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Tag: U.S. Bank Stadium

  • Belting it at the Bank: How the Vikings select game day anthem singers

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    An important part of every Vikings home game is the performance of the national anthem; a lot of thought goes into the decision of who belts their voice to nearly 70,000 fans.

    A staple in the anthem rotation for the last three Vikings seasons is Monique Blakey. The St. Paul native was performing in bands locally around the Twin Cities when one day in 2023, she got an unexpected email.

    “I thought it was a hoax, not going to lie. I never reached out to them, so I was like, ‘Is this real?’ and I responded in hopes that it was…and it was. They had heard an old video of me singing online,” said Blakey.

    The Minnesota Vikings wanted Blakey to perform the national anthem at least once a season. It turned into an opportunity that changed her life.

    “Wow, it has completely transcended me into another stratosphere,” said Blakey.

    Performing at U.S. Bank Stadium opened doors for her professionally.

    “It has always ended up with someone out in the crowd hearing me, and reaching out to me, and giving me other opportunities just off that anthem,” said Blakey, which is exactly what the Vikings hope to do when selecting their anthem singers.

    Lauren Pinter is part of the Vikings’ game and entertainment team that selects these artists.

    “In the Twin Cities, and Minnesota as a whole, there actually is a very diverse talent pool. So it’s fun to be able to help these artists and performers be on a bigger stage,” said Pinter.

    Other locals they’ve tapped the talents of are Minnesotans who competed on The Voice, including Cameron Wright and Frankie Torres

    For theme games, like the Legends game, Pinter and her team chose former Vikings defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo to perform the anthem, while showcasing his Samoan heritage.

    “We’re really proud to have [Esera] as a Vikings legend,” said Pinter.

    When Blakey sings, it’s a goose-bump-giving performance for fans, but it’s always her kids she hopes to make the most proud.

    “Seeing me connect with the people and seeing people be moved by me singing the anthem, always makes them say, ‘that’s my mom,’” said Blakey.

    Anyone can apply to be a national anthem performer for Vikings home games.

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    Marielle Mohs

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  • How to watch Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings game for Week 7

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    The Minnesota Vikings (3-2) and Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) battle at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon in Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. There are a number of ways fans can watch and stream Sunday’s game. 

    The Vikings had a bye in Week 6, allowing players on the team’s extensive injury list time to recover. The Eagles fell to the New York Giants 34-17, allowing running back Cam Skattebo to rush for 98 yards and score three times.

    Here’s how you can watch Sunday’s matchup between the Eagles and Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

    How can you watch the Eagles vs. the Vikings on cable?

    Fox will carry the game locally. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 19.

    Where can you stream the Eagles vs. the Vikings?

    Fans can stream Sunday’s Eagles-Vikings game on NFL+. 

    Eagles vs. Vikings history

    The Eagles are 16-15 all-time against the Vikings, according to Pro Football Reference.

    The last time these two teams met was in 2023, when Philadelphia defeated Minnesota 34-17 at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles have won three of the last five matchups against the Vikings, Pro Football Reference said.

    Vikings vs. Eagles storylines

    Vikings

    Quarterback Carson Wentz will make his fourth straight start for Minnesota on Sunday, head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Friday. 

    Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy has been out of action the past three games with a sprained ankle. The former Michigan Wolverine returned to practice in a limited capacity this week and there had been some discussion on whether he would be under center before Friday’s announcement. 

    “The ankle, it’s getting there,” McCarthy said in a news conference on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t say it’s 100% right now, but, you know, we’re striving every day to get there as fast as possible.”

    Wentz, a former Eagle who is now in his 10th season, has won two games and lost one in his three starts with Minnesota. He is dealing with a non-throwing shoulder injury, according to the team, though he was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

    The team’s defense will have its hands full against three-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley. While he isn’t close to the rushing production he had last year, when he ran for 2,005 yards in the regular season, Minnesota ranks 24th in rush yards allowed per game so far this season. The Vikings may get a boost at the linebacker position as the team announced Saturday that Blake Cashman had been activated from injured reserve. Cashman suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.

    Eagles

    Philadelphia is looking to get back on track after losing consecutive games for the first time since dropping three straight from Dec. 31, 2023, to Jan. 15, 2024. Head coach Nick Sirianni is 8-0 against NFC North teams since he was hired by the Eagles in 2021.

    Quarterback Jalen Hurts will hope to improve upon his Week 6 performance, passing for a season-high 283 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Giants. Tight end Dallas Goedert accounted for 110 of those yards. 

    Starting left guard Landon Dickerson, who missed Week 6 with an ankle injury, was a full participant in practice on Friday after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday with a heel injury, and cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was a full participant after suffering a hamstring injury during the first half of the Eagles-Giants game.

    Who is predicted to win Eagles vs. Vikings?

    The Eagles are 2-point betting favorites to win in Week 7.

