Ticket Prices Announced

The Vikings announced a 3 percent increase in the cost of tickets for 2008. After freezing all ticket prices in 2007, the increase is still less than half the league average for last season.

The Vikings announced Friday that, a year after holding season ticket prices steady for 2007, the cost of tickets will increase slightly for 2008.

After what was termed as “considerable discussion” about whether or not to increase ticket prices, the team opted to increase 2008 season ticket packages by an average of 3 percent. This is in contrast to league-wide ticket increases of 6.5 percent in 2007.

The Vikings will offer 11 different season ticket packages, ranging from a high of $1,230 for the 10-game home schedule (an increase of $70 from 2007) to a low of $99 for obstructed-view seating. The prices for the season ticket packages are $1,230, $1,170, $1,030, $980, $760, $740, $690, $500, $400, $250 and $99.

The Vikings still have a consecutive sellout streak of 104 games, but needed help from corporate sponsors or local TV affiliates to sell out four of those regular-season games last year. It is expected that with the emergence of Adrian Peterson as a star and the improvement the Vikings made in the second half of last season that they will have the opportunity to continue the sellout streak this coming season.

The 2008 home regular-season schedule includes both Manning brothers when the Giants and Colts come to town, as well as the Packers, Bears, Lions, Falcons, Panthers and Texans.

SATURDAY NOTES
* In a story we’ll get into more detail in the coming weeks as free agency gets closer, as many as 18 teams are currently $20 million or more under the projected 2008 salary cap. The Vikings, according to the figures, are $14.88 under the cap, but that doesn’t take into consideration unachieved bonuses of which the Vikings are famous for. The $14.88 million figure ranks them 24th in the league and with 49 players under contract.
* Troy Williamson is still being mentioned as potentially coming back in 2008 because he is still under contract, but few in the media are buying it.
* The Vikings are going to have discussions later this month with the Chiefs about having a couple of shared practices again this year. It was during those practice sessions last year that the Chiefs got a chance to see quarterback Tyler Thigpen, whom they claimed off waivers from the Vikings and installed as their third quarterback.