Guidelines Old School Old World Viking Laws for Handling Public Events (and Raids)
Vikings tailgating bylaws and guidelines are rich in history. The origins can date back to our nordic ancestors. A good friend of mine brought back a list of VIKING LAWS she found on a trip to Norway:
1. Be Brave and Aggressive
- Be Direct Grab All Opportunities
- Use varying methods of attack
- Be versatile and agile
- Attack one target at a time
- Don’t plan everything in detail
- Use top quality weapons
2. Be Prepared
- Keep weapons in good conditions
- Keep in shape
- Find good battle comrades
- Agree on important points
- Choose ONE Chief
3. Be a Good Merchant
- Find out what the market needs
- Don’t promise what you can’t keep
- Don’t demand overpayment
- Arrange things so that you can return
4. Keep the Camp in Order
- Keep things tidy and organized
- Arrange enjoyable activities which strenthen the group
- Make sure everybody does useful work
- Consult all members of the group for advice
NEW RULE***No Garbage or Unauthorized Trespassing on Mookie’s Ford F-150 tailgate!:
That’s right, stay off Mookies tailgate unless you are specifically invited, or granted permission. He is sick of strangers taking his spot and having to ask them to move (although it’s not that big of a deal.) Just do not throw bottle caps or garbage into the back of the truck. There are garbage bags around for this so use them!
4-Hour Rule- When to Start Tailgating:
It’s always good to get an early start, and we recommend getting to the tailgate lot at least 4 hours before game time! Of course we are always there several hours earlier! We ALWAYS abide by the minimum 4-Hour rule, meaning that we have to be set up a minimum of 4-Hours before game time. If you can’t be there early, the best thing to do is show up with your beverages and food and get ready to have a good time.
What to Bring:
Follow these guidelines. Your Game Day tickets, blankets, chairs, footballs (bring a nerf, if you want to kick field goals), grille, charcoal, lighters, hot dogs, burgers, cooler full of beer, water, pop and ice, Vikings hat and/or jersey, chips, sunflower seeds, peanuts, sunglasses, electric socks, gloves, ski masks, feet warmers, table, chairs, and of course your Viking attitude.
see also
Tailgate Checklist
What to Expect:
Just like any NFL stadium, if you are a fan of the opponent, you can expect to get some “minor” harassment. Most Viking fans are still bitter about being teased for being fans of a team that has lost four Super Bowls and will taunt anybody they pereceive as someone who will bring this up again. It’s a “defensive retaliation for perception of offensive”, and you can expect some taunting. The fact is, most Vikes fans that show up to tailgate on Washington Avenue weren’t even born when the Vikes lost their last Super Bowl in 1976. However, the teams choking tradition continued in ’87,’98,’00 and ’09 when the Vikes lost in the NFC Championship game.
How to Make Vikings Friends:
If you want to make friends with a Viking fan, just empathize with them for their Big Game Loss history. If you want to get decked, show up wearing a Packer jersey and “Vikes Suck” hat and start mouthing off about Super Bowl wins. It seems like the only physical confrontations that ever occur are between loudmouth Cheeseheads and Viking Fans who want to shut them up. Then again, that is the way it is at all NFL stadiums. If you respect the host, they will respect you, no matter what colors you wear.
About Viking Fans:
Minnesotans are sometimes aloof, until you get to know them. They love their sports, and will talk your ear off if you let them! Their biggest fault is that they go into denial after big losses, wanting to disassociate themselves from the team by being overly critical. It’s typical fan behavior, but I would never accuse the tailgaters here as bandwagon fans because they are the most loyal and take losses the hardest- even if it means burning a couch or 2, or 3, as was evident after the loss to Atlanta in ’98 NFC Championship game!
