FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIKINGS SET TO KICK OFF 2019 REGULAR SEASON AT U.S. BANK STADIUM THIS WEEKEND

Kickoff Rally set for Saturday; game attendees to receive 2019 home opener pennant.

Eagan, Minn. (September 6, 2019) – The Minnesota Vikings are set to kick off the 2019 regular season at U.S. Bank Stadium this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, beginning with a free Minnesota Vikings Kickoff Rally presented by Miller Lite on Saturday, September 7. Headlined by a concert from multi-platinum global superstar Bret Michaels, attendees will have the opportunity to win a pair of 2019 season tickets in celebration of the NFL’s 100th season.

Sunday’s season opener will feature a halftime performance by Prince’s former band, The Revolution, and a special presentation as the Vikings welcome home 650+ citizen-soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Red Bull Infantry. Home opener game pennants from U.S. Bank will be distributed on every seat.

Minnesota Vikings Kickoff Rally Presented by Miller Lite On Saturday, September 7, the Vikings and Miller Lite will host a free Kickoff Rally in Commons Park outside U.S. Bank Stadium. The event will feature a high-energy concert and party headlined by rock star and football fanatic Bret Michaels.

Michaels rose to fame as the lead singer of American rock band Poison, which sold over 50 million records worldwide and charted 10 singles in the top 40 of Billboard’s Hot 100 charts, including six top-10 singles and a number-one single, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”

As a solo artist, Michaels has released multiple albums, with Custom Built reaching number one on Billboard’s Hard Rock list.

In celebration of the NFL’s 100th season, attendees will be able to register on-site for the opportunity to win a pair of 2019 season tickets. One lucky winner will be chosen at the event.

The free, all-ages Kickoff Rally will include appearances by Vikings Cheerleaders, Skol Line, Viktor the Viking and Vikings Legends. Refreshments will be available at food trucks and the Miller Lite Beer Garden with additional musical performances by Jesse Becker (1:00 p.m.) and the Chris Hawkey Band (2:00 p.m.) leading up to Bret Michaels’ headlining concert (3:30 p.m.). Gates will open at noon with live music from 1:00-5:00 p.m. CT. The event is rain or shine.

For more details, visit Vikings.com/Fans/Kickoff-Rally.

Game Elements

Fans will see the following game entertainment elements throughout Sunday’s game:

Home Opener Pennant Giveaway On Sunday, every fan will find a 2019 Vikings home opener pennant presented by U.S. Bank at their seat (see attached image).

National Anthem The national anthem will be sung by Home Free, an American a cappella group formed in 2000 in Mankato, Minnesota. The group’s four most recent albums have all charted in the top 10 of Billboard’s Country Albums charts, with their 2017 album, Timeless, peaking at number two. Home Free’s newest album, Dive Bar Saints, releases on Friday, September 6th.

Color Guard Joint Services Honor Guard will represent all branches of service. The full field American flag will be held by active duty military members of the Minnesota Armed Forces.

Flyover An F-16 flyover will be conducted by the 175th Fighter Squadron out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Gjallarhorn Sounder Sounding the Gjallarhorn will be former Minnesota Vikings linebacker, Scott Studwell. A ninth- round pick of out the University of Illinois, Studwell finished his career with 1,928 tackles, a Vikings franchise record. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and spent his entire career in the purple and gold. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in 2010 and inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2009. After hanging up his cleats in 1991, Studwell worked in the Vikings scouting and player personnel department for more than 25 years, retiring after the 2019 NFL Draft.

Honorary Captain The honorary captain will be former Vikings COO and sixth commissioner of the Big Ten, Kevin Warren. Joining the organization in 2005, Warren became the highest-ranking African-American executive working on the business side for an NFL team and the first African-American COO in NFL history when he was tabbed to the position on February 12, 2015. During his tenure, Warren played a critical role in many aspects related to the building of U.S. Bank Stadium, as well as Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.

Vikings Halftime Performance: The Revolution Halftime of Sunday’s season opener will feature a performance from Prince’s former band, The Revolution, which has its roots in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Assembled in 1979, the band has released two studio albums, two soundtracks and two videos during their time together, rising to international fame in the mid-80s with Purple Rain. The Revolution has produced two number- one Billboard 200 albums (Purple Rain and Around the World in a Day), six top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won three Grammys.

Hometown Hero The Vikings will honor Hunter Johnson, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, which requires him to wear a shunt to drain excess fluid from his brain. Last year, it was found that the shunt was malfunctioning and causing fluid to drain improperly. Hunter also has an Arnold-Chiari malformation and a syrinx.

As part of Make-A-Wish Minnesota, Johnson was given the opportunity to be the Vikings “GM for a day.” He started the morning with the Vikings equipment staff to see how they set up for walk-through and help with drills. He then went with Vice President of Football Operations, Rob Brzezinski, who told him he was going to be the “GM” for the day. Johnson spent the rest of the day with General Manager Rick Spielman, breaking down plays on film and watching practice outside during Verizon Vikings Training Camp.

Special Presentation The Minnesota Vikings are proud to welcome home 650+ citizen-soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Red Bull Infantry who returned from the Middle East after a 10-month deployment back in late July. The unit led U.S. Central Command’s Task Force Spartan which increased military readiness and capability, allowing the ability to maintain regional stability and partnerships. The unit also led 10 brigades (including air defense artillery, field artillery, engineers, armor and aviation) that were located in 20 countries, gathering more than 9,000 service members to support Task Force Spartan. During this time, they also oversaw multiple training missions with partner nations.

The 34th Red Bull Infantry successfully accomplished the Task Force Spartan Mission.