Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

The Minnesota Vikings are turning off the lights at the team's new practice facility south of Minneapolis after neighbors complained about the glow.

The Eagan building's north side is nearly 100 feet high and lights up with the team's Norseman logo and the words "Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center — Home of the Minnesota Vikings."

Vikings massive new headquarters taking shape

Stadium's skeleton nearly complete. Next: translucent skin for Allianz Field

The NFL team will turn off the lights on the north side of the building between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., said Jeff Anderson, team spokesperson. The shut-off time will be moved to about midnight when the team hosts night events such as high school games.

The team is "listening to the community," Anderson said.

The other three sides of the facility will remain lit every night, he said.

The Vikings moved into the 277,000-square-foot complex in March. The area includes an indoor practice facility, the team's headquarters and an outdoor stadium.

Mendota Heights residents complained about the lights last month.

City officials found the building complied with city code when it received an initial complaint about the lights in February, said Tom Garrison, Eagan spokesperson.

"Brightness levels are the same as other wall signage in Eagan," Garrison said.

The new solution was an "internal team decision," said Lester Bagley, the Vikings' executive vice president of public affairs.

"We'd like to be collaborative and compromise," Bagley said.

Resident Nancy Commerford said the decision will help make her street feel less like a circus.

"If I wake up in the middle of the night now I won't see the lights," Commerford said. "Having them compromise like this makes my day."

The team expects the change to occur this weekend.

Sports

The Associated Press

Author

Spokesperson Jeff Anderson says the NFL team will turn off the lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The shut-off time will be moved to about midnight when the team hosts night events such as high school games.

The TCO Performance Center in Eagan is scheduled to open in March, 2018. 

Vikings team bows to neighbors, to turn off lights at night

Go Deeper.

Like this?