Medtronic buys naming rights for Vikings stadium plaza

Medical device giant Medtronic said Monday it reached a 10-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings to name the space in front of the new stadium Medtronic Plaza.

The 3 acre tract will connect downtown Minneapolis to the west entrance of the stadium and the park in between. It will offer a "new and vastly improved pregame experience for our fans and all U.S. Bank Stadium users," the company said in a statement, adding that 85 percent of people entering U.S. Bank Stadium are expected to enter through Medtronic Plaza.

The Twin Cities-based company said in a statement that plaza "will provide a place for people to meet and celebrate before and after games, concerts and events throughout the year. It also provides us an ideal backdrop for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.