Ever since the fateful morning of December 12th, the question has been raised by Vikings fans and non-Vikings fans alike. . .where are the Vikings going to call home in 2011? Is the Metrodome going to be ready? Will the Vikings have to share TCF Bank Stadium with the Golden Gophers? Where are the Vikings going to play their home games in 2011?
Well, I don't have the answer to where they're going to play the majority of their home games in 2011, but I think I can venture a pretty good guess as to where they're going to play one of them.
That place would be Wembley Stadium in jolly ol' London, England.
Now, you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile Why on earth would you suggest that the Vikings are going to be shipped overseas for the 2011 season?" To which my answer would probably be, "Why wouldn't I?" Honestly. . .at this point in time with circumstances being what they are. . .which National Football League team would it be easier for the league to take a home game away from than the Minnesota Vikings? They've stated they're not going to play in the Metrodome if they can avoid it due to safety concerns, and if they have to share TCF Bank Stadium with the University of Minnesota. . .well, the Gophers would take priority there, one would think. (Yes, I know that the Gophers play on Saturdays and the Vikings play on Sundays. . .there are still logistical hurdles that need to be cleared.)
To put it in a different perspective. . .if the National Football League were to come out tomorrow and say that the Vikings would, indeed, be playing a game in the United Kingdom next year to continue the NFL's International Series, the Vikings would know the location of exactly one more of their home games than they know right now. When you're already semi-homeless, you become much easier to move.
So, considering that the Vikings already have logistical issues with their stadium at home, I don't think it's that great a leap of logic to think that they would be among the leading candidates to have one of their "home" games moved across the pond. . .if not the leaders in the clubhouse at this point. And, you know, as long as we're speculating that the Vikings are going to play one game overseas in 2011, let's speculate as to whom that game might be against.
The Vikings have eight home games scheduled for 2011. . .Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Kansas City, and Oakland. Right away, you can forget about a divisional game being scheduled overseas. . .they're way too important for potential tie-breaking purposes to put them into an international game, so those three are out. For the same reason, although to a lesser extent, you can probably eliminate New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Arizona, too. Every game in the International Series thus far that's been played in England has been an inter-conference match-up, presumably because it would have the least potential impact on tie-breaker scenarios down the line.
2007 - New York Giants "at" Miami Dolphins
2008 - San Diego Chargers "at" New Orleans Saints
2009 - New England Patriots "at" Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2010 - Denver Broncos "at" San Francisco 49ers
That would then leave us with the Vikings playing either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Oakland Raiders in the United Kingdom on the last weekend in October (when these games have been played every year thus far).
This is all pretty much just rampant speculation on my part. . .heck, depending on when if when the new CBA gets done, there might not even be a game in an international venue in 2011. But if there is, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Beloved Purple getting shipped across the ocean to entertain the football fans of Europe.