U.S. Bank Stadium makeover nearly complete for Super Bowl

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - As the Super Bowl excitement ramps up along Nicollet Mall, the finishing touches are falling into place just blocks away at U.S. Bank Stadium.

With Vikings quarterback Case Keenum and company still reeling from a loss in the NFC Championship Game, the only teams on display for the tens of millions of viewers at home will be the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots. That means covering up or removing the Vikings logos from the field view.

“We make it as Super Bowl centric as we can,” said Eric Finkelstein, NFL senior director of event operations. “We want this to look like the Super Bowl and know you are here.”

“To see it, it’s happening? Amazing -  building looks beautiful, better than dreamed it would,” said Kevin Warren of the Vikings. “Other than disappointment of Vikings not in the game with the beautiful purple, it fits.”

Work crews on Tuesday were putting finishing touches on the décor and some of the broadcast positions for the massive media contingent that will descend on U.S. Bank Stadium for the Super Bowl.

The NFL is giving the playing surface itself rave reviews, but there will be some heavy traffic on it in the coming days.

“The only new turf we put in was the end zones and the 50, you can see the panel with the shield,” said Ed Mangan of the NFL. “Vikings in the endzone - those panels come out. Put in blank ones and repaint.”

Before the big game, there will still be Justin Timberlake’s halftime show rehearsal and then the teams do final walk through on Sunday before go time.

“We have everything painted, if we had to play today, we could,” said Mangan.