Vikings, Packers Rivalry Moves Off The Field And Onto Neighbors' Fence
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – There's a Vikings-Packers rivalry. And then there's Chris St. Martin and Paul Pankratz.
The dueling neighbors took the loyalty to their teams to another level a few years ago. Now, people stop and take pictures where their yards meet.
The two live next door to each other in Savage, Minnesota.
While friends, the men have always known there was one thing that sets them apart: their NFL teams.
"I'm a lifetime Vikings fan," St. Martin said.
"I was born and raised 30 miles from Lambeau Field," Pankratz said.
About five years ago, Pankratz' girlfriend decided to surprise him with a new look for the fence.
"She did that for my birthday because I'm a Packer fan, and then when he seen that he said, 'Oh, we can't have that. Now I've got to paint mine purple,'" Pankratz said.
"I painted it about a week after he painted his. My fence was here first and he added his fence onto my fence, just figured it needed to be done," St. Martin said.
The dueling neighbors take pride in Viking Boulebard and Packer Lane, inviting friends to take part in the friendly rivalry.
"I think it's awesome. I live right across the street," Tami Vidmar said.
"It's Minnesota, we have to deal with those Wisconsin people," Sharon Luhring said.
St. Martin and Pankratz's true colors are a bit more obvious than most. And win or lose, the two always meet in the middle.
"We get along good. We haven't gotten in a fight yet," Pankratz said.
The neighbors said people often stop and take pictures in their yards. They have no plans to change their allegiance, or the color of the fence.
The homes are just up the street from the Savage Depot, on Ottawa Avenue.