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With the first practices of 2013 Minnesota Vikings Training Camp just three days away, thousands of diehard Vikings fans are planning their pilgrimage to the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato over the next three weeks. Thanks to a new agreement, fans can plan their trips to Mankato over the next three seasons.
As we told you in our extensive Training Camp preview last week, this will be the 48th consecutive season that the Vikings will set up shop in Mankato; only the Packers have held camp at the same location for a longer period of time. With the new agreement announced on Tuesday, we now know that the Vikings will extend their milestone streak to at least 50.
The agreement extends through the 2015 season, which will double as the 50th year of training camp in Mankato for the Vikings. The press release explains how both sides are excited about the new deal:
"We are very happy to announce that the Vikings will continue to hold training camp on the Minnesota State Mankato campus for the 48th, 49th and 50th times over the next three summers," Minnesota State University, Mankato President Richard Davenport said. "Vikings training camp in Mankato is a Minnesota tradition, and we invite Vikings fans everywhere to come with their families to our campus and community and enjoy this wonderful and exciting preview to the Vikings season."
"Being in front of our fans for training camp is a storied team tradition," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. "We appreciate Minnesota State University, Mankato and the City of Mankato for continuing to welcome the team and Vikings fans, and we look forward to reaching 50 years in Mankato."
Training Camp at Minnesota State University, Mankato has been a staple for nearly as long as the Vikings have been in existence and about a third of the time the university has been around. With so many other aspects of the franchise undergoing drastic change, it's nice to see the Mankato tradition living on for at least the next three seasons.