Advertisement

Tour the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium

Amber Matsumoto
  • <p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
    1/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings)

  • <p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
    2/18

    tempstadU.S. Bank Stadium

    An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings)

  • <p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
    3/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings)

  • <p>An inside look at U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
    4/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    An inside look at U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings)

  • <p>An inside look at U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
    5/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    An inside look at U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings)

  • <p>General stadium view of the Minnesota Vikings against the San Diego Chargers at US Bank stadium on August 28, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) </p>
    6/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    General stadium view of the Minnesota Vikings against the San Diego Chargers at US Bank stadium on August 28, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

  • <p>Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders line up on the field before an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers in Minneapolis. The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers in the first regular season game in the new stadium Sunday, Sept. 18. The Vikings are expecting the $1.1 billion translucent building to be a significant advantage for them with 66,000 roaring fans packing the place all fall. (AP Photo/Jim Mone,File) </p>
    7/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders line up on the field before an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers in Minneapolis. The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers in the first regular season game in the new stadium Sunday, Sept. 18. The Vikings are expecting the $1.1 billion translucent building to be a significant advantage for them with 66,000 roaring fans packing the place all fall. (AP Photo/Jim Mone,File)

  • <p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
    8/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings)

  • <p>A general view of the extra of U.S. Bank Stadium prior to the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports </p>
    9/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    A general view of the extra of U.S. Bank Stadium prior to the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

  • <p>Fans arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King) </p>
    10/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    Fans arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

  • <p>U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team in Minneapolis. The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers in the first regular season game in the new stadium Sunday, Sept. 18. The Vikings are expecting the $1.1 billion translucent building to be a significant advantage for them with 66,000 roaring fans packing the place all fall. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) </p>
    11/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team in Minneapolis. The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers in the first regular season game in the new stadium Sunday, Sept. 18. The Vikings are expecting the $1.1 billion translucent building to be a significant advantage for them with 66,000 roaring fans packing the place all fall. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

  • <p>Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
    12/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • <p>Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
    13/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • <p>Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
    14/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • <p>Fans look on during the first quarter of the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on September 1, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>
    15/18

    GettyImagU.S. Bank Stadium

    Fans look on during the first quarter of the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on September 1, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

  • <p>Fans walk around U.S. Bank Stadium before its inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports </p>
    16/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    Fans walk around U.S. Bank Stadium before its inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

  • <p>The Minnesota Vikings offense runs a play against the San Diego Chargers defense during the fourth quarter of the game on August 28, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 23-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>
    17/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    The Minnesota Vikings offense runs a play against the San Diego Chargers defense during the fourth quarter of the game on August 28, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 23-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

  • <p>A general view of U.S. Bank Stadium as fans arrive before the preseason game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on September 1, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>
    18/18

    U.S. Bank Stadium

    A general view of U.S. Bank Stadium as fans arrive before the preseason game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on September 1, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

<p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
<p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
<p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
<p>An inside look at U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
<p>An inside look at U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
<p>General stadium view of the Minnesota Vikings against the San Diego Chargers at US Bank stadium on August 28, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders line up on the field before an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers in Minneapolis. The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers in the first regular season game in the new stadium Sunday, Sept. 18. The Vikings are expecting the $1.1 billion translucent building to be a significant advantage for them with 66,000 roaring fans packing the place all fall. (AP Photo/Jim Mone,File) </p>
<p>An exterior view of U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings. (Photo via the Minnesota Vikings) </p>
<p>A general view of the extra of U.S. Bank Stadium prior to the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports </p>
<p>Fans arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King) </p>
<p>U.S. Bank Stadium, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team in Minneapolis. The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers in the first regular season game in the new stadium Sunday, Sept. 18. The Vikings are expecting the $1.1 billion translucent building to be a significant advantage for them with 66,000 roaring fans packing the place all fall. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) </p>
<p>Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Fans enter US Bank Stadium prior to the stadium’s inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Fans look on during the first quarter of the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on September 1, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>
<p>Fans walk around U.S. Bank Stadium before its inaugural game between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports </p>
<p>The Minnesota Vikings offense runs a play against the San Diego Chargers defense during the fourth quarter of the game on August 28, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 23-10. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>
<p>A general view of U.S. Bank Stadium as fans arrive before the preseason game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams on September 1, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) </p>

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings sought an innovative and unique look for their new stadium that could be instantly recognized on national television.

To receive public funding, the place needed to be covered, and a retractable roof option was passed over for a translucent cover. It’s more cost-efficient and can make the interior almost feel like the outdoors when coupled with the top-to-bottom glass front of the asymmetrical, ship-shaped building.

The see-through plastic panels that account for 60 percent of the roof, a space-age material called ethylene tetraflouroethylene or ETFE, are considered more acoustically reflective than the Teflon cover over the old Metrodome. The Vikings enjoyed a significant edge during their 32 seasons in that stadium, often thriving off the sounds of an amped-up crowd that reverberated off the ceiling.

Now, at U.S. Bank Stadium, the capacity is a bit larger at 66,000 seats. The angle of the roof could also tilt more of the noise toward the visiting team benches. The seats and suites are the closest to the action of any venue in the NFL, at 41 feet and 25 feet from the sidelines, respectively.