A Mountain Of Work At TCF Bank Stadium
By Edgar Linares, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Workers are scrambling to remove snow from bleachers, concourses and the field at the University of Minnesota stadium in time for Monday night's Vikings game with the Chicago Bears.
This after Metrodome owners said the stadium wouldn't be ready to host the Viking's last home game against the Chicago Bears.
Last Sunday, the Metrodome roof collapsed after the Twin Cities' largest December snowstorm on record.
Scott Ellison, assistant athletic director of U's facilities, says they have a lot of work to do before game-day.
"We were about 95 percent through the winterization process. And now we're back to turn everything back on," said Ellison.
That means turning water back on for the concession stands and returning equipment that had been stored for the winter.
Ellison says his biggest concern is the almost two feet of snow covering the field and the large snow drifts in the upper seats. Much of the work has to be done by hand.
"We started yesterday getting the snow off the field. We're trying to clear some routes so we can get dump trucks out there to haul the snow out of the stands," said Ellison.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Edgar Linares Reports
Podcast
The University has hired 400 temporary employees. Right now 100 employees are working four-hour rotating shifts until Monday.
The University will be accepting volunteers Thursday through Sunday in shifts beginning at 8 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m. Shovels will be provided, but you can bring your own if you'd like. People are advised to wear proper outdoor attire. Click here for more information.
Ellison says they will be asking loyal Vikings fans to lend a hand, but not yet.
"Right now we're not ready to start taking phone calls and start assigning people to shifts," said Ellison.
The University expects it will take five days and about $700,000 to get the stadium ready.
