Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, the Minnesota Vikings have taken extra steps to gain a competitive edge, including purchasing $2 million worth of tickets from Ford Field. The Vikings secured 1,900 seats behind the visitors’ bench, each costing approximately $1,000. They then resold these tickets to team stakeholders for between $200 and $300 each.
Upon learning of this, the Lions reached out to the NFL, but the league confirmed that the Vikings had not violated any rules, according to Sports Illustrated. While this strategy results in a significant financial loss for the Lions, it could potentially sway around 3% of the Detroit crowd in favor of Minnesota for the crucial season finale.
The 1,900 tickets don’t include the 600 seats the Lions are obligated to provide the visiting team under NFL regulations, nor do they account for any tickets purchased by Vikings fans through Detroit’s sales. The crowd at Sunday’s game is expected to be dominated by Lions supporters, as the teams face off for the NFC North title and the top spot in the conference.
