Vikings Eyeing Amazing New “Vikings Lake” Practice Facility in Eagan

The Minnesota Vikings new 40-acre practice facility will open next March in Eagan and will be a major step up from what the Vikings currently have over in Eden Prairie at Winter Park in terms of… Everything. However, that new facility is just one step in a multi-phase project that could end up being a nearly self sustaining facility/community that the Vikings foresee being one of the best in all of sport, let alone the NFL.

The Vikings have an additional 200 or so acres of land that they own adjacent to the facility (The former headquarters of the now defunct Northwest Airlines) and plan to develop that land into conference space, residential living, hotel and conference spaces in the next 10-15 years.

As pointed out by ESPN’s Ben Goessling, essentially new rookies come 2027 could live, eat and entertain themselves where they practice. Something that the team would definitely welcome as the league gets more and more creative (or some would say controlling) with their contract language. That’s something that Vikings cheif operating officer and AP nemesis Kevin Warren said:

“The more we can create this environment, when we start talking about live, work and play, I know I would be ecstatic if we had players that actually lived here on the premises. If we build a world-class environment here, when the season’s over, you might as well stay here. If you’re going to get your best training, you’re going to have the best facility in the world, you have rehabilitative services, there’s no reason to go to other parts of the country. You might as well stay here.”

The area is being dubbed the “Vikings Lake” complex, and will consolidate all of the Vikings operation under one roof for the first time in the Wilf era (Circa 2005).

Apparently the Vikings are setting their sights high. Comparing their vision to Google’s world famous headquarters. Vikings Lake could be a boon when it comes to free agency, especially, but just player morale in general. A happy team is a hard-working team, so it only makes sense to attempt to off-set the gnarly weather we experience in Minnesota with an amazing facility that will be a continuation of the quality of living we experience here in the Twin Cities (As opposed to some sort of stark contrast, like they have down in Dallas).

This will be a boon to Eagan’s economy as well. The practice facility is said to hold 6,000 fans (In the bleachers) which means that Vikings Lake could be the host of many a high school or small college football game and even training camp, a staple of Mankato’s economy for as long as I can remember (The 80’s… With things getting spotty in the early to late Aughts, as well). I, for one, am super excited to see what they come up with, as 10-15 years is about the time it’ll probably take for me to get an actual press pass. Considering my proximity to the airport/62, I could be a stone’s throw away from stopping over at the best practice facility in the NFL. That’s something that we all can be proud of.

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