No Fans In The Stands For First Two Vikings Games?

I can't think of many things that haven't been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just about everything we once took for granted has changed or just plain gone away.

NFL football is no exception. It has been announced that there will be no fans in the stands for the first two Vikings home games. The Vikings are hosting Green Bay Sept 13th and Tennessee the following two weeks. Whether or not things will change before their next scheduled home game Oct 10th against Atlanta, we'll have to wait and see. I'm not holding my breath.

Here is the statement released by the Vikings;

"Over the past several months, we have collaborated with U.S. Bank Stadium partners, the NFL, the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis to determine the best way to safely and responsibly host a limited number of fans at Vikings home games. We have sought to balance the opportunity to provide fan access with the responsibility to adhere to public health and medical guidance in order to maintain the health and safety of fans, players, staff members and the broader community. Ultimately, public health is our top priority.

"Based on our conversations and the current Minnesota Department of Health guidelines that specify an indoor venue capacity of 250, we have determined it is not the right time to welcome fans back to U.S. Bank Stadium. As a result, the first two Vikings home games on Sunday, Sept. 13, and Sunday, Sept. 27, will be closed to the public. We will continue to work with the appropriate officials on our plans with the hope of bringing fans back in a safe manner later this season."