You Can't Help But Respect The Minnesota Vikings For Finding A Way to Buy $2 MILLION Dollars Worth Of Tickets To Tonight's Game In Detroit To Give Their Fans So They Can Invade Ford Field
Sports Illustrated - You don’t have to tell the Minnesota Vikings how big Sunday night’s game is.
In the days leading up to Sunday night’s showdown against the Detroit Lions, the Vikings took the unusual measure of buying around 1,900 tickets for the road game on the secondary market, at about $1,000 apiece, for a total approaching $2 million. The team then turned around and sent an email to season ticket holders, offering the opportunity to buy the tickets at a much lower price point, and in some cases for as little as $200 per ticket.
The rival Lions flagged it, with the team’s ticket office noticing the unusual activity, then finding out about the email. The email said, “As a valued season ticket member, we want to offer you the opportunity to purchase lower-level seats for Sunday night’s game.” The tickets were available on a first-come-first-serve basis, and the team added in the email that they were “intended to be used by Vikings fans and not positioned for resale.”
The Lions contacted the league office about it and were told, per sources, that the Vikings didn’t break any rules in the process of pulling this off.
The seats the Vikings bought are centralized behind the visiting team bench area at Ford Field, which, obviously, would cut into the percentage of home fans in the stadium and could also work to help the Vikings’ ability to communicate on the sideline.
I feel like anybody who doesn't have a horse in the race at this point is a Lions fan am I right?
That said, this story stings a little.
As much as it pains me to admit it, I have to tip my cap to the Minnesota Vikings. These guys just pulled one of the slickest moves in NFL history, infiltrating Ford Field with their fans for Sunday night’s Game of Thrones battle for the NFC North crown.
The Vikings didn’t just encourage their fans to show up; they took action. They dropped a cool $2 million buying nearly 1,900 tickets on the secondary marke on some Jeff Bezos shit, and then turned around and sold them at bargain-bin prices to their fans. Some of those tickets went for as low as $200. TWO. HUNDRED. BUCKS.
And these tickets are not cheap.
Some of my friends form college (who fled Chicago and moved back to Birmingham like little bitches) were helping friends flip tickets for big bucks this weekend.
These weren’t your average nosebleeds, either. These were prime seats right behind the Vikings bench, giving them a home-field vibe in enemy territory. It’s like when the Trojan horse rolled into Troy, but instead of Greek warriors spilling out, it’s middle-aged dudes in purple jerseys yelling “Skol!” and eating hotdish.
(Sidebar- I honestly can't knock Lions fans for this move. As season ticket holders, they've basically eaten shit for the last 20 years. I'm not certain, but I'd venture to guess they could go to all 8 games a season for under $1000 a seat, per season, for basically ever. Sucking it up and staying loyal that long, now that their opportunity has come to finally cash in on selling some tickets like every other fan base in the league allows their fans to do for big money, they probably jumped at the chance.)
And the kicker is that the Lions actually noticed something was fishy and flagged it to the league, only to find out the Vikings didn’t break any rules. So not only is this legal, but it’s also strategic brilliance. They gamed the system.
This is something you'd expect in college football, not in the NFL.
As a guy dying for Detroit to make the Super Bowl, so their fans can take over New Orlenas in February, do I hate this move? Absolutely. Do I respect it? Even more. You can’t knock a team for doing whatever it takes to win, especially in a game with stakes this high.
Sunday night’s matchup isn’t just a game; it’s a heavyweight fight.
Both teams are 14-2. Winner not only takes the NFC North, the No. 1 seed, and a first-round bye, but they get to host the potential NFC Championship.
The loser gets to pack their bags for Wild Card Weekend. Basically, this is for all the marbles, and the Vikings just gave themselves a little extra juice.
Because make no mistake. NOBODY is going into Philadelphia and the LINC in late January for the NFC Championship and beating them.
Advertisement
If Detroit wants any shot at making it to New Orleans, they need to win this game in order to host Phily in the NFC Championship.
For years, the Lions have been the NFL’s punching bag, but this season has felt like destiny. Jared Goff is playing like he’s auditioning for a Disney sports movie, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been unstoppable, and the defense finally figured out how to, you know, stop people. DEPSITE being more banged up than than your mom.
But now, they’ve got to deal with 1,900 Vikings fans invading their turf. Something like this could only happen to the Lions.
It’s hard not to feel a little salty, but at the same time, this is what rivalries are all about. If the roles were reversed, I’d be applauding the Lions for the same move.
Hell, I’d probably be writing a blog calling it the greatest act of genius since Bill Belichick put a 5’10” college quarterback at wide receiver.
So, hats off to the Vikings and their ownership for this one. It’s bold, it’s petty, and it’s exactly the kind of thing a franchise as snakebitten as they are needs to pull in order to shake the monkey off their back.
But don’t get too comfortable, Minnesota. Come Sunday night, Ford Field is still Detroit’s house and with the game being flexed to prime time, I wouldn't be surprised to see them trot out all the big dogs for this one - Barry, Megatron, Eminem, Seger, Kid Rock, Jack White, and maybe even Insane Clown Posse if they are available.
p.s. - I'm pushing "submit for review" on this at 5:24 am central time for you fucking losers like @matt1545
