their formations to accommodate a single striker,

MINNEAPOLIS -- At the top of the Vikings shiny, new $1.1 billion football palace, there is a ring of glass separating the seating bowl from the roof that the team and the stadium designers call the clear story.At night, when U.S. Bank Stadium is lit up, the clear story gives the visual impression that the roof is floating. And on sunny mornings, the large windows allow sunlight to flow in from the east, bathing the seats on the other side of the stadium in a yellow glow.The clear story is one of the many calling cards for architects of the stadium -- and one that almost didnt make the cut: With the cost of the project rising, Mortenson Construction told the Vikings that eliminating that particular feature would save the team $800,000.At the time we were over a perceived budget. They said, `Well, wed like to accept that, said John Hutchings, sports principal-in-charge at HKS Sports and Entertainment.We said, `Over our dead body. ... It was a decision that we fought hard to keep. We didnt win all of them, but that was one that was pretty important for the overall look of the stadium.The discussion was one of the countless debates that come with designing, approving and building a stadium of this kind of size and scope.In the end, HKS won that tussle. Vikings owner Mark Wilf pointed to that clear story as a sign of the additional investment the team put into the project to try to achieve the world class designation that the franchise has used to describe it from the stadiums infancy.The first official event is Wednesday, an international soccer exhibition that has sold more than 55,000 tickets.When you weigh those millions of dollars versus the span of a building like this, we wanted to make sure that in five or 10 years this building wouldnt be instantly obsolete. We want this building to last for decades and generations to come, Wilf said.Things like letting in that light, hundreds of decisions like that, our whole team really made sure to implement that vision that the fan experience were to be maintained.There were other points of contention. Some designers preferred to have a scoreboard hanging over the field like the famous giant boards at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.The Vikings wanted to have video boards above the lower bowl in both end zones so that fans didnt have to crane their necks upward to see replays.And the huge glass doors on the west side of the stadium that open to allow fresh air inside the fixed-roof facility were initially proposed to go from the plaza cement up to the very top of the stadium, some 240 feet high.We got the numbers back and they said, `No way can we do that! a smiling Hutchings said. They said, `What would it take to have the biggest ones in the world? We said, well they need to be 100 feet tall.And there they stand now, five doors ranging from 75 feet to 95 feet tall and 55 feet wide.It never became personal, Vikings chief operating officer Kevin Warren said.We had some very tough and tense disagreements. But we always moved forward. At the end of the day, we knew we would get this done and build an incredible building that one day would revolutionize how professional sports franchises handle their buildings and how fans get a chance to watch their teams.In the end, an architectural marvel was born. Sixty percent of the roof is made of a translucent material called ETFE that allows the sun to pour in and create the feel of an outdoor venue.The cramped concourses and scarce bathrooms of the Metrodome are a distant memory, replaced by the open-feel, amenity-loaded stadium that features a giant glass wall looking toward the downtown Minneapolis skyline.The seats are the closest to the field in the NFL and a one-of-a-kind retractable section can be moved to allow baseball to be played indoors.When they showed us this design, we were just blown away, Wilf said.The Vikings first game will be an exhibition against the San Diego Chargers on Aug. 28, with the real curtain raiser coming on Sept. 18 in a Sunday night game against NFC North rival Green Bay.And then, of course, the big show is not far off: The Super Bowl will be held at the stadium on Feb. 4, 2018.More than 200,000 people visited the stadium for an open house that was held last weekend.Initially, the Vikings pledged $477 million toward the project, with the rest coming in public funding. By the end of it, the team contributed an extra $125 million to add the bells and whistles it wanted.This project had its share of pushing and pulling in that respect. But look at this place, said John Wood, senior vice president of Mortenson Construction.When you compare it to some of the NFL facilities being built right now or being planned right now, its a bargain.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Christian McCaffrey Womens Jersey .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Curtis Samuel Youth Jersey . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. 