Team Factoids
Interesting Tidbits
Championships
History
Buy Minnesota Vikings Tickets
Team Factoids
The logo shows a fierce warrior from Scandinavia (what is now Denmark, Sweden and Norway) known as Norsemen or Northmen.
Team colors for the Vikings are Purple, Gold, and White.
The Vikings currently play at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome where they have played home games since 1982.
The Minnesota Vikings best season was in 1998 with a record of 15-1. Their worst season was in 1984 with a record of 3-13.
Their team song is “Skol Vikings.”
Mascot for the Minnesota Vikings is Ragnar the Viking and Viktor the Viking. Ragnar begins home games for the Vikings by driving onto the field on a motorcycle or snowmobile. Viktor the Viking was introduced in 2007, and is intended for a younger fanbase.
Team mascot is Roary the lion.
Interesting Tidbits
The Minnesota Vikings have played in five different stadiums over the course of the franchise history. The first was at University Stadium from 1930-1933. They moved then to University of Detroit Stadium from 1934-1937 and again for the 1940 season. From there, the Lions moved to Tiger Stadium (also called Briggs Stadium) where they played from 1938-1939, and 1941-1974. Then the Lions played at Pontiac Silverdome from 1975-2001. Finally, the Lions settled on Ford Field from 2002-present.
Nicknames for the Vikings include: The Vikes, The Purple, The Purple People Eaters.
Interesting Tidbits
The Vikings have six retired numbers:
10 – Fran Tarkenton – QB
53 – Mick Tingelhoff – C
70 – Jim Marshall – DE
77 – Korey Stringer – OT
80 – Cris Carter – WR
88 – Alan Page – DT
Vikings fans are known to wear “Helga hats” during games. They are purple hats with white horns and blonde braids, which mimic the helmets that were believed to be worn by the original Viking Warriors. Other mascots that were associated with the team include Vikadontis Rex, which was a purple foam dinosaur who was retired with the 2000 season, and Hub Meeds dressing up as a Viking during the 1970’s and 80’s to serve as the mascot.
When the Vikings score a big play or touchdown at the Metrodome, a Viking horn is sounded loudly.
The Vikings have had their summer training camp at Minnesota State University in Mankato since 1966.
Championships
The Minnesota Vikings won the NFL Central Division in 1968 and 1969. Currently as members of the NFC Central, the Vikings won the Central Division in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2000. The Vikings won the NFL Western in 1969 and the NFC Championship in 1973, 1974 and 1976. The have won only a single NFL Championship in 1969 and have yet to win a Super Bowl.
History
The Minnesota Vikings were established in 1961, and joined the NFL as an expansion team. They were originally applying for membership in the AFL, but were offered a spot in the NFL and took it. They were officially named the Minnesota Vikings on September 27, 1960. Minnesota sits at the center of Scandinavian-American culture, so the name was a reflection of the area. The Vikings began play at the 40,800 seat Metropolitan Stadium (which was shortened to Met Stadium). The first head coach for the Vikings was Ara Parseghian, who helped draft a number of young players to the new team. Included among those was quarterback Fran Tarkenton from the University of Georgia. Their first regular season game was against the Chicago Bears with a score of 37-13. By 1969, the Vikings boasted a record of 12-2, the best in the NFL. At the time, they had the longest winning streak with 12 victories. They played the Cleveland Browns for the NFL Championship game on January 4, 1970 and won by a score of 27-7.
The 70’s brought more successes to the Vikings, and their strong defense (called the “Purple People Eater” based on their purple jerseys) led them to the Playoffs. The Vikings enjoyed eight NFC Central Division Championships in the 70’s, and three NFC Conference Championships. They played in Super Bowl XI (their third Super Bowl and fourth NFL Championship game) against the Oakland Raiders but lost 32-14, unable to break their bad luck in Super Bowls. In December of 1979, the ground was broken for the construction of the Vikings new stadium Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. On May 15, 1981 the Vikings moved into “Winter Park” while the construction of the Metrodome continued. Their first game at the Metrodome was the season opener in 1982 against Tampa Bay, a game they won 17-10.
The Vikings faced a franchise-worst record in 1984, losing 13 games. Les Steckel was head coach at the time, and was fired on December 18, 1984. The Vikings brought back former head coach Bud Grant to replace Steckel, but Grant re-retired at the end of the 1985 season. Assistant coach Jerry Burns was named as Grant’s replacement for the following seasons. Under Burns, the Vikings attained their first winning season in four years. By the late 80’s, the Vikings made what is considered to be the biggest blunder in franchise history. On October 12, 1989, the Vikings acquired Herschel Walker from Dallas. Walker’s performance had been over-hyped, and he failed to meet expectations during his three long seasons with the Vikings. The Dallas Cowboys, on the other hand, headed to three Super Bowl Victories in the early 90’s.
The 90’s brought more success to the Vikings in the form of three NFC Central Division titles. Their latest win was in 2000 with another NFC Central Division title, but the Vikings have yet to reach beyond into Super Bowl contention. The Vikings have only had one NFL Championship, in 1969, which is all the more reason to head to a game to cheer them on. Vikings tickets to any and every game are available, so head over to Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to enjoy the best of Minnesota football. Minnesota Vikings tickets fit the bill every time, so don’t wait!
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2008 Schedule
Seattle Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers
Indianapolis Colts
Carolina Panthers
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Green Bay Packers
Chicago Bears
Atlanta Falcons
New York Giants
NFC North Division:
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
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