When the Vikings agreed to play two seasons at outdoor TCF Bank Stadium while their new dome is being constructed, they made a strategic decision to choose the sideline that had more sunshine as the designated home sideline. That decision may pay off on Sunday.
With forecasts calling for a “soul-crushingly cold” day when the Seahawks and Vikings meet, it’s worth noting that the Vikings specifically chose their home sideline with games like that in mind.
Just before they first played at TCF Bank Stadium in the 2014 preseason, the Vikings announced that they would designate the north sideline as the home sideline. That didn’t sit well with some fans who had already bought their season tickets under the assumption that the Vikings would use the south sideline, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers do. But the Vikings said that the shadow cast by the press box and club seats in the south end of the stadium makes the south sideline colder than the north sideline.
Kickoff is just after noon with the sun overhead, but as the day goes on, the Seahawks’ sideline will be shaded, while the Vikings remain in the sunlight. Both sidelines will be cold, but the Seahawks’ will be a little colder.