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Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th.Manchester United got their Barclays Premier League title defence off to a great start on Saturday, coming away from their opening fixture, away to Swansea City, with a comfortable 4-1 victory. The game was far closer than the score-line indicated - especially in the first half - but new United boss David Moyes wont be too concerned about that. His first league game in charge was a real banana skin - Swansea had lost only nine games at home in two seasons in the Premier League before Saturday - but United were clinical in their finishing and solid defensively to claim all three points. With doubt over the future of United striker Wayne Rooney hovering, Moyes took the bold decision to start the England international on the bench against Swansea. If Moyes team selection upset Rooney, the striker certainly didnt show it. When he was introduced as a second-half substitute just after the hour mark, Rooney showed that he still has plenty to offer in a red jersey in Manchester. His overlapping run for Robin van Persies second goal of the game - Uniteds third - was entirely unselfish. It was made to draw the attention of Swansea defender Ashley Williams (which it did), allowing van Persie to create enough room for his magnificent strike into the top corner. This is not meant to diminish van Persies finish - it will be a candidate for goal of the month (if not goal of the year) in the Premier League - but van Persie would not have had the opportunity had Rooney not made the run to create space. For Uniteds fourth goal, Rooney found the pocket of space between Swanseas back four and their midfield, received the ball and turned in one motion before playing a slide-rule pass into the path of fellow England international Danny Welbeck, who coolly scored his second of the game. Again, Rooney played the role of provider rather than that of finisher - something United fans might be seeing much more of if Moyes decides to keep Rooney at Old Trafford. While a move to Chelsea might be alluring for Rooney - he would almost certainly be José Mourinhos preferred option as a central striker - he should think long and hard about what role he has to play at United, before proactively pursuing such a move. Robin van Persie is undoubtedly Manchester Uniteds number one striker. 26 goals and the Premier Leagues golden boot last season were underlined by both of his sublime finishes against Swansea; he is the best finisher in the league, bar none. Unless Moyes wants to play with two strikers - something that is becoming more and more of a rarity in the modern game - Rooney is always going to be second choice when playing with a single striiker is the chosen formation.dddddddddddd. If van Persie suffers injury or an improbable lack of form, Rooney would be first choice to take up that position. If the Dutchman remains healthy and in-form though, Rooney can still have a role to play as an attacking midfielder in Moyes side. Despite being the reigning Premier League champions, United have failed to improve their squad over the close season, and their bid for Cesc Fabregas was merited. The one area they are most in need of upgrading is in the attacking midfield role. If Moyes is unable to bring in a player of Fabregas quality before the end of the transfer window, Rooney may prove to be an able deputy. He has played that role before, and did so admirably when he came on as a substitute just after the hour mark. (In fact, many will argue that this was always going to be Rooneys role once van Persie was brought in before the start of last season.) Rooney has the ability to get in between players, to find space between the lines, and as his through ball for Welbecks second goal showed, the passing range to be a creative threat. If he is going to play in Moyes team, Rooney will have to accept that his role is changing. He still offers a legitimate goal scoring threat (what defender wants to see an in-form Rooney getting the ball, turning, and running at him?) but as an attacking midfielder, he will have to play a more creative role than he is accustomed. Defensively, Rooney might prove to be a liability in that role, though. As more and more teams adapt their formations to accommodate a single striker, the midfield trio that is commonly preferred must be defensively responsible. They must be able to track back when required and interchange positions when needed. As the player most often furthest forward, the attacking midfielder must be tactically astute; able to cut off the first pass from defence into midfield, and to deny the opponents deep-lying midfielders time and space in which to play. Against the best teams in the Premier League - and in particular the best teams in the Champions League - this is where Rooney will be found out. How David Moyes handles the Rooney situation will be an interesting storyline to follow this season. Unless the arrival of a world-class attacking midfielder is imminent, I think it would be in Moyes best interest to keep hold of Rooney. The fact that Moyes preferred a 39-year old Ryan Giggs in that role over his other options on Saturday means that he doesnt have much choice. But convincing Rooney that he has a different role to play if he is to stay at United will be a real test of Moyes man-management ability. ' ' '