramps & Elevators (Oh My!)

Ok, I know we had seats at the top deck. I knew there would be an adventure to get to those seats on the top deck. However: holy escalators Batman! There was just one, after another, after another, after another and THEN there were sets of stairs to top them all off. Ya'll, we were moving with the crowd so to look for an easy accessible elevator was not much of an option. Those steps were hard on me, extremely hard on me. It doesn't help we spent the previous day exploring the Mall of America. Comment below if you would like this mermaid's review of the MOA (and maybe a peak of their aquarium inside!). Once I was in my seat, I was in my seat until the foreseeable future. Or until I got hungry enough to get some mini donuts at the nearest concession stand...delicious!

Parking Lot Party

If I could I would give this a 100,000,000,000,000,000/5! There is just something so... I don't know, family-like I guess, feeling of having thousands of fellow fans surrounding you in the pre-game excitement. People who found it completely normal to have a family room that was covered in purple. Comraderie at its finest folks, and it was an experience I can't wait to have again. While my parents and I didn't set up a table in the lots, we were able to walk through and socialize with our fellow fans. We were taking pictures, raising a glass to our fandom, and melting into the united feeling of friendship. Heck, I was even offered to join in a game of beer pong! SKOL!

Will I Return?

Really? Is that even a question? DUH !!!

The feeling of hearing an entire stadium chant SKOL! That vibration of excitement in the air! The buzz of fans after each play! The FOOD! Of COURSE I will be back. I am, of course, my father's daughter. And just like my Dad's tattoo says: we bleed purple.

Swimmingly yours,

LNTS