The Vikings and the state took control of the new U.S. Bank Stadium from Mortenson Construction Friday, receiving an oversized, commemorative black key with the city skyline carved out and the date engraved.
"Let's play football!" said John Wood, Mortenson senior vice president, as he handed over the key. The stadium is "essentially done" and ready for the move-in to get started, he said.
While football games won't happen for a couple of months, the ceremony marked what is officially referred to in the construction industry as "substantial completion."
The milestone moment came 45 days ahead of deadline and 30 months after construction began. The jagged, 270-foot-high glass and steel building will seat 66,200 fans and play host to the 2018 Super Bowl. The $1.1 billion public-private project rose on the site of the Metrodome, which came down in January 2014.
The handoff means that at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) takes responsibility for operating costs, such as the water, electric and 24-hour security bills. MSFA, Mortenson and the Vikings will continue to work through inspections and to identify items that must be fixed or adjusted.
The formal ribbon-cutting will take place July 22 with a free public open house on the two following days.
The Vikings play in the stadium for the first time on Aug. 28 with a preseason game at noon against the San Diego Chargers, but the true inauguration will occur at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, against the Green Bay Packers. The first event is a soccer match Aug. 3.
MSFA will move in much sooner. Chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen said its next monthly meeting, July 15, will be in the new offices.