Scandinavian, cabin-style space and Truss Bar open at U.S. Bank Stadium

Tucked into the northeast corner of the upper concourse of U.S. Bank Stadium, what was once intended as a Scandinavian-themed expansion space already is sold out for Vikings games.

The team announced plans earlier this year to spend $7.5 million to develop the 17,500-square-foot area sooner rather than later. Some 900 fans can get seats — or standing space — in the Truss Bar, Lodge Bar and cabins. They're not cheap. An entry-level ticket goes for about $500 per game, but most of the seats come with food and drink included. The area overlooks the field by the eastern end zone.

To access the Truss Bar — and stand — tickets cost $200, on top of the regular game ticket. That doesn't include food or drinks either.

Vikings vice president Lester Bagley said brisk ticket sales gave the team incentive to build out the space, an add-on to the original stadium plans, sooner rather than later.

The Vikings directed Kansas City-based architecture firm Generator Studio to give the area an "Up North" feeling. The hallways behind the "cabins" have wood paneling and have a whiff of fresh kindling, unusual for this building.

Like the rest of the building, the area features angular spaces, sharp lines and purple seats. While the cabins have wood elements, the Truss Bar is black with purple lighting and sparkly purple flecks in the countertops. The bar's name comes from its proximity to the eastern steel truss supporting the roof of the building.

The area isn't accessible to most of the 66,200 fans in the building but was designed as a flexible event space. The cabins, for example, can be expanded and divided.

Bagley described them as spaces for groups of 25 to 200 and available for single games, an arrangement common to other sports, but not NFL stadiums. Most of the group areas in the stadium are smaller and are sold for an entire season.

A bonus for fans in the areas: They might bump into retired Vikings in the hallways and restrooms behind the cabins and the bars. The "Vikings Legends" have their own cabin, a place for alumni with some of the most comfortable purple lounge chairs in the building.

If the price is too steep, be patient, maybe things will change or space will open up. As Bagley said, "There's always some fluctuation after the season."

The space is also available for events on nongame days. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority pays the Vikings $300,000 annually for access to the area.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

Twitter: @rochelleolson