Metrodome officials think they can repair the collapsed roof by next Monday night, when the Vikings host the Bears on "Monday Night Football," but it's going to be close.
The Minnesota Vikings' soap opera of a season just got crazier. Their home game against the New York Giants, already moved 31 hours later to tonight when the Giants couldn't get to Minneapolis because of the weather, now will be played in Detroit after the Metrodome's inflated roof collapsed in a snowstorm early Sunday morning.
The delay has given Vikings quarterback Brett Favre more time to heal his sprained right shoulder, with his NFL-record streak of 297 regular-season starts in jeopardy.
NFL.com reported that Favre has told teammates and associates that he doesn't believe he can play.
The NFL said Detroit was the best logistical fit given that Fox camera crews were already in town for the Lions' game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The league also had discussions with New Orleans, St. Louis and Indianapolis and briefly considered the University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium before deciding on Ford Field.
The Vikings are refunding the cost of the tickets for the game for any fans who can't make it to Detroit. Those who do will be given priority seating along the 50-yard line. Also, those who had a ticket for the Packers-Lions game will be admitted and the Lions will distribute additional free general-admission tickets.
The game will be aired in both local markets on Fox affiliates and also will be available as part of DirectTV's "Sunday Ticket" package.
The roof collapse is a fitting metaphor in a trying season for the Vikings that has included: the firing of coach Brad Childress; the investigation of Favre for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a Jets hostess in 2008; the play of a 5-7 team that had Super Bowl aspirations.
"I think this is officially the craziest season ever; now the roof collapses at the Metrodome," Vikings defensive end Brian Robison tweeted. "Can't wait to see what happens now. Let's make it even crazier and just take the roof off and play outside."
The only previous time a Metrodome game has been postponed because of roof failure was April 14, 1983, when a baseball game between the California Angels and Minnesota Twins had to be rescheduled.
Games that have been moved to another city include the Oct. 22, 1989 meeting between New England and the 49ers that was switched from Candlestick Park to Stanford Stadium because of the Loma Prieta earthquake; a Monday nighter on Oct. 27, 2003, switched from San Diego to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., because of Southern California wildfires; and the Saints' 2005 home schedule because of Hurricane Katrina.
A powerful, gusty storm dumps mounds of snow across the upper Midwest, creating travel havoc.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F12%2F13%2FSPG81GPO5I.DTL
The delay has given Vikings quarterback Brett Favre more time to heal his sprained right shoulder, with his NFL-record streak of 297 regular-season starts in jeopardy.
NFL.com reported that Favre has told teammates and associates that he doesn't believe he can play.
The NFL said Detroit was the best logistical fit given that Fox camera crews were already in town for the Lions' game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The league also had discussions with New Orleans, St. Louis and Indianapolis and briefly considered the University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium before deciding on Ford Field.
The Vikings are refunding the cost of the tickets for the game for any fans who can't make it to Detroit. Those who do will be given priority seating along the 50-yard line. Also, those who had a ticket for the Packers-Lions game will be admitted and the Lions will distribute additional free general-admission tickets.
The game will be aired in both local markets on Fox affiliates and also will be available as part of DirectTV's "Sunday Ticket" package.
The roof collapse is a fitting metaphor in a trying season for the Vikings that has included: the firing of coach Brad Childress; the investigation of Favre for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a Jets hostess in 2008; the play of a 5-7 team that had Super Bowl aspirations.
"I think this is officially the craziest season ever; now the roof collapses at the Metrodome," Vikings defensive end Brian Robison tweeted. "Can't wait to see what happens now. Let's make it even crazier and just take the roof off and play outside."
The only previous time a Metrodome game has been postponed because of roof failure was April 14, 1983, when a baseball game between the California Angels and Minnesota Twins had to be rescheduled.
Games that have been moved to another city include the Oct. 22, 1989 meeting between New England and the 49ers that was switched from Candlestick Park to Stanford Stadium because of the Loma Prieta earthquake; a Monday nighter on Oct. 27, 2003, switched from San Diego to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., because of Southern California wildfires; and the Saints' 2005 home schedule because of Hurricane Katrina.
A powerful, gusty storm dumps mounds of snow across the upper Midwest, creating travel havoc.
Read More
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F12%2F13%2FSPG81GPO5I.DTL
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