    What is the Vikings’ schedule for the rest of the 2025 NFL season?

    Here is the rest of Minnesota’s 2025 schedule:

    Week 8: at Los Angeles Chargers, Oct. 23 at 7:15 p.m. (Thursday Night Football)
    Week 9: at Detroit Lions, Nov. 2 at noon
    Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens, Nov. 9 at noon
    Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears, Nov. 16 at noon
    Week 12: at Green Bay Packers, Nov. 23 at noon
    Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks, Nov. 30 at 3:05 p.m.
    Week 14: vs. Washington Commanders, Dec. 7 at noon
    Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys, Dec. 14 at 7:20 p.m. (Sunday Night Football)
    Week 16: at New York Giants, Dec. 21 at noon
    Week 17: vs. Lions, Dec. 25 at 3:30 p.m. (Christmas Day)
    Week 18: vs. Packers, TBD

    What is the Eagles’ schedule for the rest of the 2025 NFL season?

    Here’s Philadelphia’s path the rest of the way through 2025:

    Week 8: vs. Giants, Oct. 26 at noon
    Week 9: Bye week
    Week 10: at Packers, Nov. 10 at 7:15 p.m. (Monday Night Football)
    Week 11:  vs. Lions, Nov. 16 at 7:20 p.m. (Sunday Night Football)
    Week 12: at Cowboys, Nov. 23 at 3:25 p.m.
    Week 13: vs. Bears, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. (Black Friday)
    Week 14:  at Chargers, Dec. 8 at 7:15 p.m. (Monday Night Football)
    Week 15: vs. Las Vegas Raiders, Dec. 14 at noon
    Week 16: at Commanders, Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
    Week 17: at Buffalo Bills, Dec. 28 at 3:25 p.m.
    Week 18: vs. Commanders, TBD

    Note: The above video first aired on Oct. 16, 2025.

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    Nick Lentz

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  • Behind the scenes of Metallica’s 2-night stand at U.S. Bank Stadium

    Behind the scenes of Metallica’s 2-night stand at U.S. Bank Stadium

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    MINNEAPOLIS — Heavy metal fans had a roaring good time over the weekend as Metallica performed two shows at U.S. Bank Stadium.

    The M72 World Tour is an incredible production with more moving parts than you can imagine.

    Heavy metal worthy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rumbled through U.S. Bank Stadium as Metallica shredded and pounded through two energizing shows. It’s an astounding production made possible by hundreds of hardworking people.

    “What we do in Minneapolis might not be the same as Chicago last week,” said Jon-Michael Marino, the tour coordinator. “Metallica alone has a little over 150 crew.”

    Add to that 40 steelworkers, 168 local production hands and 92 truck drivers. A band of four that’s supported by more than 100 times that number. Another 800 people are employed locally to support each tour stop.

    “The tower system is about 36 hours of labor,” said Marino. 

    There are eight steel towers surrounding the circular stage, each weighing more than 14 tons and standing nearly 100 feet high. Marino said they’re easily the most cumbersome aspect of the stage production. Because of that, a second set of towers is already en route to the next tour stop. It’s the only part of the production that has duplicates. Once the towers are in, he says “it’s about another 12 hours to build stage, video, audio, lighting on top of that.”

    “The sheer weight that’s surrounding us is pretty mind-boggling. There’s a tension system of about 20,000 pounds of cabling above our heads right now. And all of the speakers added together is about 120,000 pounds,” he said.

    There are 588 speakers in total, enough to be considered the largest touring audio system ever, according to Metallica’s team. There are also 650 lights, 24 LED screens that take up 1,200 square meters of space and 37 miles of fiber optic cable connecting all of them. If you rolled out all that cable, it would stretch from U.S. Bank Stadium all the way to Stacy, Minnesota.

    “The amount of logistics and engineering that goes into our basic ‘rock show’ is pretty incredible,” Marino said.

    Speaking of rock show, the total number of instruments needed for the band is staggering. There are four drum kits on the stage with two backups in the truck. There are 64 guitars and bass that go on the road, and 36 of them need to be show-ready (12 per band member).

    Why do so many guitars need to be ready for each show? 

    “Across, let’s call it 15-16 songs, there’s various tuning. There’s also things that happen naturally like strings breaking, guitars going out of tune that have to be swapped in the moment,” said Marino. 

    All the guitar and bass strings are changed for each show.

    There are 6,000 guitar picks used or given out per show. If you snagged a drumstick in the crowd, consider yourself lucky. Only 25 of those are used or given away per show.

    Metallica is deservedly front and center on their tour, but it’s the crew behind them who should also take a bow.

    Jeff Wagner


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    Jeff Wagner joined the WCCO-TV team in November 2016 as a general assignment reporter, and now anchors WCCO’s Saturday evening newscasts. Although he’s new to Minnesota, he’s called the Midwest home his entire life.

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    Jeff Wagner

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