The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for a crucial game against the Detroit Lions, where the NFC North title and the No. 1 NFC playoff seed are on the line. With the high stakes of this matchup, not having home-field advantage could be a significant setback. To mitigate this, the Vikings’ owners, the Wilf family, have taken a unique approach to ensure a strong fan presence in Detroit.
In an unexpected move, the Wilfs purchased nearly 2,000 tickets for the upcoming game at Ford Field, spending close to $2 million on the secondary market, with the tickets priced around $1,000 each. The Vikings then made these tickets available to their season ticket holders at much more affordable prices, with some tickets going as low as $200. This effort was aimed at getting Vikings fans into the stadium to support the team.
This strategy raised concerns from the Detroit Lions, who contacted the NFL after noticing the unusual ticket sales. They suspected the Vikings were violating any ticketing policies, but the NFL confirmed that no rules were broken. The Vikings even made it clear in their communication to season ticket holders that the tickets were intended exclusively for fan use and not for resale.
This initiative demonstrates the Wilfs’ commitment to enhancing the Vikings’ chances, showing a level of care for the team’s success that goes beyond typical ownership. The tickets were also strategically placed behind the Vikings’ sideline, which may aid in better communication during the game.
With the implications of this game so high, the Vikings are doing everything possible to secure a win. If successful, the team would claim home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, ensuring that the journey to the Super Bowl would go through U.S. Bank Stadium, much to the Wilfs’ delight.
