Vikings Preseason Game Briefly Evacuated Due To Severe Weather
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota Vikings officials ordered TCF Bank Stadium evacuated due to severe weather during Saturday's evening preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.
Fans and team officials prepared for the possibility of an evacuation after the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for much of the state, with shelter areas in place around the stadium.
Around midway through the second quarter, they were told to leave their seats after lightning showed up in the area. An evacuation order was issued soon after, and fans began filing out of the stadium toward three nearby closed-roof buildings as strong winds and rains intensified.
It took more than half an hour to get the crowd out of the nearly-full stadium, which seats some 50,000 people. Many understood the evacuation procedures and headed to the nearby shelters, while many others just went home. Hundreds more refused to leave at all.
Game play resumed about an hour later, and fans took their seats to enjoy the rest of the game. To make up for lost time, halftime was cut down to just a few minutes.