Neighbors irked by Vikings' bright lights
Bernie Friel sees the brightly lit “Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center / Home of the Minnesota Vikings” sign and the Norseman logo, prominently displayed on the team’s new fieldhouse in Eagan, each night from his Mendota Heights home. He doesn’t like the view.
“I’ve been irritated by the sign for some time,” said Friel, who lives about a quarter-mile from the practice facility. “It’s light pollution.”
He’s not the only one. Several residents who live near the complex are irked by the glowing white signage, which they say changes the peaceful nature of their neighborhood.
Vikings’ staffers moved in early March into the 277,000-square-foot, custom-built complex, twice the size of the team’s former home in Eden Prairie. The lights adorn the north side of the facility, alongside Interstate 494.
The neighbors raising questions live across the freeway in a residential area amid winding roads, ponds and a middle school.
“The thing is, it’s just so illuminating, 24/7,” said Steve Gaertner, who lives less than a mile away. “I guess my question is, do they have to light it up all night? Do the Vikings really need that type of advertising at 11, 12, 1 o’clock in the morning?”
http://www.startribune.com/neighbors-irked-by-vikings-bright-lights/478978623/#1
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
@"Kentis" said: Hmmm...Nevermind that jet flying over every 3 minutes
I look at it like this. If you don't voice your concerns, the Vikings don't hear how they're annoying their neighbors and don't have the opportunity to change. Then you just suffer in silence.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings look into a way to dim it down after a certain time period. It's not like they spec'd out a sign that blinds the neighborhood when they had it purchased. They probably just wanted a top of the line sign.

One man’s trash...
If I hadn’t been privy to the subject, I would have thought someone here posted about finding his dream home
@"Kentis" said: Hmmm...That would be brutal to look at every night...I have no doubt they'll reach some kind of resolution.
@"purplefaithful" said: no need for those lights to be on after 10:00...I'd be a disgruntled neighbor too if I had to look at that every night...
Yeah no kidding! Why are people upset with the neighbors? I'd be annoyed too. Just figure out a way to dim the lights after 10pm.
Hell try just turning off the words and leave the logos illimitated at night and see if that don't make it more bearable.
After seeing the pictures I know I would be pissed .
It's like the Griswolds Christmas lights, but they should be Purple at night.
I live out in the country. I have no outside lights at my place but millions of stars. Used to be no neighbors for half a mile in any direction. Someone put a mobile home a quarter mile from my place and put up an outside light. Really irked me. This story makes me see that I don't have much to complain about. I really don't know how people can live in the urban jungles
@"Al (The Lochstar) Heurung" said: I live near a highway. You learn to live with people doing business. I can understand being annoyed but that is what happens when you live by a highway. I used to live in a trailer almost directly under the main artery in my city. You either adjust to the noise/sounds/lights or you sell and move. Sucks, I feel for them, but it is what it is.Could not help it - I thought of this. Are you sure it wasn't a van vs. a trailer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXk3teJpzGU
@"Purplewhizz" said: They live across an eight lane highway and on the flight path for MSP. Its not like it used to be Waldon Pond before the Vikings came to town. This is I494 after all.And for those that say to turn them off at night, what’s the point of having illuminated signs? What if a car dealership moved in? Or a mall?
This is a bunch of whiners looking for a handout, or more likely a buyout.
kinda my thoughts when I saw that they were in the flight path.
I wouldn't care for those bright lights at night either, but this seems to be a reporter looking for an axe to fulfill his daily grind.
That is such a bright sign at night. Driving by it, you can see it for quite a distance. That would totally suck at night. I feel bad for the neighbors and maybe the reporter is looking for something to bitch and moan about. But even though the neighbors live near the highway, they didn't know this big ass sign would be on all night. I say they should be good neighbors and turn it off at night. I bet some people will be upset about the crowds and traffic once training camp starts. It's always something but this seems to have any easy solution.
I bet the Vikes thinking was that they want their new home to be VERY visible for people arriving in the planes coming in - as when people always look out the windows as they come in for a landing and one of the main things they will see at night will be this.
Fewer people are gonna be upset about turning them down at night than effected by the current situation. When it comes to major impacts on your home life, it can get dicey. My bet is the Vikes go the good neighbor route after a test periode.
@"NorthernCalVike" said: I bet the Vikes thinking was that they want their new home to be VERY visible for people arriving in the planes coming in - as when people always look out the windows as they come in for a landing and one of the main things they will see at night will be this.Arriving in Planes? When the Pleiadians get here, later this year, they will be Viking fans, good marketing.
Irked by the Vikings' bright lights? Seems like just a few short years ago they were irked by the Vikings' dim bulbs. I suppose that's progress....
@"Kentis" said: Hmmm...Sheez! I thought that was just a watermark on the picture at first! If I lived in that house I'd speak up as well to at least hope they'd work on it. Of course living in the burbs you'd expect some light and noise pollution, but I'm sure they chose that neighborhood because it did have a little better feeling of peace and seclusion. That is a rather jarring change.
@"NorthernCalVike" said:That was a pretty quiet time, actually :open_mouth:@"Al (The Lochstar) Heurung" said: I live near a highway. You learn to live with people doing business. I can understand being annoyed but that is what happens when you live by a highway. I used to live in a trailer almost directly under the main artery in my city. You either adjust to the noise/sounds/lights or you sell and move. Sucks, I feel for them, but it is what it is. Could not help it - I thought of this. Are you sure it wasn't a van vs. a trailer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXk3teJpzGU
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