U.S. Bank and Vikings to fund small places to play

The 467 foot U.S. Bank Stadium sign atop the Minnesota Vikings new football stadium is defining the new front door for Minneapolis and Minnesota.

U.S. Bank reportedly paid $220 million over the next 20 years for the naming rights of the Minnesota Vikings new football stadium.

In a related move Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank and the Minnesota Vikings have announced they will invest $1 million over the next three years to sponsor places to play in the many backyards of Minnesota.

"U.S. Bank Stadium is a big place to play, but the smaller ones are important too," said Richard Davis, chairman, president and chief executive officer for U.S. Bank in a statement. "Having a place to play can have a lasting impact on someone's life."

U.S. Bank is encouraging community-based nonprofit organizations and local schools across the state to nominate youth sports facilities that need funding. Requests for proposals are available at usbank.com/placestoplay through Feb. 18. First grants under the program will be awarded in May.

Additional funding rounds will open in 2016 and 2017. US Bank is also encouraging communities to nominate projects, parks and playgrounds and share their stories using #MyPlaceToPlay on social media.

U.S. Bank is contributing $750,000 of the $1 million and the bank will contribute $1 to the program, up to $10,000, for every #MyPlaceToPlay hashtag posted on Twitter and Instagram.

Minnesota's other major sports teams the Timberwolves, Twins and Wild also sponsor a number of community programs and events.

The Minnesota Twins Twins Community Fund has sponsored the Twins Fields for Kids program since 1999. The Twins program provides financial support to improve baseball and softball fields in Minnesota and southwest Florida. Since its inception the Twins' matching grant program has raised more than $3.2 million to improve nearly 650 Upper Midwest and Southwest Florida ball fields.