New Vikings Stadium Nearly Halfway Complete

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – If you've driven by the site of the new Vikings stadium lately, you've noticed that a lot of progress has been made.

The stadium is now nearly 40 percent complete.

Over 700 workers are on site every day.

And because enough of the lower concourse is done, workers are now able to do some work inside on cold days.

"For what they have so far it's very impressive. I'll say that," Vikings fan Clement Graham said.

Graham is among the Vikings fans whose curiosity has gotten the better of them.

So much so, he made it a point to stop by after he got off work to take in the work that's being done.

"And I noticed it's not even half done so imagine what it's going to be like once they get it all the way together," Graham said.

While the stadium as a whole is nearly 40 percent complete, about 80 percent of the concrete work is already done.

"It's amazing to see the progress that has been made," Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Stadium Authority, said.

A year ago, demolition of the Metrodome was just starting.

By summer, construction of the new stadium was underway.

And today, many of the features we've seen in renditions are starting to show.

Pictures taken just days ago show how seating will look in the north side of the stadium.

And a lot of the concession stands are already done.

That distinctive "A" frame at the back of the stadium is now visible.

Kelm-Helgen said workers are starting to fill in the "skin" of the building by adding metal panels.

She said they could start putting in glass next month.

And the truss's that help hold up the roof could be connected by this summer.

"The loading dock is completed. When you walk into the stadium now you can really feel like it's becoming a stadium," Kelm-Helgen said.

While glass work will begin shortly, officials for the MSA said they are working with the Audubon Society on ways to make the glass safe for birds.

3M is testing products on some buildings to see if they help birds, and those products could be used at the new stadium.