MANKATO — Alltel Wireless Senior Vice President Scott Bergs doesn’t look like much of an old-fashioned guy, but there is at least one well-worn slogan he subscribes to: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Bergs and Minnesota Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, Steve LaCroix, were part of a press conference held Thursday at Minnesota State University’s Blakeslee Stadium to announce that Alltel will be the title sponsor for Vikings training camp in Mankato this summer. Alltel takes over the sponsorship previously held by Midwest Wireless which Alltel acquired last October.
Both Bergs and LaCroix talked about a few new wrinkles for this year’s camp but announced no major changes for 2007.
“We’re just picking up where Midwest Wireless left off,” Bergs said after the conference. “They established a great relationship with the Vikings and we’re hoping to continue that. Together, with the help of the university, they developed a good thing and we just want to keep it rolling.”
Although fans can expect no significant changes to this year’s camp — the Vikings Village will return — there will be a few additions. Among them is a promotion where fans visiting Alltel’s Freedom rig on July 28, may register for a chance to win one of 50 packages that include two tickets to Alltel’s VIP tent, sideline passes and a tailgate party.
“This is somewhat uncharted territory for us,” Bergs said after the conference. “We have relationships with other professional teams but, as far as I know, this is the only NFL training camp Alltel sponsors.”
LaCroix expects the transition from Midwest to Alltel Wireless to be a smooth one.
Perhaps the biggest change fans will notice this summer has to do with the practice fields. The practice complex has been totally renovated and the fields, which previously had a 4 percent grade have been shaved down to a 1.5 percent grade. In addition, new sod, a new drainage system and a new sprinkler system have been installed.
The steep 4 percent grade had been a source of consternation for the Vikings in recent years and this renovation solves that problem. The cost for the upgrades was approximately $400,000 and was shared by the Vikings and the university.
Vikings training camp officially opens with the first team practice on Friday, July 27.
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Alltel to sponsor Vikings training camp
No major changes expected; camp opens on July 27
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