My season tickets started in 1998 with the perfect regular season home record and then the unthinkable watching the NFC Title game against Atlanta. It might go down as one of the longest trips from Minneapolis to Owatonna in history for me.
That was 1998 and now it is 2012 with the first four games starting out 4-0. As a fan you always hope but there is never a guarantee in anything. The first half of the home schedule is in the books.
One thing as a fan going to the game you get to witness the person who blows the Gjallarhorn signaling the Vikings are coming.
The list thus far has had a nice variety. The first 2 preseason games we witnessed Jack Jablonski in Game 1 and former Vikings running back Ted Brown in Game 2.
The regular season opener had Larry Sponer, a major leader as a fan in the fight for the stadium. Josh Duhamel , actor and Vikings fans did the honor for the 49ers game. Former Timberwolves Coach Flip Saunders blew the horn for Tennessee and last week against Arizona, Juan Berenguer a member of the 25th anniversary of the Twins 87 World Series team led the charge.
One of my favorite parts of pregame when the Vikings come onto the field is when the starters are introduced. Coach Childress was big in having the PA say here are your Minnesota Vikings. I love Coach Frazier having each week having the offense or defense introduced. The opening week had the offense introduced as this was Adrian Peterson’s first week back. The noise when his name was called was unbelievable. Game 2 the defense was introduced and now it is back and forth with offense then defense and so forth. I really feel it gets the fans really into it.
The crowd rises as one of opening kickoffs and also stands as one when it is 3rd down for the opponent. The decibel level in this place is unbelievable. I have heard it louder in the past but this year is getting better each week. The wins keep coming and so will the crowd noise.
There have been plenty of blue seats empty at least where I sit so far. I looked up the attendance thus far and it is increasing. The first game against Jacksonville the crowd was listed at 56,607, the lowest of the four games. Arizona game listed as 61,068 which was the high so far. It is good to see the crowd is coming back slowly but surely. I can remember not too long ago the attendance would be announced with the number of consecutive sellouts would be announced as well.
Season tickets are so fun to have and to pay them off is a good feeling. I do not feel just because I pay X amount of dollars I would not come if they would keep losing. I am a fan win or lose. It does make it a lot nicer to drive home after a win and the team is on a nice streak. The chance to be in the loudest stadium in the NFL is a chance I hope you can get to sometime and experience the noise and everything that goes with a game day.
The Vikings are averaging winning by 11 points a game at home. These games really keep you on your toes with high hopes. In 2011 the season ticket was an experience never to forget. Yes, the team won one game all year at home. The games early last season that the Vikings were up by double figures at half and end up losing really made for a tough drive home.
The games thus far in recap mode starting with the home opener and who can forget Jacksonville thinking they won only to watch Minnesota have the small miracle. Ponder completes 2 passes they absolutely had to have. The day the NFL found out about Minnesota secret weapon, Blair Walsh.
San Francisco comes in as an early favorite to represent the NFC for the Super Bowl and the Vikings shocked the world.
Tennessee comes in with a bad record and the Vikings had a game where they were supposed to win. They not only won but it was a land slide where my hands the only time they had sweat was the opening kickoff. Finally, a Vikings convincing win leaving no doubt and shutting down an NFL premier running back, Chris Johnson.
Arizona comes to town tied with the Vikings and went home now a game of the Vikings. It would go down as one of the worst yardage by a quarterback. The play of Adrian Peterson and the defense came through making the difference to get the win. It has got to be our year especially when something like 58 yards passing and the team wins.
The schedule gets harder so if they can take care of home business the future is looking brighter. The last game of the year is a home game against Green Bay Packers. Would it be crazy if it came to that game to see who goes where?
Next up: Thoughts on the Buccaneers game
Thanks for reading
Purplestick
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