I have gone
to Minnesota Vkings draft parties for as long as I can remember and each and
every year has left a memory with a few occasions bad memories.
I can
remember when the Draft party was held at the Mall of America which was definitely
big enough but too many non-draft party goers with so many shoppers throughout which
I get because it is a mal but for football fans you really could not get a
comfortable feeling. I remember autograph lines both in the Rotunda and also on
the 4th floor in a couple of bars. It was a crazy venue but also
again as I mentioned a memory.
I remember
it shifting from the Mall of America to Winter Park which I truly loved because
for one I had never been in it. It was awesome to see and players were mingling
amongst the crowd as well as players in areas for autographs. I remember
waiting outside of Winter Park in the shade and boy was it cold but I did learn
to bring a coat the next year. I was on heaven knowing I am standing in the
place where players practiced. I met Ziggy Wilf for the first time as well.
I mentioned
memories and one I will never forget as Vikings fans started chanting Suggs,Suggs,
Suggs and then the unthinkable we see on the big screen TV the Vikes taking to
long to turn their card in and we pick Kevin Williams and the next pick Terrell
Suggs going to the Baltimore Ravens, I remember fans were so upset by this pick
of Kevin Williams but in the end the winner was Kevin Williams who had a terrific
career as a Viking and Suggs had a great career in Baltimore and still playing
now for the Arizona Cardinals.
Who can
forget the Draft party in 2011 at Winter
Park where fans were hungry to draft a quarterback and the names people talked
about leading up where Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker for the Vikings. The
draft disappointed fans when Locker went to Tennessee at pick 8 and Gabbert was
taken by Jacksonville with pick 10. I remember the shock of fans on who does
the team take now? The TV announced the Vikes pick is in at # 12. I remember so
clearly ESPN and Commissioner Goodell saying with the 12th pick the
Minnesota Vikings pick, Christian Ponder, quarterback out of Florida State. I
can still here the booing like I had never heard.
I remember
the draft of 2013 at the Metrodome with the Vikes taking 3 picks in the first round
with Xavier Rhodes, Sharrif Floyd and Cordarrelle Patterson. What I remember
was it was late at night and people were packing up when KFAN’s Paul Allen
comes on the mic and says folks the Minnesota Vikings have made a trade with
the New England Patriots to move into the first round to take Cordarrelle
Patterson. There as just a few fans left so those few were so happy to get
another pick in the first round.
The Draft
party moved to the Minneapolis Convention Center which I had never been in and
to say big was an understatement. The amount of purple in this large convention
room was awesome. The lighting was in purple so it was a little dark but not too
dark to see where you were going. This was the night where the Johnny Manziel
hype was huge. Fans listened to each pick and no Manziel so when it came time
to hear the Vikes pick the Manziel chants were going strong until the pick was
made and with it was Anthony Barr, linebacker out of UCLA. The crowd was
irritated and so many people I could hear, who was Anthony Barr? I was included
as I had never heard of him either. I will admit I wanted Manziel but can admit
I have never been so glad to be wrong as Barr has been great so far and Manziel
has been a bust so far.
The draft
party has moved to US Bank and it is by far my favorite venue being on the
field the Vikes play on with a huge TV with plenty of folding chairs to pick if
you so desire to watch the draft. There is so much to do for families including
a self-guided tour of the locker room, as well as autograph opportunities with
players, and of course plenty of food. The gates open at 6:00 and it goes to
10:00. It’s a dream night to be a Viking fan and be in the coolest stadium in
the NFL
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